DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) - About a year ago, Abby Harle brought a Star Wars combat-ready lightsaber to her class at Dubuque Karate Club.
After seeing how much fun the students had testing techniques, Instructor Master Ron Schmitt began looking into how to make it a formal training class. Having seen the original movies in the theater as a child, Schmitt was able to realize a long-lost dream to be like a Jedi.
“What I wanted to do, I wanted it to be a serious class, too,” he said. “I wanted it to be fun and exciting, but I didn’t want it to be cheesy.”
Schmitt said he spent a lot of time doing research and contacted a handful of reputable lightsaber academies around the world to get some tips and insight. He said the main advice they gave was to line up a karate instructor very experienced in weapons training. Having spent his entire life training and teaching karate, Schmitt said he was up to the task.
Schmitt said he and some of his blackbelt students spent months putting together a curriculum for students. Third-degree blackbelt student Joel Cross said the class is not intended as a cosplay or live action role-playing opportunity. The Telegraph Herald (https://bit.ly/1VK7vXj ) reports the lightsaber techniques being taught are based on advanced bladed weapon training.
“You’re learning sword techniques,” Cross said. “If people are interested in swords and take the class, you’re going to enjoy it.”
Harle, who has been studying at the Karate Club for about 2 1/2 years, said she is a big Star Wars fan and was excited to join the lightsaber class. She said the techniques are more difficult than people might expect.
“I enjoy it, but inherently I’m not very good,” she said.
Schmitt said because it is weapons training, safety is a high priority. Students facing off in a duel will have to wear protective gear, and he said lightsabers must be combat-ready models. Other lightsaber types and homemade versions are not allowed because of the safety risk of breaking.
Schmitt said costs for combat lightsabers can range from about $150 up to $1,000, depending on the features. He said they can assist students finding quality models to buy.
Harle noted that new students can try out a class with a lightsaber rented from the Karate Club. Schmitt said the class right now runs Monday nights from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. and is open to students age 12 and up. He hopes to start younger kids’ classes soon and eventually hold tournaments and stage performances.
Schmitt said along with the weapons training, students will learn about Jedi philosophies and having a proper attitude toward fighting. He said it’s comparable to how he instructs his karate students on how to responsibly use the skills they are attaining.
Harle and Cross said when people hear about the class, they don’t take it seriously or think it’s “geeky.” Schmitt likened it to playing football in a backyard.
“Not everyone’s going to make it in the NFL — they do it because they enjoy it,” he said. “It’s the same thing with this. People like using lightsabers because it’s fun to do.”
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Information from: Telegraph Herald, https://www.thonline.com
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