Fancy unleashing your inner Jedi? Check out the Star Wars-inspired ludosports

Fancy unleashing your inner Jedi? Check out the Star Wars-inspired ludosports

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Ever fancied unleashing your inner Jedi? Or do you reckon you could take on a Sith and win?

Now you can with a new sport based on the Star Wars art of fighting with lightsabers.

Jim Tuohy, 26, is Ireland’s Ludosport master, offering classes to those who want to emulate Luke Skywalker or embrace their Darth Vader dark side.

Jim explained: "Ludosport is the combat sport of fighting with lightsabers – it’s a real sport about a fantasy weapon.

“It originated in Italy about eight years ago. There were three guys who were martial artists who thought it would be great to do the same kind of things with a lightsaber.

“The toys and the replicas were too fragile to do it with so they put their heads together and spent eight years coming up with this sport.”

Ludosport takes real martial arts skills which have been altered to work around the fantasy weapon.

Jim said: “I was already a martial arts instructor and I was teaching weapons. I saw Ludosport online basically and did my research. It seemed pretty cool so I sent them a message asking if I could bring it to Ireland.

“I got my instructor’s certificate in Italy and started teaching classes.”

Those who take part can order their own specialised lightsabers and depending on their fighting styles, will be told whether they are a Jedi or a Sith.

Jim said: “The lightsabers we use are ones we have are specifically made for Ludosport – you can order them from our workshop but they are all a standardised weight and length so that they are regulated for combat.

“Inside the sport we have seven separate styles of combat based on styles you would see them in the films and the books.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“We looked at the styles to see what they were based on in actual martial arts then we’d go to a master of that sport and asked if a weapon was 360 degrees blade and could only be blocked by itself.”

Beginners normally have a trial period to see if Ludosport is for them.

Jim said: “The easiest way to get involved is to book a trial class via our Facebook site or by emailing us.

“We started in Dublin in October and we have three classes running now – two in the city centre and one in Bray, Co Wicklow .

“We are also hoping to open in Belfast and Cork midway through next year. When people come the first thing they learn is the first form Shii-cho which is a defensive form as it means once you learn that you won’t get hit in the face.

“We will show you the footwork, the stances, three basic blocks and three basic attacks.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“Once you learn those you would be able to compete against people at the same level as you – that’s enough vocabulary to start playing into the sporting side of it.”

Although even Jedi master Obi Wan Kenobi was felled by a lightsaber, Jim said Ludosport competitors don’t need to fear for their lives.

He revealed: “It is a contact sport so there might be some slight wear and tear where you get a bruise on your arm but there has never been any serious injuries.

“We follow a code called SeCuRi which stands for service, care and respect, meaning that although you are fighting against someone you are always taking care of them as well.

“For example if someone is backing up against a wall you will let them go.”

As well as Star Wars fanatics, Ludosport is attracting competitors from other areas of fitness.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

Jim said: “We get people who love the movies, we get people who are into fencing and looking for something new. We get dancers too.

“We say you come for the fantasy and stay for the sport. Coming from a background of martial arts it’s one of the more fitness-oriented sports I have been involved in.

“Some of the main competitors are right up there in fitness levels with Olympic athletes.”

And now some scenes of the new Star Wars film is being made in Ireland, Jim is hoping some special guests might drop in for a class.

He said: “We invited Mark Hamill over Twitter to a class but he didn’t get back to us. He’d always be welcome.”

You can find out more about Ludosport Ireland by visiting them on Facebook or emailing ireland@ludosport.net.