Celebrating Star Wars Day by taking up lightsaber combat

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01:01

Fans of the otherworldly universe that US filmmaker George Lucas has created are celebrating Star Wars Day on Friday. And for some, the combat arena is a place to pay homage to the franchise.

Lightsaber combat is a real sport, and it's growing.

Inspired by the Star Wars films and martial arts, LudoSport is now practiced by over 1,000 people all over the world, according to estimates.

During the duel, the aim is to hit your opponent at different points all over their body, but below the neck, to score points.

The sport was invented ten years ago by three friends in Italy who are now taking it global.

The values that LudoSport is based on are "service, care and respect," and opponents do not play to inflict pain on one another.

It is the responsibility of the player who receives the hit to accept it rather than to be judged in an attempt to encourage fair play.

Tournaments are not only judged on hits however, and many players hone their style to ensure they can impress the referees.

"Often people who come obviously come from the connection to Star Wars but as they quickly realize that it's not just that. It's not a fan club, it's an actual sport," said Laura Mailleux, who is one of the instructors at a lightsaber academy in Brussels.

Participants wear different colors of T-shirts or special tunics depending on their level and how long they have been practicing the sport.

The aim is to become proficient enough to train newcomers into the sport, and instructors at the Belgian academy say it's not only good for socializing but also for their health and flexibility – especially with each training session beginning with a cardio warm-up.

There are LudoSport academies in Belgium, Sweden, the UK, the US, Germany, France among other Western countries, but the sport is yet to make its way into Asia.