FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Lightspeed Saber fencing?

Lightspeed Saber fencing is a new form of fencing designed to simulate realistic plasma sword combat while still being athletic, strategic, safe, accessible, and fun.

What are Lightspeed Saber’s influences?

Lightspeed Saber fencing was influenced most by Olympic fencing and Filipino Martial Arts, and obviously Star Wars.

Does Lightspeed Saber fencing hurt?

This is a simulation of armed combat; bruises are inevitable, but certainly not the goal, and certainly something we wish to avoid. Fencers receive instruction in proper technique for speed without power, referees receive instruction in spotting improper technique, and brutal actions are penalized.

Is Lightspeed Saber fencing good for kids?

Lightspeed Saber fencing is best for teens (13+) and adults (15+) but safe enough for kids (anyone 14 years old or younger is required to wear additional protection).

How does Lightspeed Saber differ from Olympic fencing?

The key difference in the basic Lightspeed Saber is the lack of a handguard. This fundamentally changes strategy and parrying technique and is the first hurdle to get over for a beginning Lightspeed Saber fencer.

In addition, our canon of weapons are balanced against each other, and therefore can all coexist within the same contest. So it’s not at all strange to see a Rey Saber versus a Ren Saber, or a Ren Saber versus a Dyad Saber system.

What are the main weapons of Lightspeed Saber?

Check out our weapons page!

How does Lightspeed Saber differ from Star Wars?

We’re inspired by Star Wars but we’re not bound by Star Wars. Unlike lightsabers, our simulation assumes the blades weigh very little, if anything at all. We also don’t assume the blades have any friction. Both of these factors create a type of combat that is unique in history, science fiction, and sport.

How does Lightspeed Saber differ from other light-based fencing systems?

The key difference is our use of the 3/4” Lightspeed blade, which is the safest blade on the market for high intensity combat. The Lightspeed blade substantially changes combat mechanics, and thus its use is nontraditional and not intuitive at first.

Lightspeed Saber sits in the middle of heavy combat systems like TSL and no-armor systems like Ludosport; we strive to achieve the best combination of intensity, safety, and access.

What is Asymmetric Scoring?

Asymmetry is the philosophy behind our scoring system, the Asymmetric Scoring system. Points are earned based on a few different combat virtues, allowing fencers to succeed using strategies and styles that match their talents. These include defense, evasion, speed, aggression, and accuracy.

Where did Lightspeed Saber come from?

“My training is in epee. Though Olympic fencing is a great sport, I felt that it never quite lived up to its potential, both as a game and as a spectator event. It’s a notoriously difficult sport to watch, and the modern game is so different from what people expect when they first join. When I first picked up an LED saber, I knew that it would change weapon-based sports. So I created Lightspeed Saber fencing, to make sure I would be there when it did.”

— Cang Snow, founder

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Wearing extra armor is illegal or discouraged

All Lightspeed Saber fencers should wear as much armor or padding as they are comfortable with, especially in competition. While the risk of serious injury is small, hits can hurt, and you are going to get some bruises and welts. Don’t be afraid to wear more than the mandatory minimum gear.

Lightspeed Saber is complicated

While the Lightspeed Saber scoring rules are fairly complex compared to compatriot systems, actual Lightspeed Saber fencing is pretty simple. For the most part: don’t stab people, don’t hit people in the groin, don’t kneecap people, and don’t do anything that risks any of the previous happening. Everything else is open. The complexity lies in the rules that incentivize behavior, and not the rules that govern behavior. If you are already a great fighter, the scoring system will reward you, whether you understand it or not. And if you are not yet a great fighter, understanding the scoring system will show you how to be one.

Lightspeed Saber relies on whipping attacks or “flicks”

Attacks that land by flexing around a block not only do not score, they are rarely detectable by referees. The flexibility of the Lightspeed blade is a safety feature only. It is not a combat mechanic.

It is impossible to block in lightspeed saber

Blocking a light weight weapon without a handguard is indeed challenging, but all the best competitors in Lightspeed Saber fencing have defense in their repertoire.