LSCA Arena 2012

[Ander]

We have just had the national tournament in Italy. The location was in Milan close where the main site of the academy is.

You can see a few pictures in my album at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150904814837104.403759.511257103&type=1&l=b5a71716f6

In a friend's album, this is me (on the right) with another friend:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=324739497608650&set=a.324135077669092.75976.100002178081514&type=1&theater

I will try to post some videos as I get them from my friends.
Enjoy!

[Veldryne]

That looks like it was a blast. I'm super jealous. I would have loved to take part.

How were the matches set up and what were the rules.

[Solinus]

Thank you for sharing.

I recognized some of the contestants from Forceclash! That's so great! If you don't mind, I'd like to friend you on Facebook.

I would love to come out to Italy one day and train with you guys.

[Darth Cestual]

That is 31 flavors of awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[Ander]

At

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5uWcbjiP74" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5uWcbjiP74</a>

you can see a (mobile phone, I am afraid) video taken by a friend of mine showing a few exhibition matches done after the end of the tournament.
To be very clear, these are completely spontaneous, not prearranged: after the end of the tournament, the Masters simply asked the final four to fight again, without the pressure of referees and counting points, so they were freer to use less conservative techniques.

[Ander]

Veldryne: until the final, all the matches were done in a 10 m (or so, it was 12 paces, I don't know the exact measure) diameter circle, with bouts of 1 minute max. The first combatant to score 2 lethal blows (everywhere but the forehand and foreleg, basically, but always within the allowed techniques) won. There were 10 groups, and the first three of each plus the two best fourth combatants passed to the 1/16 finals. From that point it was direct elimination until the end. The semis and finals were done with 3 out of 5 blows and videocameras to ensure correct scoring. The final (and following exhibitions) had a much larger area to fight in.

Solinus, sure, go ahead. You are correct that the final four were all Forceclash combatants.

[Solinus]

Thanks Ander. Request sent.

Your academy looks so very cool. I watched the videos on the school site. Google Chrome can translate most of the language into English, which is fascinating!

I really wish we had an academy here like that. If I ever get to be as good as everyone else, I may have to think about starting one.

[Ander]

The tournament had some 66 participants (order 66? LOL) and LSCA overall has about double that number... Mostly in Milan, but in Genoa we are already 15 and growing... And having fun, moreover

I wonder how amazed are the three Masters at what LSCA has become in a few short years.

[Solinus]

I'm sure that they are bewildered at the success of the Academy. First, it's Star Wars. Who doesn't want to fight with a lightsaber??? Second, it's exercise. Third, it's a relatively cheaper alternative to sword fighting with actual swords. The armor and equipment for sword fighting must cost three times the amount than what it costs for lightsabers.

I read that your academy has it's own repair room?? That is awesome!!

[Ander]

Well, in Milan they have what they call the "Jedi Research Department" which builds school sabers (an original design, with a simple hilt and sound) and converts / repairs the sabers of the students. In Genoa we are trying to get a couple of our new students to start on this path, we'll see how that goes.
Meanwhile, when I have to do something that I don't quite know how to do, I ask my neighbour, who has worked his whole life on electronic devices, and is a very helpful hand besides having a quite dignified cat who believes that "mi casa es su casa" and loves to annoy him while he is working, for quite funny results.

[Stockton]

Wow that looks amazing. I can't imagine how much fun that was. Very jealous.

[Kham-Ryn Kurios]

This needs to become a worldwide sport.

Olympic Lightsabers.

Really though, I wish something like this was near me.

Point.

[Ander]

I don't know where you live, but folks in the US at least should agree on a common set of rules and do some kind of championship. I know that it can be hard to reach a common ground on topics one feels about passionally, but it would be great for the saber movement to have some kind of meet. For us in Italy, the Tournament and the one or two weekend meets we do yearly are a great moment of friendships renewed and much laughter.