Star Wars Fans Join Jedis-In-Training Class

A group of San Francisco Star Wars fans have created a combat choreography class for Jedis-in-training with their weapon of choice - the lightsabre.

At a recent class, Alain Bloch, the self-proclaimed Jedi Master at Golden Gate Knights, demonstrated a slicing technique.

Donning a Luke Skywalker outfit and a green lightsabre, Mr Bloch, who has a background in martial arts and stage combat, said: "Always be mindful of the presence!"

With Star Wars movie music coursing through the dance studio, his disciples clutch their neon-glowing sabres.

These self-proclaimed "Star Wars geeks" slice and parry as they follow Mr Bloch's lead, and they get a little exercise, too.

People in a recent class, including a couple on a date, said they embraced their quirkiness and had even converted some of the sceptical into the "Jedi order".

"At first they giggle because they think it's a little silly. Then they're like, 'Actually that's kind of cool'," said Julio Reyes, a student.

Not all Jedis-in-training are rooting for the good guys. Some came to embrace "the dark side of the force".

Darth Vader-clad student Gary Ripper said: "I just love Vader, period. Just his voice, the way he moved, the power of him. I just liked the powerfulness of him."