Going Cashless at a Hawker Centre in Singapore – DBS Paylah!
Wielding lightsabers in a concrete jungle.
I grew up watching The Star Wars and dreaming of wielding lightsabers to brandish evil. Like any impressionable young boy, I still vividly remember how wanting to be a Jedi Knight was high up on my list of dream jobs. Up there with becoming a Ninja Master or Secret Agent. :P
Although those dreams didn’t exactly work out, I still got really excited when I was invited by BeMyGuest to try the Learn the Force: Realistic Lightsaber Duelling Experience!
Currently held underneath the train tracks at a spot called The Deck, the setting resembles that of famous lightsaber battle (go figure). There’s a very nice street feel to it, enhanced even more when the sky turns dark and the sabers glow brighter.
Organised by the good people from The Saber Authority, the experience takes place every Sunday, from 645pm to 745pm.
Before you get carried away with your melee fantasies of wielding lightsabers, I must say that training with these guys mean serious business. There is a structured program and you will really really REALLY get a good workout. The instructors/founders Reza and Ming Jie are very professional, and make it a point to merge fantasy with function. Bringing in proper asian swordsmanship, and setting up a combat duelling system that keeps things safe and fun. This is like learning martial arts for self defence but WAY cooler.
At the start of the class, everyone was handed their very own lightsaber. For someone who hasn’t played with lightsabers before, it was quite an experience. The way it lights up and produces a slight hum… just like in the movies. I felt like a big kid again.
It was also great that we didn’t have to share, considering that we had to build a relationship with our lightsaber before our 1v1 duel at the end of the class.
For the next 30mins, the instructors went through the basics of proper striking and footwork, taking us through individual and partner drills. We were then split into beginner and advanced groups, where we had more focussed technique training. By the end of it, I was already feeling slightly tired.
Thankfully, it was finally time for the fun part. After a quick briefing and demonstration of the Combat Saber Rules, it was duelling time. Time to unleash the inner Jedi and let adrenaline take over. Although each duel lasts for only 30s (so almost everyone gets a chance), it felt longer and was really intense!
It was also really fun watching the more experienced members as well. The way they duelled was almost like a scene out of The Star Wars!
Alas all good things have to come to and end. After a couple of pictures, I reluctantly returned my lightsaber.
The organisers were also really nice and even prepared some baked goods for us after the workout. Complimentary of the instructor Reza’s wife!
If you’re a Star Wars fan or is just looking for something fun to do, why not give this a try. You’ll get a good workout, and even learn some self defence skills!
Who: The Saber Authority
When: Sundays, 1845 – 1945hrs
Where: The Deck @ AMK MRT (currently)
More information here!
Have another interesting activity I should try in Singapore? Let me know in the comments section below!
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