KNIGHTS OF THE LIGHT:
According to myth and legend, there once existed an Order of Knights sworn to protect the galaxy from the forces of Darkness. Then, at the dawn of the Imperial Age, the light of that Order was nearly extinguished. The Great Purge spread across the galaxy like a shadow, cloaking everything in Darkness. Only a few Knights survived, scattered like sparks in the wind. Out of fear and desperation, the surviving Knights either went into hiding, or renounced their status and roles as the Guardians of Peace and Justice throughout the galaxy, and like sparks, most burnt out and faded to obscurity. Most…
Does the spark burn in you? Have you ever itched to wield a light saber and the Force in defense of oppressed people across the Galaxy? Join the Knights of the Light and reignite the flames that once lit the beacons of hope across the stars.
The Knights of the Light bring decades of practical Martial Arts experience and an extensive knowledge of stage and stunt combat techniques to provide exciting and believable performances to all new generations of the galaxy’s greatest Guardians, inspired by the Knights of lore and legend from long ago, and far away.
Who are we?
We are your typical Sci-Fi nerds, who like most other nerds, wish our fandom was reality. We are
also very atypical nerds who have actually figured out a way to closely resemble the Space
Knights we hold in such high esteem in real life. The Knights of the Light is run by a group of
professional Martial Arts instructors, holding multiple Black Belt ranks of varying degrees, who
have studied not just the scripted entertainment aspects of these characters, but the real-world
histories of the cultures and philosophies that inspired them.
What do we do?
Being a part of Galactic Fringers, we use our knowledge and skills to pay tribute to the Sci-Fi
and Fantasy franchises that entertain us so much with elaborate costumes and exciting
performances. However, in the Knights of the Light sub-group, we take it a step further... we
believe that to give a truly believable performance, one must completely embody the character
archetype they portray. To accomplish this for characters who represent the Guardians of Peace
and Justice throughout the galaxy, we teach the creeds and practical physical foundations of
modern Martial Arts and Self Defense.
Why do we do what we do?
The simple answer is that we do this for the sheer exhilaration of it. There are few things more
exciting than the feeling of igniting a lightsaber. The humming swoosh as the saber is swung, the
electric screeches and flashes of light as blades clash against one another. Nothing brings our
fandom to life more completely than wielding a glowing lightsaber in a duel of the fates.
Now, the more complete answer involves a little bit (or a lot) of ego... Wearing the garb and robes
of a Knight protecting the galaxy ignites our imaginations and gives one a real feeling of power;
but that feeling is tempered by the reality of knowing you are only wearing a costume. That all
changes, though, when the character you play and the costume you wear is backed up by a true
understanding of the combat arts your character is supposed to possess. In other groups, like
the 501st or Rebel Legion, where all the costuming is very uniform, it is still easy to spot the
troopers who have actually served in the military; there is a very noticeable difference in their
poise and demeanor. Having real training and experience in the Martial Arts brings a similar change
in poise and demeanor to those who wear the robes of our favorite Order of Knights.
Lastly, but ultimately most importantly, is safety. Despite being considered props, and/or glorified
toys, the lightsabers that are carried most cosplayers of the Knights are made of very hard,
durable materials, that could EASILY be used, or misused, as real weapons. It is the belief of our
head instructor, who has been studying swordsmanship as one of their many Martial disciplines
for most of their life, that it is unwise and ultimately unethical to arm people, even for costume
purposes with a weapon they do not fully understand the capabilities of. People all too often
treat the prop lightsabers as toys and cause accidental injury. Our classes and performances are
centered around a true and practical understanding of swordsmanship, and the responsibilities
of spacial awareness and blade control that all Knights should exhibit.
When do we do what we do?
Knights of the Light holds Martial Arts, Self Defense and Swordsmanship classes virtually
every weekend. If you are local to our group, contact us for places, times. and costs of the
classes. If you are not local to our group, contact us for information on remote classes held
online via video chat.
KNIGHTS OF THE LIGHT
COSTUME STANDARDS
COMING SOON