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Being a software engineer during the week and a Jedi knight on the
"A hero can take many forms," says Bloch, who works days as a senior software engineer at online petition platform Change.org. "There's the stuff you see in the fantasy books and out on the battlefields. But I can, from behind my computer desk, make the world a better place."
And then on Sunday afternoons, Alain Bloch sheds his office persona and helps make people's dreams come true in a different way - as a lightsaber instructor.
A Journey Begins
When Bloch moved to San Francisco and wanted to connect with his new community, he was surprised to learn how many locals shared his lifelong love of "
That's when he found Matthew Carauddo, a martial arts and fencing instructor who had choreographed lightsaber fights for theater productions. Bloch emailed him to learn about his lightsaber fighting system and was immediately hooked. He had a hunch that others would be, too.
"At the end of it, I was like, 'I think we could make this into a class,'" says Bloch. "He said, 'Are you sure about this? It's such a geeky thing.'"
"I was like, 'You don't even know.'"
The Way Of The Jedi
It's likely that Bloch and Carauddo had no idea what would happen when they shared their quirky passion with the public. The response was tremendous. Now, three years later, they meet as The Golden Gate Knights every Sunday afternoon. Between 20 and 30 people show up each week for instruction, drills, and sparring in the specially crafted Novastar and Caine's Saber Combat System, or NCSCS.
"We don our Jedi cloaks and teach people the ways of the Force," Bloch said.
Geeky? Yes. Fun? Double yes. Popular? Hugely. Bloch has appeared on television interviews, performed choreographed lightsaber fights with the Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra, traveled to conventions, and more.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "It's a great blending of fitness, imagination and just camaraderie. You don't find something like that anywhere else."
San Franciscans are finding the same thing to be true. Class participants range from diehard costumed "Star Wars" fans with handcrafted lightsabers (you read that right) to adventurous would-be couples on first dates. And while lightsaber instruction has plenty of appeal for adults, kids take particular joy in the experience. And Bloch loves working with them.
"We have a lot of kids out there who look up to us and want to emulate what we do," Bloch said. "To be able to inspire them to be their own heroes means a lot."
Staying On Target
As "Star Wars" enthusiasts will know, being a Jedi is about more than fighting. The ways of the Force include learning patience, being mindful, and protecting peace and justice. Those are pretty fine lessons for a Sunday. Which is why, despite the commitment it requires, adding a sixth day to his work week doesn't faze Bloch.
"I'm not really working," he says. "I enjoy teaching people and watching people get it and be creative with it. I also just like to be able to give back to the community."
For Bloch, the exercise is a plus, connecting to other "Star Wars" fans is great, and delighting kids is part of the fun, too. But dedicating time to his passion also benefits him as an individual, giving his life balance and more depth.
"Being able to step into the role of a Jedi knight, even for four hours on a weekend, it's enough to inspire people to get in better shape and to become a better person."
The Golden Gate Knights aren't alone in the galaxy. Other lightsaber clubs have emerged all over the globe and can be found at SaberWars.com. But Bloch's endeavor says something to enthusiasts of all varieties: Your passion can be used to benefit your community, inspire others, and allow you to become your own kind of hero, on the weekends and beyond.
- Written by Natalie Burg
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