Lightsabers slice the air. The colorful blades glow in the night. But you’re not in a galaxy far, far away. You’re at Mexico City’s Jedi Knight Academy.

Academy students don’t use real lightsabers. That technology doesn’t exist. And if it did, it would be way too dangerous! These blades are made of a material called polycarbonate. The plastic is tough enough to take a whacking. But it’s also transparent. That’s a good thing for Star Wars fans. It means lights inside the blades can make them glow. Just like actual—well, fictional—lightsabers!

The lightsabers might be fabricated, but the skills are real. Students take daily sessions that last three hours. Lightsaber dueling mixes techniques from several martial arts. These include kendo, aikido, and tai chi.

“When students arrive, some of them drop the saber,” says instructor Ulises Vázquez. “They don’t know how to handle it properly, and with the passing of time you see them grow.”

It all started 15 years ago. Mr. Vázquez and his best friend, Gabriel Mendoza, both had martial arts experience. Mr. Vázquez had always wanted to use a lightsaber like a Jedi Knight from Star Wars. What if other people had the same wish? Turns out, they did. The friends started the Jedi Knight Academy in 2019. 

But it’s not just about living out sci-fi fantasies. Mr. Vázquez and Mr. Mendoza want to encourage young people to exercise.

“It’s massively satisfying to realize that all the effort we put into the training program has been so successful,” says Mr. Vázquez.

Our bodies are a gift from God. By staying healthy and active, we honor that gift. Exercise can be fun! It can even involve lightsabers

Why? Creative ideas can help make healthy habits fun.