This May the fourth, Ascend Martial Arts held an event to show people how to use a lightsaber.
Katherine Chavez-Karrico, a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Lead Instructor, said, "They find that belief or that confidence during the course, and they're able to wield it, the light saber, very well. They're able to learn those moves, and if they bring a smile to the face, it kind of just glows them up a lot, more than the lightsaber."
Organizers told us that events like this give people an opportunity to meet other community members who want to learn more about something new.
They say these events are open to all ages, and they hope people feel that there's no wrong age to get introduced to a new hobby.
Karrico told us, "Having that confidence to really reach out and connect with other folks in the community, other kids, and other adults in the community as well. We're always happy to have adults try our classes as well, and it's just finding that spark that really lights them, and we really hope martial arts is like the first step to a much more abundant life."
Officials say they like to find fun ways to encourage people to try martial arts.
They hope people leave feeling more confident and can use that confidence in different aspects of their lives.
Yani Cancino, an Assistant Instructor said, "Today is really about empowering kids in our community through using a popular thing like "Star Wars" and making sure we really get the message out there that you can do things, you have to believe in yourself and do things like the lightsaber, which lights up, how the characters interact with each other and how they, their arcs and how they believe in themselves."
