“Using a lightsaber is just good fun! It’s one of the most iconic weapons in history. Everyone knows what it is. There is just something about wielding a fantasy weapon in real life–it brings out the joy in you,” says Peter Borg of Borg’s Saber Academy in Phoenix.

I sat down with Borg to learn about the academy and discuss his role in Phoenix Fan Fusion. Borg and a friend, who later became business partners, developed a curriculum combining lightsabers with martial arts. Seven years ago, they partnered with Phoenix Saber Academy, which hosts their classes.

The classes run for one hour and teach students eight attacks and eight blocks, along with choreographed lightsaber fights that include proper footwork. There are seven different lightsaber forms that take several years to master. I was surprised to learn that some groups even engage in lightsaber sparring, but participants must wear full body armor since being hit with a lightsaber is comparable to being struck with a long, thin bat.

Borg Academy boasts instructors with decades of martial arts experience to complement their lightsaber training. Borg himself has three black belts in various martial arts. He loves getting into a Jedi costume and teaching kids at birthday parties, another service that Borg Academy offers.

 At Phoenix Fan Fusion, Borg will teach a 25-minute class– basically a short version of his original class–twice a day over the three-day event. Come meet Borg and his partners, including Kenny Novero of Phoenix Saber Academy, and get trained. I would love to go because a new Star Wars movie called “Starfighter” has been announced for release in May 2027. I want to start the fun now!