Is Temple of Light a religious or political organisation?
No. Temple of Light is an independent secular community united by the practice of Neoteric Martial Arts, personal development, and shared activity.
Participants may hold different worldviews, religious beliefs, and political opinions. These belong to each person’s private sphere. The community does not require a shared faith or ideology and is not used for preaching, political campaigning, or promoting parties and movements.
Our common points of reference are practical: awareness, responsibility, respect for others, independent thinking, and a willingness to contribute to the common work.
Is this cosplay or role-playing?
No. We respect cosplay, stage combat, and role-playing communities, but Temple of Light does something different.
The lightsaber and the image of the Jedi provide a recognisable form and a shared cultural language. The foundation of our activity is Neoteric Martial Arts, regular training, partner work, free sparring, physical preparation, education, seminars, and retreats.
We do not play characters or present a fictional universe as reality. For us, the Jedi is a contemporary archetype of a person who seeks to combine strength with responsibility, knowledge with practice, and personal development with service to the community.
Where and how do training sessions take place?
The format depends on the season and the programme. A significant part of our training takes place outdoors; alongside regular sessions, we organise training trips, seminars, conventions, and retreats.
It is always best to confirm the current place and time before visiting, as the schedule can change with the season and the composition of the group.
Can I come just to watch?
We do not organise separate spectator visits. It is difficult to understand the intensity, method, and character of interaction within the group from the outside, so an introduction usually begins by taking part in an accessible portion of a session.
Contact us beforehand: an instructor will explain what to expect and choose a safe format for your first training.
What if I am not sure this is right for me?
That is exactly why there is an introductory period. It allows you to become familiar with the training, the people, and the community’s principles without promising to follow the entire path immediately.
Our task is to provide enough experience and information for an informed decision. You can then continue regular practice or honestly conclude that another format suits you better.
What do I need for my first training session?
Comfortable sports clothing and footwear appropriate to the weather and location are enough. The instructor will tell you in advance if indoor shoes or additional protection are required.
You do not need your own sword for the first session. The possibility of using club equipment should be agreed before your visit.
When will I need my own sword and other equipment?
Equipment is acquired gradually as you progress through the programme. Requirements depend on the level of training and are described in the rank system.
Do not buy or build a duelling sword before consulting an instructor: appearance is not the only consideration—strength, balance, safety, and compatibility with the training format also matter.
Can training be combined with work or study?
Yes. Practice should fit into real life, not destroy it. Sustainable progress still requires regularity; if the timetable is difficult, discuss available sessions, independent work, and upcoming training trips with an instructor.
We distinguish between real limitations and the habit of continually postponing what matters. Each person decides their own priorities.
How much does participation cost?
Ranks, the community’s regard, and access to higher levels cannot be bought—they are connected to preparation, responsibility, and contribution.
Individual sessions, trips, and retreats may involve organisational costs such as venue hire, travel, accommodation, food, or shared equipment. Terms are communicated in advance and discussed transparently before participation.
What is Neoteric Martial Arts?
Neoteric Martial Arts (NMA) is a system developed at Temple of Light that combines universal principles from different martial arts with contemporary methods of physical and psychological preparation.
It includes fencing with training lightsabers, work with bokken, staff, and other weapons, unarmed training, partner exercises, free sparring, and theoretical study.
The aim of NMA is not to accumulate as many techniques as possible, but to learn to understand technique, adapt it to the situation, and use practice for human development.
Do you practise Shii-Cho, Soresu, Ataru, or Vaapad forms?
No. These forms belong to the fictional Star Wars universe. They may be interesting as part of its history and aesthetics, but they are not the technical foundation of NMA.
Our method develops from real martial arts, practical experience, and testing techniques through training interaction.
Is winning a duel the main goal?
The ability to act effectively in a duel matters, but it is not the final goal. Winning at any cost can reinforce poor technique, disregard for safety, and dependence on self-assertion.
For us, a duel is a way to test skills, decisions, and inner state. What matters is not only the outcome, but how a person acts under pressure, controls force, and treats their partner.
Do you hold competitions and tournaments?
A competitive format is possible, but it does not define our practice. Sparring, trials, and assessment duels are used primarily for learning and testing skills, not for dividing participants into “winners” and “losers”.
Can I come only for sparring?
A bout with a guest is possible only by prior agreement. First we need to meet, discuss experience, rules, equipment, and the purpose of the encounter.
We are open to exchanging experience between schools, but we do not take part in challenges for self-assertion. Safety and mutual respect matter more than demonstrating superiority.
Can I study two swords, a staff, or another weapon?
Yes, but additional weapons are introduced after the fundamentals have been learned with confidence. Working with two swords or a staff requires coordination, distance control, and stable technical skills.
The sequence is not intended to restrict access artificially; it ensures that complex technique rests on a reliable foundation.
Do you “practise the Force”?
Not as a supernatural ability from Star Wars. We do not present an artistic image as physical reality.
We do, however, work with attention, perception, emotional self-regulation, and recovery. This may include meditation, visualisation, breathing exercises, reflection, and other practices that can be discussed without mystification.
Does the colour of the sword matter? Can I bring a red one?
The blade colour does not determine a participant’s character, views, or belonging to any “side”. Choose the colour you like, provided the weapon meets the technical requirements.
The division into Jedi and Sith remains part of a fictional universe. In real practice, actions, treatment of other people, and the quality of one’s work on oneself are what matter.
Must a modern Jedi know how to do everything?
No. NMA provides a broad but still specific foundation. Attempting to include every interesting discipline in the compulsory programme would make learning superficial and endless.
Participants may independently study other martial arts, psychology, philosophy, natural sciences, or creative practices and share their experience with the community. First, however, it is important to master the chosen foundation well and understand why each new skill is needed.