SAN FRANCISCO - A group of San Francisco "Star Wars" fans have created a combat choreography class for Jedis-in-training with their weapon of choice: the light saber.

At a recent class, Alain Bloch, the self-proclaimed Jedi Master at Golden Gate Knights, demonstrated a slicing technique. He has a background in martial arts and stage combat.

"Always be mindful of the presence!" he said, donning a Luke Skywalker outfit and a green light saber.

With "Star Wars" movie music coursing through the dance studio, his disciples clutch their neon-glowing light sabers.

These self-proclaimed "Star Wars geeks" slice and parry as they follow Bloch's lead, and they get a little exercise, too.

People in a recent class, including a couple on a date, said they embraced their quirkiness and had even converted some of the skeptical into the "Jedi order."

"At first they giggle because they think it's a little silly. Then they're like, 'Actually that's kind of cool,'" said Julio Reyes, a student.

Not all Jedis-in-training are rooting for the good guys. Some came to embrace "the dark side of the force."

"I just love Vader, period," said the Darth Vader-clad student Gary Ripper. "Just his voice, the way he moved, the power of him. I just liked the powerfulness of him."

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