“Do or do not. There is no try”
Our System
Our Lightsaber Martial Arts system and tactics are inspired by but not limited to: Japanese Swordsmanship (Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, Kukishinden Ryu Kenjutsu, Ni Ten Ichi Ryu Hyoho and Tenshin Ryu Hyoho), Chinese swordsmanship (Jian), Filipino Martial Arts (Kali Majapahit, Kali Sikaran, Inayan Eskrima) and Western Fencing.
Our Founder, Master Instructor Fred Evrard has been a martial artist for 45 years, teaching for more than 30 years, and owns 14 Black Belts and Instructor certificates. Fred is also a CQC (Close Quarter Combat) instructor for different Law Enforcement Agencies all over the world and a knife-defense and counter-terrorism consultant for the French Ministry of Defense and the French Special Forces.
This is why the LSA program is so exiting. It is not just about “playing” with a Lightsaber, but it’s a true Martial Arts system, inspired by the Star Wars universe, but still very much grounded in the reality of (safe and fun) combat.
Our Philosophy
In 1998, following a lifetime dedicated to the Martial Arts, Fred Evrard founded Kali Majapahit (KM Martial Arts), a synthesis of Filipino Martial Arts and several fighting and weapon arts from Southeast Asia. Today, KM has 20 academies around the world and is represented in Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, India, Tahiti, France, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Canada and the US.
In addition to Kali, Fred and his wife Lila also practice Japanese and Chinese swordsmanship at a very high level, and trained in Japan, China and all around the world for more than 30 years. Their amazing background, along with a passion for the Star Wars universe, got them to develop the KM Lightsaber Academy (LSA) in their dojos around the world.
The philosophy behind KM and LSA is that even if you have to be able to defend yourself or, in the case of LSA, duel with your Lightsaber, our training is not only about physical skills. It is also about focus and self-confidence, reaching challenging goals and building up our leadership, health and energy level.
Every class will emphasize 3 aspects of the Art: Techniques & Spinning, Tactics & Combat, and a Healthy Lifestyle (including nutrition, posture, breathing, stretching, meditation, etc.). A comprehensive rotating curriculum makes our very efficient and unique Lightsaber Martial Art system accessible to anyone.
Our Mission is to positively impact the world and the life of others through our teaching and philosophy. We strive to be our very best in teaching Lightsaber Combat and Martial Arts, developing leadership in others, teaching personal development skills, a healthy lifestyle, ethics and moral. We lead by example.
Our curriculum
Our training curriculum was designed to give students tools, not only for being the best possible Lightsaber practitioners, but also for living a better and healthier life; to provide them with great values, focus and energy; and finally to boost up their life with positivism, perseverance and confidence.
THE 7 FORMS OF LIGHTSABER COMBAT
Form 1: Shii Cho – Basic style
Form 2: Makashi – Fast and elegant; mostly a 1-hand style
Form 3: Soresu – Defensive style
Form 4: Ataru – Acrobatic offensive style
Form 5: Shien – Fast offensive style
Form 6: Niman – The “diplomate” style. A synthesis of the first 5 Forms, used to control and not to kill
Form 7: Juyo – Aggressive & unpredictable style
THE 7 BASIC GUARDS
- Shii Cho: High side guard
- Makashi: 1-hand guard. Medium or high (fencing style)
- Soresu: “Bow & arrow” guard
- Ataru: Front guard
- Shien: Figure 8 dynamic guard
- Niman: Drop side guard
- Juyo: Natural guard (or “no guard”) – standing still or moving forward
ANGLES OF ATTACK
Apprentice level: 1-6
Knight level: 1-8
BLOCKS & DEFENSE
High / medium / low blocks 1-8
Inverted blocks 1-8
Largo mano (Passa & Contra) 1-8
Parry / deflect 1-8
STUNTS: SPINNING, KICKS & PARKOUR
- Basic spinning: Figure 8 // Reverse figure 8 // Reverse grip figure 8…
- Advanced spinning: Whip // High & low whip // H&L whip + head catch…
- High Kicks & Flying Kicks (with/without a Lightsaber)
- Parkour (with/without a Lightsaber) -> Jumps, rolls, vaults
COMBAT DRILLS
- Shii Cho: Combat drill #1
- Makashi: Combat drill #2
- Soresu: Combat drill #3
- Ataru: Combat drill #4
- Shien: Combat drill #5
- Niman: Combat drill #6
- Juyo: Combat drill #7
DUEL
- One attacker / one defender
- One for one
- Duel using only 1 of the 7 Forms
- Free duel
- Free duel – 2 Lightsabers vs 1 Lightsaber
- Free duel – 1 Lightsaber vs 2 Lightsabers
- Free duel – 2 Lightsabers vs 2 Lightsabers
- Free duel vs multiple opponents
Our Ranking System
- INITIATED: First 3 classes
- APPRENTICE: 6 months curriculum
- KNIGHT: 6 months curriculum
- MASTER: 12 months curriculum
- MASTER INSTRUCTOR: A lifetime of practice and training
Master Instructor Fred Evrard
Fred Evrard is a professional martial arts instructor and international consultant in self-defense and counter-terrorism.
Fred was born in Paris, France in 1972 and started training in Martial Arts (Judo) at the age of 6. In 1998, following a lifetime dedicated to the Martial Arts and with the blessing of his masters, he founded his own style of martial arts, Kali Majapahit. In 2003, Fred and his wife Lila left their home in Tahiti for a 4-year-martial-arts-journey around the world. 4 years without going home, training all over the world with masters of different martial arts and doctors of traditional medicines.
They have visited and trained in China, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tibet, the Philippines, Lebanon, the USA, Hawaii, Tahiti, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand, and more…; learning and teaching seminars all over the world.
In 2006, Fred and Lila opened the KM Headquarters in Singapore, and now have branches all over the world. Kali Majapahit is a synthesis of several Southeast Asian martial arts (Filipino, Indonesian and Thai), Western Boxing and Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. Fred has been studying Martial Arts for more than 42 years and teaching them for 30 years.
Fred Evrard is also the co-founder of the R.E.D. (Recognize & Escape Danger) program and is a consultant for the French Ministry of Defense and several Law Enforcement and Special Forces units around the world both in Close Quarter Combat (CQC) and Counter-terrorism.
Fred Evrard did his military service as a paratrooper in the 9th RCP (Regiment of Chasseurs Parachute), and has since been a CQC and R.E.D. trainer for various units of law enforcement and military such as the Special Forces of the Philippines (FRU and SWAT), elite units of the Singapore Police (Security Command, Commando) and VIP Protection Units of Hong Kong and Singapore police forces (VIPPU) and several groups of special forces and elite units in France.
Fred is a 7th degree Black Belt instructor and owns the title of Punong Guro (Head Instructor & Founder of his style). In addition, he is an instructor in Parkour and an international speaker in the fields of personal development, nutrition and comparative religion studies.
A big fan of Star Wars since childhood (he watched Episodes IV, V and VI in theatre when they first came out), Fred has used all of his Martial Arts and Swordsmanship background to create a unique and “efficient” Lightsaber curriculum.
Master Instructor Lila Evrard
Lila Evrard is a professional Martial Arts instructor with 40 years of experience.
Lila was born in Tahiti in 1976 and started training in Martial Arts with her father at the age of 5. She is recognized internationally as one of the top female Martial Arts instructors in the world and in 2010, was awarded “Filipino Martial Arts Woman of the Year”. Lila also teaches Boxing, Kickboxing, Conditioning, Tai Chi and Tahitian Dance, and has a Master Degree in law. In year 2003, following a lifetime dedicated to the Martial Arts, Lila quit her job as a lawyer, and with her husband Fred, left their home in Tahiti for a 4-year-martial-arts-trip around the world.
4 years without going home, training all over the world with Masters of several Martial Arts and doctors of traditional medicines. They have visited and trained in China, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tibet, the Philippines, Lebanon, the USA, Hawaii, Tahiti, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand, and more; searching for knowledge and sharing it, teaching seminars all over the world.
Lila is the Co-founder of the Martial Arts style of Kali Majapahit. In 2006, Lila and Fred opened the KM Headquarters in Singapore, which now have branches all over the world. In addition, she is the co-founder, with her sister, of Tahitian Dance and Fitness program TDF (Tahiti Dance & Fitness).
Finally, Lila Evrard is also a speaker for TEDx Talks.