7 Reasons Why Adults Are Joining Temple Warriors, the Light Sword Martial Arts Class in Person (Besides the Fact That There Are No Children in the Room)
Temple Warriors is the Light Sword Martial Arts class at a licensed floor: nine forms, a sash ladder, live sparring in federation-standard armour and rank testing on the floor, run by a Commander who holds rank in the art. The academy near you sets its schedule and its price; the art sets the standard. Here’s exactly why adults are joining.
🛡 One standard, every floor. The same nine forms, the same rulebook and the same Roster at every licensed academy. Membership terms are the academy’s own.
Why adults are taking the saber seriously.
It is a codified art: nine forms, a lineage, and a sash from white to black.
The Light Sword Martial Arts curriculum is nine forms built by Sijo Nathan Young, a two-time world champion in the Bruce Lee lineage, and taught in Virginia Beach since 2015. You learn Form I first and test for your sash the way any martial artist does. Nothing about it is a prop.
The sparring is real, and it is scored.
Padded polycarbonate blades, federation-standard armour, a referee and a ruleset. The Light Sword Martial Arts Federation sanctions four competition formats: Forms, Paired Forms, Combat-Classic and Combat-Electronic Score. When the bracket is published, the result counts.
It is an adult practice. Thirteen and up, and no children’s classes.
Temple Warriors, the Light Sword Martial Arts class at a licensed floor, is an adult room. Members are 13 and up; members under 18 are enrolled by a parent or guardian. There are no children’s classes and no birthday parties on a licensed floor. You train with people who came to train.
Your rank travels with you.
One Global Roster records every member, every sash and every floor of record across the academies and the Circles. A sash earned on one licensed floor is honoured on every other, in any city. Never a reset.
Ready to take the saber seriously?
Nine forms, one sash ladder · a licensed floor near you
Find your floorThe Commander on your floor holds rank, and the academy sets its own price.
Every licensed academy is run by a Commander ranked in the art, teaching the same nine forms under the same rulebook and the same Code of S.A.B.E.R. Membership is the academy’s own: it sets the schedule and the price and bills its own members. LSTA sets the standard, never the fee.
There is a floor near you, or a request map for the next one.
The licensed academies, with schedules and sign-up addresses, are on Find a Floor and in the selector below, and new ones open where the warriors are. If none is within reach, Request a Floor records your city, and Shadow Circles host free Saturday sparring floors in a growing list of cities.
The people who booked it as a date night are now chasing a black sash.
Students who tried a session on a whim found a martial art. “Didn’t expect to be inducted into a legitimate martial arts group. We are both hooked and have our goals set on getting a black belt one day.” Chris F., verified review. Over 1,500 warriors trained since 2015.
Enrol at Your Floor
Pick your academy and enrol on its own sign-up; the academy sets its schedule and its price. Your sash is recorded on the Global Roster and honoured on every floor.
- Weekly classes and live sparring
- Rank testing on the floor
- Adults and teens 13 and up
- One Global Roster, every floor
Temple Warriors
- Weekly classes and live sparring under a ranked Commander
- Rank testing on the floor, recorded on the Global Roster
- The same nine forms and rulebook at every licensed floor
- Adults and teens 13 and up; under 18 enrolled by a guardian
What is included
- Weekly classes and live sparring under a ranked Commander
- Rank testing on the floor, recorded on the Global Roster
- The same nine forms and rulebook at every licensed floor
- Adults and teens 13 and up; under 18 enrolled by a guardian
The facts
Guarantee, delivery and returns
Every licensed academy teaches the same nine forms under the same rulebook, graded by Commanders who hold rank in the art. Your sash is recorded on the Global Roster and honoured on every floor. Membership is the academy’s own, on its own terms and at its own price; LSTA publishes no floor price.
Not sure which saber or which floor? Take the sixty-second fitting and we will tell you.
One curriculum. One standard. Every floor.
Every licensed academy teaches the same nine forms under the same rulebook, graded by Commanders who hold rank in the art. Your sash is recorded on the Global Roster and honoured on every floor. Membership is the academy’s own, on its own terms and at its own price; LSTA publishes no floor price.
We made joining a martial art, like, ridiculously easy.
Find.
Pick your academy from the selector or on Find a Floor. New floors appear as they open; if your city is not listed, request one.
Enrol.
The academy’s own sign-up, its own schedule, its own price. Members under 18 are enrolled by a parent or guardian.
Train.
Weekly classes, live sparring in federation-standard armour, rank testing on the floor. Your sash goes on the Global Roster and travels.
1,500+ warriors. Most of them started on a whim.
Verified reviews from the Norfolk and Virginia Beach floors • the founders’ record • the licensed academies
Sifu Edward Armstrong
Entrepreneur of the Year, a Board-Certified Tai Chi Instructor and a published author. Founded the Light Sword Training Academy in Virginia Beach in 2015 with Sifu Julliana; opened the Norfolk academy in 2019.
Sifu Julliana Armstrong
3× WEKAF National Champion, a two-time World Champion under GSBA and a Team USA competitor. Delivered the curriculum under U.S. federal contract at Langley AFB and Fort Eustis.
Temple Warriors: the Light Sword Martial Arts class in person, on a licensed floor.
Read together, the reviews say the same four things: people arrived on a whim, a date night or a holiday; the first hour felt like a real class; everyone sparred; and the ones who stayed are now chasing a sash. They describe their own hour, not a promise of yours.
“Didn’t expect to be inducted into a legitimate martial arts group. Just thought it was a fun date idea for me and the wife. We are both hooked and have our goals set on getting a black belt one day.”
Chris F., verified Yelp review, Norfolk“As a 15-year traditional martial artist, I was skeptical. After one session I understood. This is a complete, legitimate system. The 9 forms are grounded in real combat traditions.”
Marcus T., student“Our instructor was fantastic, very entertaining and friendly. We went through the basics and then had the chance to all fight each other! I can’t recommend this enough.”
Ava, verified Airbnb review“As a woman in martial arts, I’ve dealt with a lot of uncomfortable environments. LSTA is different. The Code of S.A.B.E.R. creates a culture of respect that I’ve never experienced anywhere else.”
Amanda P., student“My expectations for this experience were blown out of the water and we had so much fun. Edward was so great and we will absolutely come back the next time we’re in the area!”
Lizzy, verified Airbnb review“I visited as a tourist in Norfolk. I stayed as a student. Sifu Armstrong is the real deal.”
a visiting student, NorfolkReviews are verified student reviews from the Norfolk and Virginia Beach floors (Airbnb and Yelp) and named students. They describe their own experience, not a promise of yours. The one proof figure, 1,500+ warriors trained since 2015, is the academy’s own record.
Built in Virginia Beach. Sanctioned by a federation.
Where the nine forms were built.
The founding academy of Sifu Edward and Sifu Julliana Armstrong, where the curriculum, the sash ladder and the safety rules took shape, and where the art is still taught on Sundays.
A real governing body.
The Light Sword Martial Arts Federation, a Virginia nonprofit, writes the rulebook, trains the referees and sanctions competition in four formats. Athlete dues are $39 a year.
One record of every warrior.
Every member, every sash, every floor of record, across the academies and the Circles, on Club Sabernet. Your rank is a fact wherever you train.
Read the label.
Floor Facts
Questions
Do I need to be fit, or have any martial arts background?
No. Form I is taught from the first stance. Most adults who train with us had never held a saber or stepped on a mat before. The fitness comes with the forms.
What is the minimum age?
Thirteen. Members under 18 are enrolled by a parent or guardian and train in the adult room. There are no children’s classes.
Is it safe?
The blades are padded polycarbonate and sparring is fought in federation-standard protective gear under a referee. The free Saturday floors run drills and light sparring with loaner sabers.
What does it cost?
Each licensed academy sets and bills its own membership. LSTA publishes no floor price; the academy’s sign-up page does. Pick your academy in the selector above, or see Find a Floor.
I already own a saber. Does it count?
Any polycarbonate-blade saber trains. For sparring and competition the Legacy Student Kit carries the helmet and gloves the rulebook requires.
There is no floor within reach. What then?
Request a Floor records your city; the floors open where the warriors are. Until one does, Shadow Warriors trains the same nine forms at home, with a master reviewing your form video every week, and the sash you earn there is honoured when you walk onto a licensed floor.
Can I try it first?
Yes. Most academies run an open Saturday, and Shadow Circles host free Saturday sparring floors with loaner sabers in a growing list of cities. Find a Floor lists both.
The art is real, and the floor is near. Find yours.
Pick your academy, enrol on its own sign-up, and walk in. Your first sash goes on the Global Roster, and it travels to every floor.
Find your floor🛡 One standard, every floor. The same nine forms, the same rulebook and the same Roster at every licensed academy. Membership terms are the academy’s own.
Not sure which saber or which floor? Take the free sixty-second fitting.
Four questions. We tell you the saber that fits your hand and height, the path that fits your week, and the nearest floor. No account, no card.
The same fitting every new warrior takes on their first Saturday.