SaberCraft students, at a certain point, may want to test their skills and take upon a whole new challenge and embark on the road to Saber Mastery. Saber Mastery is not easy as many may expect as gaining the ability to do saber choreography from memory and improvise combinations on the fly requires dedicated training and commitment. Saber Mastery is to make saber play second nature while being mindful of your moves and safety.

Being a Knight is about contributing to the future of SaberCraft and its students. The Knights Program is to empower individuals interested in learning saber choreography adopting principles of wellness into their lives. Through the Knights Program, members develop skills in Saber Mastery and Leadership while adopting a positive wellness and fitness routine.

Knight Sashes

Based on established martial arts programs, the Knights program provides an established curriculum using a rank-system built on on merit and personal accomplishments. SaberCraft uses sashes to designate ranks using the same sashes available for these other martial arts.

THE RANKS

  • Honorary Knight

    The White Sash is for honorary Knights that have been involved with SaberCraft and provided help in a meaningful way to the organization as a whole. These are contributors who have provided their time and efforts to help SaberCraft become what it is today without the need to demonstrate knowledge in the CMs.

  • Initiate Knight (1)

    The Yellow Sash is for Initiate Knights that have been involved with SaberCraft for a minimum of 6 months/sessions or they have shown proficiency with 5 CMs. This is the first sash granted to students wishing to excel in the ranks.

  • Scribe Knight (2)

    The Orange Sash is presented to Scribe Knights that have been involved with SaberCraft for a minimum of 12 months/sessions or they have shown proficiency with 10 CMs or more. They also provide additional contributions to class including coordinating class and assisting in setup/takedown and have participated in at least 1 external Event.

  • Keeper Knight (3)

    The Indigo sash is presented to Keeper Knights that have been involved with SaberCraft for a minimum of 24 months/sessions and have shown proficiency with 15 CMs or more and are conducting Group Instruction and/or Event participation. These members have also participated in LUMINA testing their skills to the limit.

  • Master Knight (4)

    The Green sash is presented to Master Knights that have been involved with SaberCraft for a minimum of 36 months/sessions and have shown proficiency with 20 CMs or more and are conducting Group Instruction and/or Event participation. These members have also completed and judged in several LUMINA games/seasons testing their skills to the limit.

  • Instructor Knight (5)

    The Red Sash is presented to Instructors that have done the following: involved with SaberCraft for a minimum of 36 months/sessions, shown proficiency with a minimum of 15+ CMs, competed in 1 season of Lumina, provided a minimum of teaching 5 group sessions and completed a fitness certification. They are regular participants, judges and coordinators of LUMINA.

Testing your skills

Those enrolled in the program will have access to exams that will test their skills and provide them an opportunity where they can partake in a leadership role in classes and community events including workshops. Rather than practicing with others occasionally or when partners can make time, the Knights Program guarantees that there are like-minded individuals who are setting aside their time to practice their saber craft to its fullest. You dedicate yourself to the art and your practice. It means that you're willing to get to class a little earlier just to help out or taking on the new student and helping them with a particular form. For some it is about community events, while for others it’s a sense of accomplishment.

Time Requirements

Time is defined by a minimum number of sessions. As classes are monthly, if 6 months are required, then that accounts for 6 months of attendance or across however many months until they achieve 6 sessions. Sessions are cumulative and are linked to the rank. In other words, a Knight that is Yellow and attended 6 months only needs an addition 6 months of attendance in order to qualify for Orange.

Age Requirements & Disqualifications

This is for anyone, aged 16 and above, who has an interest for sabers, yoga, choreographies and performing. Considering that saber combat is a delicate dance; safety is of highest priority. SaberCraft Knights gain rank and are recognized in any LUMINA / SaberCraft-based school or club. 

There are certain conditions that can lead to disqualification from the program. Learn more about Disqualifications from becoming a Knight. Unfortunately, not everyone gets in and that should not dissuade you from coming to class and participating in LUMINA. Candidates with a previous record in our Incident Report are disqualified by default but may gain admission on a case-by-case basis.

Become a Knight

SaberCraft Knights start by showing up to class regularly and simply ask to join. In order to join, a candidate must do the following:

  1. The Preliminary Steps: Complete 6 months of classes (or 6 sessions)
  2. Ask to Join:  Simply talk to one of our Knights, mention to them that you’re interested. After the brief interview with several Knights, they will discuss with the other Knights and your membership is put to a vote with those that interviewed you. With a simple majority, you are welcomed in.
  3. Test & Pass Rank 1: This is the final step before you are welcomed into our Knights program. This will be to demonstrate that you understand the minimum amount of CMs needed to be recognized in a rank.
  4. Optional: Suggested donation for Sashes: We offer colored sashes and if you are interested in one, simply cover the cost.

Knight Rank Sash

Suggested Donation: $24/rank

For Knights it is free to hold Knight recognition however, sashes are a treat. If you wish to receive a sash, we kindly suggest a donation of $24 to cover the cost of the sash. You are welcomed to donate at anytime on our donation portal. Your contribution helps keep the program active. You do not have enroll in the Knight program to be a part of SaberCraft as this is for those who are interested in tokens of advancement.

FAQs

If a Knight has not paid their yearly dues, can they still wear their belt? Yes. They simply do not advance in the program. 

What happens if someone stops paying their dues? They continue to wear their current belt but they do not advance. They do not collect the attendance value to capture their requirement sessions for advancement. Example, a Yellow-rank Knight does not renew and they attend 6 sessions after gaining that rank. They are interested in advancement to the next rank of Orange which requires 12 months. Their original 6 that qualified them for Yellow accounts for their current rank and future rank; however, because they did not pay their dues for the previous 6 sessions, those sessions do not qualify. Only future sessions after they paid their dues count towards the Orange rank. The Instructors may make a call on whether the previous sessions (or a percentage thereof) may count on a case-by-case basis.

Can a Knight wear their original “Legacy” sashes? Yes, the original sashes we wear up until the start of this program will be considered “Legacy Belts”. Legacy Belts may continue to be worn but the stripe that indicates the rank will no longer be updated by SaberCraft, however we can supply the fabric.. It will be up to the person to add that stripe on their own accord. This is part of the reason we are moving to Kung-Fu sashes as it is more convenient to purchase a belt rather than to find a tailor (or someone who sows) who is available to update their sash. Upon moving up in rank, when awarded a new color sash, they will be expected to wear their new sash or an updated stripe on their Legacy sash.

What happens when a Knight does not bring their sash to class? Why go through all this trouble without actually using our sashes? Knights must wear a belt in class at all times. If a Knight does not have their sash with them, we will have a variety of colored belts available as loaners but if a particular color is not available - then a Yellow loaner belt will be provided. 

Where can I see the number of classes I have attended? View our Knights Attendance Roster.

Testing

Additional requirements will be created over time as this is a living document. For the program kick-off and until those requirements are made, each level of knight has a number of CMs that they must commit to. These CMs may be demonstrated by successful attack and defense either in class demonstration or in a recorded LUMINA battle. 

Legacy Testing Standards: Can Knights opt to take the old tests? Yes, those who are grandfathered-in for 2022 may opt for that. Knights that are either manually grandfathered-in or new Knights cannot take the old tests.

Acceptance

Knighting Voting Procedure

Candidates who wish to become Knights will need to be voted in. For each candidate, a team of random Electors will be randomly chosen and they will vote whether the candidate is allowed to become a Knight. This prevents control by total majority or by potential cliques that may develop. It is expected that most candidates will be accepted but for those that are rejected, there should be a clear reason why they were rejected. 

  1. Each round of candidates is reviewed by the Instructors. Instructors are encouraged to get a consensus of the active Knights to see if there is a reason why the candidate should not be in the program. If there is a voice of dissent, there must be a reason presented. 
  2. The case will then be reviewed by the Instructors who may then either early reject the candidate or they can abstain and the information is then forwarded to the Elector Knights. Instructors may interview others that may be involved with the rejection. Instructors may also interview the candidate to see if there is a rebuttal.
  3. A group of randomly assigned Knights will make up the Elector Knights who will then vote on the candidate via Google Forms.
    1. If Approved: the Instructors may move forward and purchase the sash and schedule a date for presentation. They should verify the candidate will be in attendance prior to presentation.
    2. If Rejected: an Instructor will inform the candidate as to why they were rejected for the program.