With Star Wars seemingly smashing box office records by the minute, it was perhaps inevitable that the force would make its way from cinema screens to gym studios. JJ Abrams’ successful reboot of the famous franchise has given a boost for one of the more unlikely workout trends for 2016: lightsaber fitness classes.

The workouts, where fans practice their Jedi sparring skills, are popping up across the US and also in the UK, with participation rates soaring since the release of the film. The sessions combine cardio and bodyweight conditioning, using a variety of replica lightsabers to add an extra element of fun to fitness.

In Europe, Italian company LudoSport has been producing ‘sporting lightsabers’ and instructor classes since 2006 and has plans to open a number of new academies across the continent.

There are currently four LudoSport academies in the UK – Bristol, London, Cheltenham and Cardiff – which teach the seven different styles of the sport from the Star Wars world using flexible blades mounted on weighted hilts.

“We’re not here pretending we’ve got special powers. It’s a great form of exercise and a good competitive sport,” LudoSport Bristol class leader Jordan Court told the Bristol Evening Post last year.

“You don’t have to be into the films to enjoy the class. In fact I’ve had a few people come who’ve never seen Star Wars and they say afterwards ‘we should probably watch the films now’.”

Disney is expected to release a new Star Wars film every year between now and 2020, as it seeks to make good on the US$4bn it paid original director George Lucas for his company Lucasfilm. With that in mind, it seems a safe bet to say Star Wars fitness classes are well-placed to flourish, especially given their potential to tempt children off the couch and into a fun fitness environment.