New York teacher plans Young Jedi Academy after school program

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- A New York teacher's plan for a fitness-oriented after-school program comes from a galaxy far, far away -- a Star Wars-inspired Young Jedi Academy.

Andy Yung, a pre-kindergarten teacher at PS244 in Queens, said his Young Jedi Academy would promote fitness by teaching kids to exercise with their toy lightsabers.

"I want parents out there to see that there are other ways that their children could live an active lifestyle even if its lightsaber choreography," Yung told WPIX-TV.

"I walk around Flushing and I see a lot of people doing Tai Chi and they use their swords," he said. "That can easily be done with a lightsaber as well so Star Wars has a connection to fitness and I wanted to bring that into our school."

Yung started a DonorsChoose.org page to raise money for balls, lightsabers and other materials for the Young Jedi Academy.

"I'm hoping to create an after school enrichment class that would be inspired by the Jedi way. My padawans would embark on a journey to become Jedi Masters. They will train their bodies, improve their breathing, stretch, develop their reflexes, and conclude with a controlled light saber sparring," he wrote on the website. "The resources requested will help keep our students fit, active, and healthy. The light sabers will be used for them to practice light saber techniques, choreography, and sparring."

Yung said he hopes to start the program as early as next month if he meets his fundraising goal.