AN ANCIENT SECRET THAT BUILT A REBELLION
A story of four legendary masters who discovered an ancient secret and built a rebellion with four distinct paths—each designed for a different warrior archetype.
an ancient secret that built a rebellion
✦ The Empire had evolved... ✦
It wasn't just corporate gyms selling memberships and supplements. It was an entire ecosystem designed to keep you exhausted, anxious, and posting.
60-second Path Quiz
Rank progression
Prologue: The Empire (2014)
Becky posted her morning workout to Instagram.
"Crushing it at 5am! 💪 #NoExcuses #GymLife"
The validation came instantly. Hearts. Fire emojis. Comments from strangers telling her she was an inspiration.
But when she put the phone down, her hands were shaking.
She'd been at the gym for 90 minutes. She had a presentation in three hours. Her boss had texted twice. Her daughter's recital was tonight and she hadn't even looked at the permission slip.
But the post said she was crushing it.
So she must be fine.
This was 2014. The year Instagram culture weaponized fitness.
You weren't just working out anymore—you were performing for an algorithm.
The Empire had evolved.
It wasn't just corporate gyms selling memberships and supplements. It was an entire ecosystem designed to keep you exhausted, anxious, and posting.
Wake at 4:30am for the gym
Post the sunrise workout
Validate your existence through engagement metrics
Repeat until burnout
Buy the recovery program
Post your comeback
The Empire didn't just profit from your membership fees anymore. It profited from your attention, your anxiety, and your need to prove you were enough.
And if you couldn't keep up? The empire had a product for that too.
✦ Episode I: The Four Masters (2015-2017) ✦
They found it separately. None of them were looking for it.
But each was already a master of something else.
Nick | Hollywood, 2015
Nick was already living the dream most people never touch.
Hollywood Stunt Director, Stunt Coordinator. Fight Choreographer. Second Unit Director on films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Tenet. Over 101 stunt credits to his name. 28 acting credits. 6 director credits.
He'd grown up in the LA film industry, trained in Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Capoeira, Kempo, and Judo. He knew how to make combat look real on screen.
But he was exhausted.
Twelve-hour days. Constant travel. His body was breaking down from decades of stunt work. And the industry? It was all performance. All spectacle. All for the camera.
One night between shoots, an old martial arts instructor sent him a video.
"Form 1: The Foundation of Everything"
An old master demonstrating a flowing sequence with a wooden training sword. No cameras. No crew. No audience.
Just movement.
Nick tried it in his hotel room. 15 minutes.
For the first time in years, his body didn't hurt. His mind was quiet.
He realized: This was what combat was supposed to feel like before Hollywood turned it into entertainment.
He started training elite stunt performers in private—teaching them to train when no one was watching
Edward | Virginia Beach, 2015
Edward had already built something impossible.
He'd taken a Light Sword academy from zero to the largest in the United States in six months. Won Hola Awards Entrepreneur of the Year and the People's Choice Award. Been featured on "America's Real Deal" and "Total Health Magazine."
The City of Virginia Beach had contracted him to provide classes at Parks & Recreation locations. He was a keynote speaker at the Holistic Health & Wellness Expo in Los Angeles.
By all measures, he'd won.
But he was burnt out.
He'd built an empire. And empires require constant feeding—more students, more locations, more content, more posting, more validation.
Then he found Form 1 at a used bookstore. A photocopied manual from the 1970s tucked inside a martial arts history book he'd bought for $3.
"Form 1: The "This form was designed for warriors who had no time to train. 15 minutes. No equipment. Permanent results."
He tried it in his garage. Day one: chaos. Day seven: flow. Day thirty: his doctor asked what medication he'd started because his cortisol levels had dropped 42%.
He hadn't started any medication.
Edward realized: He'd been building an empire. But he'd forgotten how to be a warrior.
He started teaching it at his academy—bringing warriors together in person, building tribe, not followers.
Julliana | Langley Air Force Base, 2015
Julliana wasn't teaching yoga classes or running Instagram fitness challenges.
She was contracted by Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis Army Base to teach Light Sword combat to active-duty military personnel.
She was the first American Certified Instructor for Officials of LudoSport International. The first American to referee the Annual International Lightsaber Champion's Arena in Milan, Italy.
She'd won:
1st Place GSBA Regional Champion (Mixed Weapons & Single Padded Division)
1st Place GSBA National Championship (Team Carenza Performance)
TWO 1st Place 2024 WEKAF National Championships
She was a NASM Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and co-founder of Total Saber Fit, a 30-minute fitness program that revolutionized exercise through light sword combat.
But she had a problem.
Her students kept asking: "Where can I get a quality training saber that actually works?"
The market was flooded with cheap toys or overpriced collectibles. Nothing in between.
She found Form 1 through a retired Marine sergeant who'd ordered a custom training saber from her small Etsy shop. He mentioned he used it for "the old training sequences."
Julliana asked what that meant.
He sent her a PDF.
"Form 1: Mastery Through Repetition."
Nathan | HAWAII, 2015
Nathan Young was already a legend.
Two-time World Champion. Invited to perform at the 2004 Olympics. Grand Champion in Forms at Professor Godin's Kenpo Tournament. 3rd place at the World Championship in New Orleans. 1st place in the World Cup.
Featured in Black Belt Magazine (Aug/Sep 2019).
His credentials were absurd:
Second Generation Instructor in Jeet Kune Do under Richard Bustillo
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt
APK Level 2 Parkour Instructor
2nd Degree Kenpo & Kajukempo
2nd Degree Hapkido
Wing Chun Certified Instructor
American Jiu-jitsu 2nd Degree
LudoSport Form I & II Tecnico
He'd trained under the best. He'd competed at the highest levels. He'd won everything.
But in 2017, he'd just retired from active competition. And he was lost.
Gyms felt performative. Competitions felt empty. The martial arts world had turned into a content machine—post your training, tag your sponsors, build your brand.
Nathan didn't want to build a brand. He wanted to build warriors.
Then a former student sent him a text:
"Found the thing we were looking for.
Form 1. Try it."
He tried it in his living room. 8ft x 8ft of space. A wooden dowel. 15 minutes.
It felt like home.
Not because it was flashy. But because it was private. No performance. No validation. Just competence, built in silence.
Nathan realized: This was what he'd been searching for his entire career. The foundation beneath everything.
He started teaching it to his private students—building the 9-Form Combat System that would become the foundation of the Rebellion.
✦ Episode II: The First Council ✦
2016 A.D.
They met by accident.
Nick was in Austin for a film industry conference. Edward had just given a keynote on business scaling. Julliana was visiting military contacts in the area. Nathan was meeting with potential students.
They ended up at the same coffee shop. Same corner table.
Edward had a photocopied Form 1 manual on the table.
Nathan saw it. Froze.
"Where did you get that?..."
Within 20 minutes, all four of them were sitting together.
Different backgrounds. Same form. Same results.
Nick had a private training group—15 stunt performers and choreographers training between shoots.
Edward had an email list—200 academy owners and instructors doing 15-minute morning flows.
Julliana had a small Etsy shop—30 custom saber builds sold, customers asking for more.
Nathan had a private veteran's group—40 former competitors training together virtually.
None of them had met. But they'd all found the same thing:
Form 1 worked. And the empire would never teach it.
Why?
Because Form 1 didn't require:
A gym membership
A trainer certification program
Expensive equipment
An audience
90-minute classes
Posting for validation
It required 15 minutes, 8x8 feet of space, and zero ego.
The empire couldn't monetize that.
But then Julliana said something that changed everything:
"What if we don't just train warriors? What if we give them a way to earn while they train?"
She pulled out her phone and showed them her Etsy shop.
"I'm selling custom sabers for $600 each. Build cost: $150. I can't keep up with demand."
Edward leaned forward. "What if we scaled that? Monthly kits. Build systems. A marketplace."
Nick nodded. "And what about the warriors who want to train alone? What if we used AI to give them real-time feedback?"
Nathan smiled. "And what about those who want to teach? To build their own academies?"
They made a pact that day.
"We will never become the thing we're fighting. We will build four paths, each designed for a different warrior archetype. And we'll start with the one that gives warriors their power back: the ability to earn."
The Rebellion was born.
And the Saber Smugglers Rebellion would be the gateway.
✦ Episode III: The Four Paths (2018-2021) ✦
They didn't build one system. They built four.
Because they realized something crucial: different people need different paths to the same destination.
✦ Path 1: Saber Smugglers - The Primary Gateway✦
"Make. Train. Sell. Earn."
For the maker, the hustler, the entrepreneur who wants to build something tangible and earn income while training.
The Model:
Monthly Bounty Kits (hilts, soundboards, blades, tools)
3 Tiers: Builder Bounty ($297/mo), Pro Bounty ($347/mo), Master Bounty ($397/mo)
Build 3-4 sabers per month
Sell for $400-$800 each (profit margins: 70-85%)
Average earnings: $808-$3,200/month
Private marketplace + listing templates + marketing support
Rebel HQ community (Sabernet)
Rank progression: Rookie → Hustler → Boss → Legend
Why It's the Gateway:
Because it solves the #1 problem warriors face: How do I afford training while building a life?
Saber Smugglers don't just train. They earn while they train.
The Founding Masters understood:
Warriors need tangible results. Physical proof. Income. Not just "personal growth."
Saber Smugglers was the rebellion's answer to the empire's subscription trap.
This became the Founding 100 entry point—the first wave of rebels who would fund their training through their craft.
✦ Path 2: Shadow Warriors - The Solo Warrior✦
"Train when no one is watching. Rise when no one expects it."
For the burnt-out professional who trains alone in the shadows.
The Model:
15 min/day AI-guided lightsaber combat training
AI Saber Sensei (iPhone 13+/iPad Pro LiDAR tracking)
2 Tiers: Shadow Apprentice ($97/mo), Shadow Warrior ($147/mo with $150 blade gift card)
15-Level Progression System (85 unique exercises across 4 mastery tiers)
42% stress reduction (proven in test groups)
Shadow Council community
Bounty Board challenges
Weekly broadcasts
Why The Formation Of Shadow Warriors?:
Because the Founding Masters understood the difference between performing and mastering.
Shadow Warriors train in private. No cameras. No audience. No validation-seeking.
Just competence, built in silence.
The Founding Masters built this for people like themselves... tech workers, lawyers, executives who didn't have time for the empire's 90-minute theatrics.
✦ Path 3: Temple Warriors - The Tribe✦
"You don't need a gym.
You need a temple."
For the person who needs community, structure, and in-person training.
The Model:
In-person classes at certified LSTA academies
9-Form Curriculum (traditional martial arts progression)
Certified instructors trained by Sifu Edward Armstrong
Small class sizes (max 15 students per session)
Monthly tournaments, quarterly showcases, annual conference
Morning, evening, and weekend classes
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels
Why The Creation Of Temple Warrirors:
Because the Founding Masters understood exactly what worked:
Not more content. Not more posts. Not more validation.
Community. Accountability. Belonging.
Temple Warriors was for teachers, parents, caregivers—people who trained better together.
✦ Path 4: Academy Commanders - The Leader✦
"You weren't meant to follow. You were meant to lead."
For the master who wants to teach, build, and create a legacy.
The Model — 3 Business Paths:
Instructor Certification ($2,997)
Become a Certified Light Sword instructor.
Teach at existing academies. Start earning immediately.
90-Day Certification
Complete 9-Form Combat System Training
Teaching Methodology Mastery
15 Students in 90 Days Marketing System
Insurance & Legal Documentation
LSTA Certification Badge
Ongoing Support ($197/month optional)
Avg. Income: $3K-$8K/month (part-time)
Mobile Saber Tag License ($9,997)
Build a Mobile Events Business.
Parties, Corporate Events, Festivals. High-margin, High-demand.
Exclusive Territory License
Complete Mobile Equipment Kit ($15K value)
Saber Tag System (proprietary tech)
Events Marketing & Sales Training
Event Operations Manual
Booking Software & CRM
Ongoing Support & Territory Protection
Franchise Lite Program ($47,997)
Open Your Own Rebellion Outpost.
Full territory rights. Complete system. Build a legacy.
Exclusive Territory Rights (50-mile radius)
Complete Branding & Marketing System
Full Curriculum & Instructor Training
Launch Marketing Campaign ($10K value)
CRM & Operations Software
15 Students in 90 Days Guarantee
Ongoing Support & Mastermind Access
Avg. Income: $15K-$25K/month
Why The Creation Of Academy Commanders:
Because the Founding Masters understood real legacy wasn't about trophies.
It was the warriors they trained.
Academy Commanders was for veterans, coaches, trainers... people who wanted to scale their impact and build something permanent.
Four paths. Four archetypes. One form. Same enemy.
✦ Episode IV: The AI Revolution (2022-2024) ✦
By 2022, the Rebellion had a problem.
By 2022, the Rebellion had a problem.
They had 1,500+ warriors training across four paths. But they hit a ceiling.
Mastery requires feedback. And feedback requires a master.
Temple Warriors had instructors. But Shadow Warriors trained alone. How could they know if their form was correct?
The Founding Masters assembled a team. Engineers. Martial artists. Data scientists.
The mission: Build an AI master that could watch you train and give real-time feedback.
They spent two years building it
AI Saber Sensei
Uses iPhone/iPad LiDAR sensors
Tracks 27 body points in real-time
90% accuracy
Gives instant corrections
Works in your living room
Color-coded feedback (green = perfect, yellow = adjust, red = correction needed)
It was the breakthrough they needed.
Now a Shadow Warrior training alone at 5am could get the same feedback as a Temple Warrior training under the Founding Masters themselves.
The empire couldn't compete with that.
✦ Episode V: The Founding 100 (2025-2026) ✦
This is where you come in.
The Rebellion has spent 10+ years building this:
Four distinct paths (Saber Smugglers, Shadow Warriors, Temple Warriors, Academy Commanders)
One proven system (Form 1)
AI technology that democratizes mastery
A marketplace that turns makers into earners
A community of fellow likeminded light sword warriors
A track record of 42% cortisol reduction in 15 minutes/day
Military contract blueprints (modeled from Langley AFB and Fort Eustis)
Hollywood-level choreography expertise
World championship competition experience
Largest US academy scaling blueprint... Period!
But they've never opened the doors to the public.
Until now.
The Founding 100
Saber Smugglers Rebellion
The first 100 people to join the Saber Smugglers Rebellion get something no one else will ever get:
FOUNDING REBEL Badge (FR) — Permanent "FR" status visible forever
15% Profit Share — Earn 15% referral commission (vs 10% standard) from every new warrior who joins after you
Lifetime Rate Lock — Your price never increases
Lifetime Rank Advantage — Priority placement on Bounty Board (always at the top)
Founding Summit Access — Annual in-person summit with the original 100
Wall of Honor — Permanent listing on the Founding 100 legacy page
Pioneer Status — Your name could be #1 on the Bounty Board forever
✦ Epilogue: The Choice ✦
Becky is still posting to Instagram.
But now she's posting results, not performances.
She's a Saber Smuggler. Rank: Hustler. She builds 3 sabers per month in her garage while her daughter is at school.
Last month she earned $2,400. This month she's on track for $3,200.
Her doctor asked what changed.
She told him about the Rebellion.
He laughed. "So it's like Etsy?"
She shook her head.
"No. It's the opposite of Etsy. Etsy takes 15%. The Rebellion gives me the tools, the training, the marketplace, and lets me keep 85%. And... I get paid to train."
The empire wants you exhausted, performing, and paying.
The Rebellion wants you skilled, earning, and free.
You've read the story.
Now choose:
The Founding 100 Won't Wait
The Rebellion is not a gym. It's not a hobby.
It's a 10-year war against everything that's burning you out.
Led by four masters who've trained military bases, won world championships, built the largest US academy, and choreographed Hollywood blockbusters.
And it starts with the Saber Smugglers—warriors who earn while they train.
Which side are you on?
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This is our way of life.”
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