Marc, welcome to Saber Talk, let’s start at the beginning, how did you first get involved with LED Saber as a sport?
In 2015 I was coincidentally introduced to a new project which would become SSCA about a month later and I thought it was interesting, but after over 2 years I felt it was not longer my place to be. I then swapped to SSL in Dec 2017 because they were better aligned with my martial philosophy and gave me complete freedom and authority over my style of fighting.

We’ve seen you dominate both pool and elimination stages—do you approach those two phases differently, psychologically or tactically?
Yes. I always save myself in the poules. Considering my age and the youth of my opponents, I need to save all the stamina I can when possible.

I never win the poules with ample margins, I tend to score just enough to pass and save energy.

Tactically it mostly depends on my condition of the day. At worlds 2024 I tried a trick, losing all matches in the poules on purpose to guarantee a first direct elimination vs Seb so I could face him at full energy, but didn’t go well and he won 3-2.

As one of the best players in the world, you’re obviously a highly skilled fighter, how would you sum up your style in the arena? Has it changed at all over your time competing?
I did have two styles, both two-handed:

• The first is what I used so far, forcing a mistake and punishing it.
• The second is what I really want to use but my spinal injury forbids, limiting myself to use it extremely rarely as it hurts quite bad. It’s based on footwork, speed and full of high risk high reward moves.

The only times I tapped into Style 2 were for a single round vs Guillaume (Paris open 2024, after Round 1, I was down by -3), Sebastien (World’s finals 2024, last round, all my four match points) and Amaury (Paris open 2023, Round 2 and he opened with a 4-1 for him).

I was forced to change style completely after Paris 2024 as the injury became permanent, so Style 2 is gone for good.

Now I have a third style: a “one-handed just have fun” one.

Do you feel there’s a particular matchup or fighting style that challenges you more than others? If so, what makes it difficult to counter.
Not particularly, every match is a puzzle to crack, it only depends on how much I can move my legs. I do prefer strong opponents as they tend to be more linear and easy to exploit with readings and punishes. Beginners make me struggle because they tend to be more chaotic with their moves and the way they strategise.

LED Saber has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, what do you think makes it so special? And what would you say is one misconception that most people have about the sport?
I assume the fandom around SW, but to me is the chance for adults to have fun playing like kids without a community that judges you. Our community is very friendly in that sense.

A lot of fighters will listen to music while warming up or practicing, is this something you’ve ever given a try? If so, did you find it helped you to focus or improve your performance at all?
No, not anymore since at least 1998. I was used to do that in my fencing years (listening mostly to black metal), now I can switch my focus and tournament mode “on/off” at will.

What book, movie, or other media inspired your approach to swordplay the most?
None of the sort, my family threw me into fencing as per “tradition” and I just stayed. If I have to choose something close enough, it would probably be the manga Vagabond.

Your mask is painted with the helm of the Witch-King, what made you choose this specific design?
Angmar has my style: fear before even drawing the sword. When I can move, it suits me well.

Finally, if you could step into the arena for a full three-round match under official Saber Tour rules against any opponent—historical or fictional—who would you choose to duel, and why?
Sasaki Kojiro, I think it would be nice to see the tsubame gaeshi live. But to be honest, I’d be happy to spar vs Seb in a closed room, without ref and without crowd. Just us two, for as long as we want.