Uniform-Clad Martial Arts Instructor With 'Swords' Seen Near Fair Lawn School, Police Called

A martial arts instructor caused a bit of a stir in Fair Lawn on Wednesday when she was spotted in uniform near an elementary school carrying what turned out to be a pair of harmless swords, authorities confirmed.

Police were called after the woman was spotted in martial arts garb carrying what turned out to be fake swords near a Fair Lawn school.
Photo Credit: *Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE*

Jerry DeMarco

08/23/2023 11:36 a.m.

Police responded to a call near the Thomas Edison School on Fair Lawn Avenue at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 23 and found the 60-something woman, who apparently spoke little or no English.

The woman, clad in the traditional loose-fitting "fu" worn for tai chi, had gone to Edison Park to meditate, Police Sgt. Eric Eleshewich said.

"Those were fake swords," he said.

They apparently are what's known as iaido swords, which are unsharpened and dull and used by martial arts students.

An officer walked the instructor to a residence on Hunter Place, where another woman translated.

Boyd A. Loving took the photos and contributed to this story.

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