Fencing for the old folks

[claidheamhmor]

This was amusing...I imagine fsnut and ereneth will like it.

Talk about getting to the point...
May 14 2008 at 06:58PM

Melbourne - It's bye-bye bingo, and so long sewing. The folks at an Australian old-age home have found a new activity to sharpen their wits and steel their bodies: fencing.

The group at Melbourne's Catholic Homes Corpus Christi, most of whom are retired priests and nuns, have spent the past nine months studying swordplay and are learning to leave their walking sticks behind and lunge like Zorro.

The home's lifestyle co-ordinator, Patricia Boyd, said she never intended to offer fencing as one of the home's activities but was convinced by instructor Joseph D'Onofrio.

The residents were also hesitant, until he spoke to them about the sport and how it would be almost impossible for them to get hurt. - Sapa-AFP

Source: IOL

Of course, it makes the DM in me say: Retired priests and nuns? They should only be able to use blunt weapons, so they must be multiclassing.

Comments

[lyonza.livejournal.com]

I wanna end up in that old age home *snicker*

[maymorning.livejournal.com]

Awww, that's wonderful! I love hearing about how older folks are getting on with things and having fun. Life doesn't have to end when the wrinkles start!

[gsl.livejournal.com]

I think the blunt weapon rule was phased out after the second edition rules though?
Deities allow the clerics to use their favored weapons, clerics that follow Helm for example can wield bastard swords. :)

[ereneth.livejournal.com]

En Garde!!!

Actually, as everyone (you know who you are...) keeps reminding me with tasteless age jokes, I'll soon be there. (In about two months...)

Seriously, I can't think of a better exercise for older people.

[chameleon7.livejournal.com]

That's so cool!

[openmindedmale.livejournal.com]

*laughs*.. that IS neat.

Well, they could get hurt easily enough if the points aren't capped.. which they wouldn't be if used as an actual weapon and not sport.

[fsnut.livejournal.com]

Fencers do it with rubber tips. Fencers lunge when they do it. Fencers do it on copper mats. I'm sure there are many others. The only thing you can really do to yourself is pull something (muscles etc) so it should be pretty safe. There are some fencers who go to Veterens World Champs who are heading for their 80's and still going strong.