The person in red might as well fall over now because he has no hope of winning this duel. I can tell from the photo he’s gasping just to hold the sword up. You can see through the mask, he’s saying “please just make it a quick death.”
Fencing has absolutely no age restriction, though I don’t suppose this bout is quite as fast-paced as those fenced by the significantly younger– or even those fencers confined to wheelchairs.
I’m a bit alarmed by the lack of other protective equipment, however.
Eh, just because you can do head-cuts or whatever in saber (which, admittedly, is uber fun), doesn’t give it superiority. But I don’t quite understand how this situation works. At least 90 percent of fencing is footwork- you can only do so much just with the blade…Oh well. It’s an admirable attempt!
It’s probably just a demonstration AT a nursing home (my parent’s place does demos all over the place) and is probably just intended in good fun. Hence the uses of the fool, dear “Knife for a Crotch” since I wouldn’t give the old and enfeebled something like a saber or an epee (or heaven forbid any of the old rapiers) with which they could do serious damage, though those weapons are probably just too heavy to hold up anyway.
Watching them fence would be very matrixy and you wouldn’t need special effects. I say that safely from here as my Dad has his second degree black belt in judo. At 73, he still fast and dangerous.
If we’re gonna get into it about which sword is better, I’m gonna say 15th/16th century rapiers and court swords. I’m a big fan of big dangerous swept hilts and heavy ornamental pommels.
Especially if you fence it purely recreationally and throw out all the rules (I’m a brawler) and pair it with a dagger.
You all can keep your fancy modern fencing, I’m never going back.
I hope this is me in 60 years.
Fencing is wonderful, but I prefer German broadsword.
Also, to the comment about LARP–Fencing is not LARP.
LARP is not an olympic sport.
(Dang.)
foil: for little kiddies.
epee: for men.
sabre: for loonies.
…
a .45: for the guy who is smart enough to know that gun>sword. As long as the gun’s not a pansy-assed derringer.
@Allison
I hope you’re being sarcastic.
Fencing with those weapons (foil, epee, sabre) is a sport.
Anything else (rapier, main gauche) is LARPing or just fucking around with antiques.
hey now, I know I’m fighting a losing battle here but rapier does not equal larp, there is serious study of Renaissance martial arts and fencing that is treated as a martial art just like the eastern martial arts. I hate being lumped in with larpers when I decide to fence rapier. personal pet peeve.
on a side note i really wished i found this photo a month ago because the president of the fencing team at my college finally graduated from grad school and we always rag on him about being so much older than the rest of us, I wish i could have used this pic to make the perfect gag gift. I think i will send it to him anyways.
To all those people squabbling about whether foil, epee, or sabre is better, just give up. None of the three would stand a chance against a 12-gague shotgun.
first!
second!
But fencing is so cool… there’s nothing wtf about this photo.
respect to these old men! kicking ass knows no age restriction.
The person in red might as well fall over now because he has no hope of winning this duel. I can tell from the photo he’s gasping just to hold the sword up. You can see through the mask, he’s saying “please just make it a quick death.”
Please… I never want to get old.=(
Fencing has absolutely no age restriction, though I don’t suppose this bout is quite as fast-paced as those fenced by the significantly younger– or even those fencers confined to wheelchairs.
I’m a bit alarmed by the lack of other protective equipment, however.
Winner gets 2 scoops of pudding at dinner!
NO this is lame. they are using foil. It’s the fairy sword.
Now, SABER is the way to go.
Eh, just because you can do head-cuts or whatever in saber (which, admittedly, is uber fun), doesn’t give it superiority. But I don’t quite understand how this situation works. At least 90 percent of fencing is footwork- you can only do so much just with the blade…Oh well. It’s an admirable attempt!
I think it’s funny how the only one wearing a protective jacket is the guy in back who is judging the bout…
It’s probably just a demonstration AT a nursing home (my parent’s place does demos all over the place) and is probably just intended in good fun. Hence the uses of the fool, dear “Knife for a Crotch” since I wouldn’t give the old and enfeebled something like a saber or an epee (or heaven forbid any of the old rapiers) with which they could do serious damage, though those weapons are probably just too heavy to hold up anyway.
i fence sabre..
but i think it’s lame how you guys are fighting over which sword is better..
rofl.
this picture is awesome.
Watching them fence would be very matrixy and you wouldn’t need special effects. I say that safely from here as my Dad has his second degree black belt in judo. At 73, he still fast and dangerous.
This is WTF ( Washed up Tired Fencers)
Nah one of their friends just croaked and now theyre fighting over who gets the dead guys dentures.
seventeenth..
nice collection btw..
I hope that thing doesn’t cut their oxygen tubes!
No I agree, saber is better. Foil is alright, but with saber you get to hit people. In the head. That’s more fun.
“Gentlemen, I’m afraid that the terms of the tontine are very strict and formal in this regard.”
this was in the metro actually
If we’re gonna get into it about which sword is better, I’m gonna say 15th/16th century rapiers and court swords. I’m a big fan of big dangerous swept hilts and heavy ornamental pommels.
Especially if you fence it purely recreationally and throw out all the rules (I’m a brawler) and pair it with a dagger.
You all can keep your fancy modern fencing, I’m never going back.
All this talk of swords, sabers, epees, etc, and which is better.
Crap, I’m surrounded by a bunch of LARPers!
@Allison
I am glad you said that, i dont know what the hell everyone is talking about. personally guns are better. Ya, I said it……what!
There canbeonly one!
I hope this is me in 60 years.
Fencing is wonderful, but I prefer German broadsword.
Also, to the comment about LARP–Fencing is not LARP.
LARP is not an olympic sport.
(Dang.)
Arab’s comment should have been the title to this!
And the winner of the match earns immunity and cannot be voted off the ward in our next thrilling episode…”Survivor 29: Sunnybrook Senior Estates”
1. sabre, 2. foil, 3. epee
foil: for little kiddies.
epee: for men.
sabre: for loonies.
…
a .45: for the guy who is smart enough to know that gun>sword. As long as the gun’s not a pansy-assed derringer.
Extreme lifelong neighborhood grudging!
Greensleeves: “Let’s get rolling, wuss!”
Redsleeves: “You just wait, I got it all on paper right here!”
@John
That position is parry four. In proper form. He is going to win. Go old fogie GO!
@Allison
I hope you’re being sarcastic.
Fencing with those weapons (foil, epee, sabre) is a sport.
Anything else (rapier, main gauche) is LARPing or just fucking around with antiques.
hey now, I know I’m fighting a losing battle here but rapier does not equal larp, there is serious study of Renaissance martial arts and fencing that is treated as a martial art just like the eastern martial arts. I hate being lumped in with larpers when I decide to fence rapier. personal pet peeve.
on a side note i really wished i found this photo a month ago because the president of the fencing team at my college finally graduated from grad school and we always rag on him about being so much older than the rest of us, I wish i could have used this pic to make the perfect gag gift. I think i will send it to him anyways.
wish*
you call that fencing?? it looks more like walker-jousting!!! and i thought you people were smarter than boring old fencers. PAH.
hahaha….
there`s to many people…
To all those people squabbling about whether foil, epee, or sabre is better, just give up. None of the three would stand a chance against a 12-gague shotgun.
Ah, now this is a real photo. This ‘fencing for the oldies’ takes place in a retirement home named Catholic Homes Corpus Christi, located in Melbourne, Australia. Sixteen over-80 residents there began taking up fencing in 2008. The photo comes from this news story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1019188/Crossing-swords-The-old-folks-home-priests-nuns-swap-Zimmers-Zorro.html