Seniors Stepping Up Their Self-Defense Game
Katie Cordrey — December 25, 2008 — Lifestyle
References: surecruise & online.wsj
Today’s elders aren’t as ready to be docile little old people as elders may have been in the past. They certainly aren’t about to take any guff from would-be attackers, human or beast.
It’s all in the headlines: 97-Year-Old Woman Fights Off Robbery Suspect; Woman, 83, Fights off robber; 74-Year-Old Man Fights Off Mugger With Tire Iron; and, Woman, 65, Saves Husband From Mountain Lion. These are just a few of the many reports in the news that lead me to advise, don’t mess with old people.
Take Nell Hamm, for example. She beat a mountain lion over the head with a log when it nabbed her husband during a hike. She also tried poking it in the eye with a pen from her hubby’s pocket, but the pen bent, so she went back to clubbing it until it gave up and walked away. Nell is just a youngster compared to 97-year-old Dorothy Buckingham who fought off a would-be purse snatcher who was 50 years younger than she. The robber was arrested a short time after the failed attempt.
One group of senior citizens on a Caribbean cruise gave three armed attackers a surprise when they fought back. Two of the attackers ran away and a third was delivered to the police dead. This is serious stuff. Seniors are taking it seriously too. More and more senior centers have traded-in the Bingo tables for self-defense classes. Students learn how to defend themselves using what is most likely to be at hand - a cane.
Canes can be very effective as you’ll realize when you see the story in the video above.
One super-spy senior recommends, “Stay fit, eat well, and exercise.”
I don’t think I’ll argue with her.
It’s all in the headlines: 97-Year-Old Woman Fights Off Robbery Suspect; Woman, 83, Fights off robber; 74-Year-Old Man Fights Off Mugger With Tire Iron; and, Woman, 65, Saves Husband From Mountain Lion. These are just a few of the many reports in the news that lead me to advise, don’t mess with old people.
Take Nell Hamm, for example. She beat a mountain lion over the head with a log when it nabbed her husband during a hike. She also tried poking it in the eye with a pen from her hubby’s pocket, but the pen bent, so she went back to clubbing it until it gave up and walked away. Nell is just a youngster compared to 97-year-old Dorothy Buckingham who fought off a would-be purse snatcher who was 50 years younger than she. The robber was arrested a short time after the failed attempt.
One group of senior citizens on a Caribbean cruise gave three armed attackers a surprise when they fought back. Two of the attackers ran away and a third was delivered to the police dead. This is serious stuff. Seniors are taking it seriously too. More and more senior centers have traded-in the Bingo tables for self-defense classes. Students learn how to defend themselves using what is most likely to be at hand - a cane.
Canes can be very effective as you’ll realize when you see the story in the video above.
One super-spy senior recommends, “Stay fit, eat well, and exercise.”
I don’t think I’ll argue with her.
Trend Themes
1. Senior Self-defense - Senior citizens are trading in Bingo for self-defense classes, signaling a growing trend towards empowering seniors with self-defense skills.
2. Older Adults as Protectors - Older adults are increasingly proving their abilities as protectors and fighters, with numerous examples of seniors fending off and defeating attackers.
3. Cane as Self-defense Weapon - The cane is becoming recognized as a powerful and effective self-defense tool for seniors, with more and more self-defense classes incorporating its use.
Industry Implications
1. Senior Care Facilities - Senior care facilities can take advantage of the trend towards senior self-defense by offering self-defense classes to their residents, enhancing their quality of life.
2. Self-defense Products Industry - The self-defense products industry can tap into the growing demand for effective self-defense tools for seniors, such as canes and other assistive devices.
3. Fitness and Exercise Industry - The fitness and exercise industry can seize the opportunity to offer specialized self-defense classes and exercise routines for seniors, emphasizing the importance of staying fit and active as we age.
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