Seniors turn to Cane Fu for direction on path to fitness, beyond
8:19 a.m. Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Cane swinging is part of a new fitness trend.
Is it violent? Yes, but, it's all in the name of exercise for seniors. Call it Cane Fu fighting.
Most of elderly folks think their canes as a crutch, and they don't want to be seen with one.
Black belt and Cane Fu Grand Master Mark Shuey wants to change all that. Popularity for his classes have skyrocketed in recent years.
His service is vital, some experts say, because with every increasing decade of age, people become less and less active.
He shows them how to stretch, exercise and how to stop people from messing with granny.
"I teach em how to poke them in the foot as well as hit them in the head. But the problem is that you hit them in the head you'll probably going to kill him. I teach them how to break a rib, hands. But anywhere you hit a cane on the body, it's going to hurt," Shuey said.
The moves are simple and swift. There's the cane jab. A painful raking motion. The arm hook maneuver.
More men are attracted to Cane Fu than women, and the typical student is between 60 and 90.
And, it is more than just exercise
"I would definitely use my skills against someone. I have more options to preserve my life," Can Fu Student Peggy Learbowen said.
"I get people that tell me that they'd love to be able to go walk in the park and not feel like they're a target," Shuey said.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)