Can you be too old to fight? (SCA)

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:59 pm

The bull bit occurred to me as well, earlier.

I look down the hill, survey the field and realize something. All those people on the other side? They drove hundreds of miles just for the opportunity to be killed. By me.

So I do my best to oblige ALL of them.

Brieve · Post by **Brieve** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 5:21 am

I would not say I "Fear" The 40+ crowd more than I Truly respect them. For what they can teach me. For what life has taught them. Even if they have only been fight for a year. I am sure they can teach me something. I am 22 looking at my first knee op. Will I be fighting at 60. I hope and pray each day that I will be. That is way I am trying to quit smoking. I don't drink as much. I look at myself and say how can I be like these guys at that age. Or the better question. What can I learn from their experience so I don't have to learn it the hard way.
So to all of you that are still going strong. (and even the ones that arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t) Thank You
Brieve
edited for spelling

Geoffrey of Blesedale · Sun Mar 21, 2004 7:21 pm

I am 36 and just starting fighting. I do wish I had found this sport when I was few years younger, but I do not feel I am too old. The fact that I was not athletic in my younger days helps to a certain extent- I have nothing to gage my pain against, so I don't know how bad off I really am. All I know is if I can move and use my limbs as needed, even if they are sore, I am OK.

My main concern is how long I will be able to keep fighting. 40? 50? 60? I hope I do not suffer a major injury that takes me out, but that can also happen at work. I am going to the gym regularly, to keep muscle strength and build stamina.

I had a knight with 20 years experience show me just how little age matters vs. skill and knowledge. I don't know his age, but he is at least as old as me. Had me dead 3 times before I knew what in hell hit me. Luckily it was only a practice! :wink:

Oscarld · Post by **Oscarld** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:29 am

I am 48 and just starting, I know I'm definatly smarter than the 18yr olds, and a whole lot meaner.

My grandchildren think I'm scary, my children think I'm crazy, my first wife hopes it kills me, and my current wife thinks I'm going through my second childhood.

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:02 am

I was too old to fight this weekend.

Saturday morning, after fighting all week at war... but hey, I got up, put on my armour, rolled out to the field, fought all day, fought in a tourney, went to the pickup field, and was one of the last 5 people still fighting when I left the field to go clean up for dinner. IT's amazing how much better you feel when you just get it going.

rmermuys · Post by **rmermuys** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:19 am

Master Antonio de Aqua (Called Price) from Caer Anterth Mawr, Northshield, Midrealm has you all beat. He authorized at 65, and fought in Coronet Tourney on his 70th Birthday. I've seen him at practices recently, and he's 72 now.

I think he might even remember the dark ages, when they used real swords - Quote Lance

Try telling him that he's too old to fight! HA!

Then, try telling yourself.

-Randall

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:30 am

That would depend on your personal health and fitness level.

My dad and my Jui Jitsu teacher are about the same age (mid 50's) and about the same height.

My dad weighs 160 and runs a little.

My Jui Jitsu Teacher weight 220 and is a personal trainer, power lifter, and NHB fighter.

Is my dad to old to fight? Maybe.

Is my teacher? no way. If i had to fight him i'd run.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:19 am

I guess we could have a 40 Years War sometime, everyone over 40 on one side, and everyone else on the other...

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:35 am

Duke Albert was in his 50's or 60's when I joined the SCA. He still fights some 12 years later.

Ringlancer · Post by **Ringlancer** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:45 pm

I'm 35.

I've been fighting since I was 18. I could beat my 18 yr old self easily, one shot. I could beat my 25 yr old self easily...more confident of my ability and trickier.

I have three children 5, 3, and 1.

I hope to fight them for Crown someday....

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:06 pm

Alcyoneus wrote:I guess we could have a 40 Years War sometime, everyone over 40 on one side, and everyone else on the other...

That would be a route. Not a battle. The over 40's would trample us 'young' guns like we wasn't there!

HugoFuchs · Post by **HugoFuchs** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:36 pm

Funny.
My 18 year old self was faster, more agile, with a better constitution, but I could beat him now. I'd just wait for the opening. My patience and the fact that little panics me or pisses me off. Well, I didn't tend to panic at 18, but I was running at full hormones and easily could be set off.

I still don't remember much of the practices back then. I drank WAaay too much. I might have been ok, or I might have sucked. I know I had bruises. Hell, I don't even remember who was there then. I wasn't a regular but I must've had fun as I still intend to get back, as soon as I get back on my feet.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:41 pm

mattmaus wrote:
Alcyoneus wrote:I guess we could have a 40 Years War sometime, everyone over 40 on one side, and everyone else on the other...

That would be a route. Not a battle. The over 40's would trample us 'young' guns like we wasn't there!

Is there a problem with that? :twisted:

Angus Bjornssen · Post by **Angus Bjornssen** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:55 am

Pad, I haven't read any replies but here goes....

I was 34 when I started fighting almost a year and a half ago.

Oh yeah, if you think 35 is too old for anything you might as well retire from life. 31 is when I started really living. The rest of my life was a waste of time, or near enough to be considered so. Personal reflection when held in a clear mirror can be rough......

Angus (Matt itrw)

Agnes Moray · Post by **Agnes Moray** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 10:15 pm

I was 33 when I started fighting 14 months ago, and I know that my dicipline, stamina, and pain tolerance now are much better than they would have been had I started younger. (Having 5 children without an epidural really changes your ideas of pain... =) There's a gentleman in a nearby Shire that authorized at 60.

Maybe I and the older gentleman will never be strong enough in prowess to become Knighted.... but it does not in any way reduce our enjoyment of the game.... and when it comes down to it... it's the sheer pleasure of the fight that matters.

My 2 cp....
Agnes

JPT · Post by **JPT** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:22 am

The tale I'm going to relate has nothing whatsoever to do with SCA fighting, or things medieval at all. But it does in a way relate to the thread.

Some of you may or may not know who Charles Schultz was. He was in fact the creator of the Peanuts comic strip (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, etc) and he was a major fan of ice hockey. A number of years before his death he purchased an ice rink and began a tournament that is still going on today. Now this particular tournament had one overriding rule. The youngest age division was 40+ years old.

There lives in Detroit, MI a man by the name of Bruno. Bruno played in the Charles Schultz Memorial Hockey Tournament this past summer at the age of 82. I hope that Bruno plays for many years to come.

Moral of the story, go out and have fun with what you are doing at any age and it will make you young again, even if only for a little while.

Stefan ap Llewelyn · Post by **Stefan ap Llewelyn** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:02 am

When I was fighting in Tintagill year before last there was a break in the line and I saw, heading towards me, a large, white haired, old man who appeared to be swining a tree trunk with a dinner tray on the end of it around as if it was a LARP weapon.

I was 25 and a reasonable fighter, when I saw his skill and realised he was about 60 I turned around and ran.

Within reason age is as big a barrier as you let it be.

Gregor von · Post by **Gregor von** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:13 pm

I started @ 35. I'm 40 now and I still have fun and feel I'm still improving my skill. I like it. And ( now ) I work at it. The first couple of years I would only fight at events (8 - 10 times). Now I go to practices & work on the pell. That made a Big difference in my skill & how much fun I have.

(my Knight is 55 !!!)

Go for it !!!!

Can you be too old to fight? (SCA)

It depends..