Cane-Fu, The Newest Trend in Self Defense for Seniors

Elder abuse is not something we hear about everyday but every year an estimated 2.1 million seniors are victims of abuse. This includes physical, psychological, verbal and economic abuse. According to experts, there may be as many as five unreported cases for every reported case. In 90 percent of these cases the senior is abused by someone they know. Typically it is a family member, usually an adult child or spouse. If you are a senior who is a victim of abuse or if you suspect someone you know is the target of abuse here are a couple of resources that can help you:

National Center on Elder Abuse The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment.

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse is an association of researchers, practitioners, educators, and advocates dedicated to protecting the safety, security, and dignity of America’s most vulnerable citizens.

Taking advantage of our older generation is truly a despicable act. But if you are someone who is abusing a senior or if you think that a senior might be an easy target for your next crime than you may want to think twice.  Some seniors are taking their safety into their own hands.  Something called cane fu is starting to replace bingo at our senior centers. Cane fu was first developed by Mark Shuey about 10 years ago. Shuey, a tae kwon do and hapkido expert, combined his two hobbies, woodworking and martial arts. The result is a system of exercise and self defense that is now practiced by an estimated 3,500 seniors. So the next time you see a frail old woman using a cane to walk down Main Street, just remember, she might be a cane fighter.