But will it replace shuffleboard?

Ran across an interesting article today from the Wall Street Journal: Senior Centers sponsoring classes on Cane Fighting.

Everybody Is 'Cane Fu' Fighting At Senior Centers, So Watch Out
Older People Get Healthful Exercise And Learn to Wield a Ready Weapon
By JENNIFER LEVITZ
July 12, 2008; Page A1

CENTERVILLE, Ohio -- The St. Leonard retirement village here has a whole new way of thinking about recreation: Bingo has made way for cane fighting.

"Down on top of the head and up between the groin!" urges instructor Debra Stewart, of nearby Chung's Academy of Martial Arts, commanding a dozen gray-haired students swinging canes at imaginary attackers. "Stomp him! Dig it in there. Do it hard!"
...

Senior centers and retirement communities are looking for new ways to promote exercise in order to stave off physical decline. Older people interested in honing their self-defense skills, meanwhile, are delighted to find that something they already own can be used as a weapon.

"Oh my gosh, it's a huge hit," says Lena Mast, manager at Lodges at Naylor Mill, an independent-living complex for seniors in Salisbury, Md. Ms. Mast began offering cane classes for residents in April and says "it's now the top thing they look forward to."

(The full article includes a multi-media show of cane fighting techniques.)

Now, Mrs. Drang's father has expressed an interest in giving up the responsibility of caring for his house, yard, garden, etc., and moving into a retirement center. We've gone with him to a few to check out the facilities.

But I don't remember any of them offering classes in Escrima.