Peter Aikins (L) takes on Eileen Fa-hey (R) as residents at the Catholic Homes Corpus Christi in Melbourne, Australia take up fencing foils, embrac-ing the physical and mental sides of swordplay in an effort to keep fit, on May 12, 2008. Fencing instructor Joseph D'Onofrio (C) says "it has been good for their mobility and self-confi-dence and they can actually stand up and do proper fencing movements whereas in the past they didn't even try and get off their chair. But the major benefit is the mental acceptance that they might be old, but the are not out."

澳洲墨爾本聖體天主教之家的老人艾金斯（左）和圖右的艾琳‧法希，5月12日正在練花劍劍術，他們是為了保持身體健康，而擁抱劍術的身心面。擊劍教練狄歐諾費里歐（中）說：「這對他們的機動性和自信心都很好，而且他們真的可以站起來，做出相當漂亮的劍術動作。過去，他們甚至不願離開座椅，試都不試。但最大的好處，還是在心智上接受他們也許老了，但老而彌堅。」

It's bye-bye bingo, and so long sewing, the old folks at an Australian seniors home have found a new activity to sharpen their wits and steel their bodies -- fencing.

這是向賓果遊戲和縫紉告別，澳洲老人院這些老人家已經找到新的活動，可以使他們的思緒更敏銳，身體更硬朗，那就是劍術。

The group at Melbourne's Catholic Homes Corpus Christi, most of whom are retired priests and nuns, have spent the past nine months studying swordplay and are learning to leave their walking sticks behind and lunge like Zorro.

墨爾本聖體天主教之家這個團體，成員大半是退休牧師和修女，他們花了過去九個月練劍，同時學著丟掉拐杖，像蒙面俠蘇洛一樣耍劍。

The home's lifestyle coordinator Patricia Boyd said she never intended to offer fencing as one of the home's ac-tivities but was convinced by instructor Joseph D'Onofrio who came to work at Corpus Christi as a volunteer. The residents were also hesitant, until D'Onofrio spoke to them about the sport and how it would be almost impos-sible for them to get hurt.

老人之家生活協調者派翠西亞‧波伊德說，她從沒打算讓劍術成為老人之家的活動，但到聖體之家當志工的教練狄歐諾費里歐說服了她。住在這裡的老人也很猶豫，直到狄歐諾費里歐跟他們談這項運動，說明這不太可能害他們受傷。

About 16 residents aged over 80, including 93-year-old Sister Delores Kirby, now take part in the Monday sessions. "It's very unusual at our age," Kirby said. "It's a challenge. I'm always a bit afraid I might fall over."

老人之家大概有16位已經年過80，包括93歲的修女德洛蕾絲‧科比，現在每個禮拜一都乖乖去上課。「在我們這把年紀是很不尋常的，」科比說。「這是一大挑戰，我一直有點怕哪天會栽跟頭。」