Hacker News Reader

Comment by pavel_lishin | Hacker News Reader

Part of me really wants to pick up hockey - just for fun, recreationally - but at 40, I'm worried that I'll get injured to the point where I won't be able to do other things I enjoy, like cycling.

Hell, I fell off my bike from a stop a few weeks ago, and landed on my knee, and it took a week and a half before I felt like I could trust my leg to hold weight.

View on HN

I did MMA at 40. Problem is your reflexes just can't keep up with an 18 year old. My knee got blasted by a faint intended to just make me move back because I just couldn't move out of the way as fast as the kid's kick.

Whatever you do my advice is if it's high impact join the 'old man's league'. They better understand everyone's limits.

I did Krav Maga at ~40. I don't think reflexes or stamina were my issue. Mine was recovery.

It is a tough sport and one bad day grappling or boxing and I'm in pain for weeks which limits training. It's not a easy sport to do half-way.

Don't do it. My sister took up hockey when she was 16 and lost 4 front teeth within 3 months. She's 45 now and just had the second set of replacements...

Of all the hockey injuries, this one rates pretty low for adult beer league if you just wear a cage. Wearing a full face cage reduces the risk of losing teeth to almost 0% chance of happening.

Hockey does have risks of course, but playing in a non checking league takes the risk down to manageable levels in my opinion.

My teeth are already sufficiently bad that I'll likely need implants in the future anyway; I don't want to lose them, but it wouldn't impact my life as negatively as, say, a permanent back or knee injury would.

I recommend it fully! I learned to play at 32 and I am having a blast. Still some risk, but my local league is very laid back and we run very safe games. Being kitted out in protective gear really does make a difference in preventing injuries.

Check and see if your local rink has an intro to hockey class and use that to get a feel for hockey.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com