The oldest Thai Kick Boxer in the world?
Can he kick it?
By BBC Tees' Lee Johnson
Forget Jean Claude Van Damme, Thai Kick Boxing has a new poster boy. And he's a pensioner from Darlington. For many senior citizens, Monday mornings usually mean a trip to the Bingo or the supermarket, but not Theo Marsden.
At 79, Theo can proudly boast to be the oldest Thai Kick Boxer in the country. He explains how he became involved with the martial art: "I was out trekking in Ethiopia with a small group, and I got attacked twice.
"They didn't steal anything from me, but I got knocked about a bit, and I thought I needed to get a bit more scientific about what I was doing, and I thought well this is the place to come - it's the finest in the North East."
""The team are tremendous, they give me tremendous encouragement - they didn't say "you're too old, there's the door."""
Theo Marsden
Four years later and Theo still has the martial arts bug. He says that's partly down to the warm welcome he received:
"The team are tremendous, they give me tremendous encouragement - they didn't say 'you're too old, there's the door'. I get an awful lot out of it, both mentally and physically it keeps you very fit."
In fact, according to Paul Hamilton, manager and trainer at Darlington Boxing & Martial Arts Academy, Theo gives the younger members of the gym a run for their money:
"He sometimes trains harder than the 20 year-olds we have. He comes in every time and gives 100 percent effort on everything he does. He's a great inspiration to everyone - I hope at 79 I'm still walking into a boxing gym."
Theo training with Michael Dicks
Not only has Theo been awarded the honour of being the oldest Thai Kick Boxer in Britain, there's a good chance he could be the oldest in the planet, as gym manager Paul Hamilton explains:
"The UKMF (the UK Muay Thai Federation), is the biggest in the country, everything is logged with them, and we've looked at it and he is currently the oldest in England. I went to Thailand and let them know he trains. They're looking into it, and they're 99% positive he's the oldest training person in Thai Boxing at this moment in time.
"It's great for publicity of Thai boxing, but also great for everyone - it lets you realise you can go into a Thai Boxing Gym no matter what age or size and have a go at doing your best."
As training partners go, Theo couldn't be boxing with anyone better. Michael Dicks is the British and Inter Continental Champion, and will be fighting for the World Title in November. He says Theo's a pleasure to work with:
"He's been learning some of the kicks, punches and elbows, and he enjoys it, he comes back all the time. It was good to see him here, he felt good about training and that's what it's all about."
And despite his age, Theo hasn't ruled out competing:
"I'm waiting for word from Paul and Michael, to see if they dare enter me in a competition and I said I'm up for it, provided they're satisfied, but the sky's the limit."