History Main / OldMaster

* [[TheVicar Patera Silk]], the protagonist of GeneWolfe's ''Literature/BookOfTheLongSun'', learns swordsmanship from Master Xiphias, who is very much one of these. His [[MeaningfulName name]] is derived from a species of swordfish.

** Another example in the DC Animated Universe, much earlier on, is Batman's own master; Yoru Sensei, who quickly immobilizes Kyodai Ken, just shortly after Kyodai beat Bruce Wayne in a sparring match. Given that Kyodai was less than half Yoru Sensei's age, and Yoru Sensei himself looks very much like the man in the example picture, he definitely qualifies.

* Master Lau Kar Leung. A [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiIGGqC0Lv8 veteran]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngMR7k02H80 action]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8OhVOBa7U star]] of the Hong Kong Cinema (he is best known for his movies which he made during the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw Brothers Studio) as well as director and fight choreographer, as well as the grand master and practitioner of Hung Gar style of Kung Fu system (the inspiration for [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender earthbending]]), which was made famous by Chinese hero Wong Fei-Hung. Yes, that [[OnceUponATimeInChina Wong Fei-Hung.]] Interestingly, Sifu Lau's father, Lau Cham, was a student of Lam Sai Wing, pupil of the legendary Wong Fei Hung. Today, he's in his late 70's and is still very much [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVAQVPZoWuE&feature=related active in films choreographing fight scenes]], and he is well respected from his colleagues and peers. His last starring role (as of yet) is in the film Drunken Monkey, and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzeW2BL4MZQ as you can see]], he's not mellowing with age. (He's almost 70 years old there, for crying out loud!)

* In the ''LostFleet'' series of books by JackCampbell, Captain John Geary has spent a century in SuspendedAnimation while his reputation became ShroudedInMyth... and everyone '''else''' forgot effective naval tactics in favor of simply charging at the enemy. Which means once he takes command, forces that follow his orders tend to win amazingly one-sided victories unless ridiculously outnumbered -- '''then''' they just win.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morihei_Ueshiba Ueshiba Morihei]], founder of Aikido, now pictured above, throwing a man to the floor without even TOUCHING him.

* In ''TheDestroyer'' series of novels, 80 year old (at least) tiny Chiun is quite literally, the most dangerous man in the world. If he wants you dead, you might as well shoot yourself.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morihei_Ueshiba Ueshiba Morihei]], founder of Aikido, now pictured above.

[[caption-width-right:175:[-TruthInTelevision.-] ]]

** In that vein we also have Jiraiya, who is the strongest of all three Sannin, could kill three paths of Pain (up until then, that was practically impossible), permanently kill one path, and was the master to Naruto himself. Not only that, there's ''his'' master, Fukasaku, an 800 year old toad and one of the most powerful beings in Naruto. He also fits the trope TheYoda.
*** I don't know. Jiraiya seems more like TheObiWan. The REAL Old Master is Fukasaku.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Assassins Creed|I}}'', the single most dangerous opponent you can face in a straight sword fight? [[spoiler: Your own ancient, gray-bearded master, Al-Mualim, in the final battle.]]
** Though he isn't any better with his sword than other major opponents; instead he uses extensive trickery. [[spoiler:Being able to magically multiply yourself has some clear advantages in battle.]]
*** Plus, [[spoiler:he can be insta-killed with the [[GameBreaker Hidden Blade]], just like every other NPC]].

* Wang Jinrei from the ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' series. When he participates in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 5, he's 105 years old, has a bad back, and is somewhat senile. He can ''still'' send the young'uns tumbling across the arena with ease, however...

*** They also have refined their sense of timing to the point that regardless of how fast you are, they are still where they need to be before you are.

* The Greybeards from VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim, masters of the Way of the Voice and the Dragon Tongue. They have trained their voices to such an incredible extent that even a misplaced whisper could kill you instantly. When they greet you with a politely whispered "Dovahkiin", ''the whole mountain shakes'' from the force of it. When they spoke in full voice to summon you to High Hrothgar soon after you killed your first dragon, ''all of Skyrim heard it''.

* The Greybeards from VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim. They have trained their voices to such an incredible extent that even a misplaced whisper could kill you instantly. When they greet you with a politely whispered "Dovahkiin", ''the whole mountain shakes'' from the force of it. When they spoke in full voice to summon you to High Hrothgar after you killed your first dragon, ''all of Skyrim heard it''.

* The Greybeards from VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim. They have trained their voices to such an incredible extent that even a misplaced whisper could kill you instantly. When they greet you with a politely whispered "Dovahkiin", ''the whole mountain shakes'' from the force of it. When they spoke in full voice to summon you to High Hrothgar, ''all of Skyrim heard it''.

* ''HarryPotter'': Dumbledore is clearly a prime example. He's incredibly old, but most people speak of him in complete awe. In the fifth book we probably get the best view of his power when he [[spoiler: takes down three ministry officials (with a little help) and then battles [[TheBigBad Voldemort]] to a draw after restraining some half a dozen [[EliteMooks Death Eaters]]]]. This is likely due to the fact that in the wizarding world knowledge actually equals power and Dumbledore has had plenty of training time.

* ''{{Shaman King}}'': When the zombie of Pyron, a martial arts actor, is released from control of Ren's sister Jun, Yoh's friends decided to call upon the spirit of Pyron's old master, Shamon, who was 96 when he died, to try and becalm the raging spirit of Pyron. When Shamon possessed Yoh, Yoh quickly assumed a stooped stance with a cane, and didn't do anything... until Pyron tried to hit him.

* ''{{Shaman King}}'': When the zombie of Pyron, a martial arts actor, is released from control of Ren's sister Jun, Yoh's friends decided to call upon the spirit of Pyron's old master, who was 96 when he died. When he possessed Yoh, Yoh quickly assumed a stooped stance with a cane, and didn't do anything... until Pyron tried to hit him.

* {{Shaman King}}: When the zombie of Pyron, a martial arts actor, is released from control of Ren's sister Jun, Yoh's friends decided to call upon the spirit of Pyron's old master, who was 96 when he died. When he possessed Yoh, Yoh quickly assumed a stooped stance with a cane, and didn't do anything... until Pyron tried to hit him.

* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/ShamanKing Shaman King]]: When the zombie of Pyron, a martial arts actor, is released from control of Ren's sister Jun, Yoh's friends decided to call upon the spirit of Pyron's old master, who was 96 when he died. When he possessed Yoh, Yoh quickly assumed a stooped stance with a cane, and didn't do anything... until Pyron tried to hit him.

* Bruce Wayne from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' is definitely an example of this trope. Stooped over and forced to rely on a cane to help him walk, he still stares daggers through anyone who would presume to show him his place, and is more than capable of beating the holy howling tar out of an entire motorcycle gang by himself, standing almost completely still, with [[CaneFu nothing but his cane]]. This plus his still-razor-sharp mind and the experience of his years as the original Batman makes him somehow ''more'' intimidating than when he was in his physical prime. This was proven in an episode where his younger self visited the future, forcing ''{{Batman}}'' to play ''[[GoodCopBadCop good cop]]'' to Old Man Wayne.

* The gatekeeper in ''Literature/{{Stardust}}''. ("The man must be 90 years old." "Well, then, he's had plenty of time to practice, hasn't he?"

* Warhammer 40K has Chapter Masters of the Space Marines who only get there by earning the respect of an entire chapter. Usually done by at the very least, surviving and distinguishing yourself in centuries of battle against nightmarish odds in a crapsack universe.

* ''{{Saiyuki}}'': When Genjo Sanzo meets Master Abbot Jikaku in the Burial arc, he seems like just a harmless old man- until he kills several youkai attacking a temple. Turns out he was once known as 'The Ogre' for his vicious training of would-be Sanzo candidates, including Sanzo's own master Koumyou.

* Rafiki from ''TheLionKing'' ends the film kicking some serious hyena butt.

--> '''Old Man Wayne''': I can't believe I was ever that green. (''He grabs the thug away from Batman.'') ''This'' is how you interrogate a suspect!

[[folder:Film]]

* Played a bit in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' where Shifu is the old master to the Furious Five and Po, but he himself has more to learn from both his own mentor, Master Oogway, and from Po's own insight.
** Played completely straight with extremely pacifist and soft-spoken Oogway himself (Who is about ''1000 years old''), to the point that he was originally able to take down the undefeatable BigBad in less than a second.
* Rafiki from ''[[DisneyAnimatedCanon The Lion King]]'' ends the film kicking some serious hyena butt.