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Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

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Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#21

Post by mrkurt »

robg wrote: post #14
mml wrote: post #9

Taekwondo. Lacks mystical energy crap, and is practical.

I don't know. It's always seemed more about point scoring. When we practiced against advanced students, they relied too much on kicks which aren't very practical against anyone who knows to move in. The sparring is too controlled. Plus, in real life you aren't wearing padding. That's just my take. But then I think some of the mystical "crap" has a physiological basis. How many of us breathe deeply?

The reality is that most people don't need or have much use for practical fighting skills, they need practical running skills.

Modern Taekwondo is a sport and it can be great fun. If you can find a good school that isn't just a belt factory, it's well worth doing. Particularly if they teach a little Hapkido on the side.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#22

Post by robg »

wyclif wrote: post #19
robg wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really enjoyed BJJ for the short time I tried it. The problem is I could easily see overpaying for it, with poor teachers, in the current MMA context. My other concern is that it's more grappling than contact, which seems less practical. I had a strong background in wrestling (4 years) and Karate (5 years) by that point. I really liked it, but I'm not sure it's right for a beginner.

My other concern is that it's more grappling than contact Grappling isn't contact?

Poor choice of words. At that distance, you don't know what happens, and how to respond, when your bell gets rung.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#24

Post by robg »

mrkurt wrote: post #21
robg wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. It's always seemed more about point scoring. When we practiced against advanced students, they relied too much on kicks which aren't very practical against anyone who knows to move in. The sparring is too controlled. Plus, in real life you aren't wearing padding. That's just my take. But then I think some of the mystical "crap" has a physiological basis. How many of us breathe deeply?

The reality is that most people don't need or have much use for practical fighting skills, they need practical running skills. Modern Taekwondo is a sport and it can be great fun. If you can find a good school that isn't just a belt factory, it's well worth doing. Particularly if they teach a little Hapkido on the side.

Sure, if you see it as an Olympic sport, I've got no complaint. But with all the colors, I have trouble seeing it as anything other than a belt factory.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#26

Post by scott_s »

robg wrote: post #22
wyclif wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My other concern is that it's more grappling than contact Grappling isn't contact?

Poor choice of words. At that distance, you don't know what happens, and how to respond, when your bell gets rung.

Then also do MMA ground-and-pound drills if that concerns you. I find my BJJ base (purple belt) helps immensely when I have someone in my guard trying to punch me in the face.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#27

Post by oscardelben »

For me personally martial arts helps to build a character which in turn may help you grow as a programmer, but that's an effect of growing as a person. I practice sanda which is similar to muai thai but there are many other arts which focus more on the inner side, and you can gain a lot of concentration and peace by practicing them, which in turns could help you as a programmer when you have to deal with difficult tasks.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#28

Post by scott_s »

robg wrote: post #20
wyclif wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very appealing to me because it's very "realist." In a real-world fight or confrontation between 2 people, most of the time (above 90%, I think) the combatants wind up on the ground. BJJ really teaches the student how to deal with fights on the ground. If you're in a ground fight, you need to know how to control the centre of gravity as well as the numerous holds and limb locks.

The problem is if you're a beginner, you think those locks are easy in the real-world. Meanwhile, you're getting punched and kicked in the head. Staying on your feet and knowing when to run like hell is just as important a skill, as is avoiding getting hit. BJJ works well in a cage and between two people. Keep in mind that's a very controlled environment.

The problem is if you're a beginner, you think those locks are easy in the real-world.

That's going to be true of any discipline one starts training in. For example, I think boxing is a great way to learn stand-up self-defense, but a beginner is still going to be susceptible to someone who wants to clinch or go to the ground. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Also, if you're a beginner in BJJ, you should learn very quickly that those locks aren't even easy when live rolling.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#29

Post by vitovito »

ghfdrvtsyup wrote: post #10
christonog wrote: post #3

I think any martial art is beneficial as the very nature forces you to stop thinking about programming. I've personally chosen Muay Thai as it puts special emphasis on physical conditioning, and I tend to work best not stressing (or thinking about) how I'm going to get my day's exercise.

I agree. The idea that a martial art can help with programming is a bit of a carryover from when they were considered 'mystical' or 'dangerous' in the mid-late 1970s/early 1980s. Having studied a few and wrestled in HS, I would agree that the real benefit they have is taking your mind off of work, getting exercise, and beating people up/getting beat up. It's fun , and that's what exercise should be. So, do what you w…

I went looking for the same thing and found it hard to separate the philosophy (and, with certain martial arts like wing chun, the internal politicizing) and history of the art from the practice of it. I found I wanted something deeper to be there, and there wasn't.

I occasionally row, and instead I did boxing for a while, and with both my focus was on form and mechanics over physical conditioning (yes, there's lots of form in boxing). The "exercise" is a natural outgrown of the deliberate practice.

I didn't work up enough physical conditioning that they let me spar, but I intend to go back for it.

Re: Ask HN: A martial art for a programmer

#30

Post by wyclif »

robg wrote: post #20
wyclif wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very appealing to me because it's very "realist." In a real-world fight or confrontation between 2 people, most of the time (above 90%, I think) the combatants wind up on the ground. BJJ really teaches the student how to deal with fights on the ground. If you're in a ground fight, you need to know how to control the centre of gravity as well as the numerous holds and limb locks.

The problem is if you're a beginner, you think those locks are easy in the real-world. Meanwhile, you're getting punched and kicked in the head. Staying on your feet and knowing when to run like hell is just as important a skill, as is avoiding getting hit. BJJ works well in a cage and between two people. Keep in mind that's a very controlled environment.

BJJ works well in a cage and between two people

BJJ works well between two people. There, fixed that for you. Please don't confuse UFC matches with applied BJJ, just because Gracie won the first few.

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