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Anecdotal (and risking downvotes), but my opinion: Brazilian Jiujitsu. It's like Chess for the mind while simultaneously getting an incredible workout.

by sunsu 11y ago

magic_beans 11y ago
Could you elaborate on that? Would you say this is true of most martial arts?
- mtrycz 11y ago
  I don't do BJJ, but am familiar with it and have done some judo. In contrast to stand-up striking arts, you have limited possibilities of movement when "hugging" your opponent on the ground, so you need to do have a strategy, do some planning, and have to adapt rapidly to changing conditions. Like "what move can I do in the current position?", "what moves could my opponent pull off form this position?", "what moves could I do if I changed to this other position?", etc. etc. I do believe that you won't find any better than anecdotal evidence for this subject, tho. Expecially if you'd need to compare between arts.
  - vocatus_gate 11y ago
    I've always felt the chess analogy applied to rock climbing when I did it. Like a constant "game" against the wall and my body, to see if I could manoeuvre into position to attain the next hold. Very stimulating and at the same time relaxing.
atom-morgan 11y ago
I am not currently practicing BJJ (did years ago) but I would agree. Constantly tapping to veterans is very humbling and the mental strength it takes to maneuver another human being as they attempt to maneuver you, while you're completely gassed, makes a lot of other tasks seem trivial.
bduerst 11y ago
I did both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling for a time (similar), and have used the chess analogy to describe it before. Two equally weighted opponents on a level playing field, with only their limbs as the different pieces to be moved strategically across the board.
hesdeadjim 11y ago
I've known too many people who have had serious injuries from this sport. One colleague is now on permanent disability after a concussion he received while wearing headgear and practicing on a mat. Another friend has chronic shoulder issues that he can't seem to heal from after a couple bad rolls with a few overly aggressive sparring partners. I think for long-term health and overall fitness BJJ is a tough sell for most people.
- d0100 11y ago
  > One colleague is now on permanent disability after a concussion he received while wearing headgear Wrong BJJ... BJJ is just another form of wrestling, and even then, no head gear is used.

Anecdotal (and risking downvotes), but my opinion: Brazilian Jiujitsu. It's like Chess for the mind while simultaneously getting an incredible workout.

by sunsu 11y ago

Anecdotal (and risking downvotes), but my opinion: Brazilian Jiujitsu. It's like Chess for the mind while simultaneously getting an incredible workout.

magic_beans 11y ago

Could you elaborate on that? Would you say this is true of most martial arts?

mtrycz 11y ago
I don't do BJJ, but am familiar with it and have done some judo. In contrast to stand-up striking arts, you have limited possibilities of movement when "hugging" your opponent on the ground, so you need to do have a strategy, do some planning, and have to adapt rapidly to changing conditions. Like "what move can I do in the current position?", "what moves could my opponent pull off form this position?", "what moves could I do if I changed to this other position?", etc. etc. I do believe that you won't find any better than anecdotal evidence for this subject, tho. Expecially if you'd need to compare between arts.
- vocatus_gate 11y ago
  I've always felt the chess analogy applied to rock climbing when I did it. Like a constant "game" against the wall and my body, to see if I could manoeuvre into position to attain the next hold. Very stimulating and at the same time relaxing.

atom-morgan 11y ago

I am not currently practicing BJJ (did years ago) but I would agree. Constantly tapping to veterans is very humbling and the mental strength it takes to maneuver another human being as they attempt to maneuver you, while you're completely gassed, makes a lot of other tasks seem trivial.

bduerst 11y ago

I did both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling for a time (similar), and have used the chess analogy to describe it before. Two equally weighted opponents on a level playing field, with only their limbs as the different pieces to be moved strategically across the board.

hesdeadjim 11y ago

I've known too many people who have had serious injuries from this sport. One colleague is now on permanent disability after a concussion he received while wearing headgear and practicing on a mat. Another friend has chronic shoulder issues that he can't seem to heal from after a couple bad rolls with a few overly aggressive sparring partners. I think for long-term health and overall fitness BJJ is a tough sell for most people.

d0100 11y ago
> One colleague is now on permanent disability after a concussion he received while wearing headgear Wrong BJJ... BJJ is just another form of wrestling, and even then, no head gear is used.