🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <C1JuEH.Mu3@world.std.com> ari@world.std.com (Ari I Halberstadt) writes:

   In article <1993Jan27.181411.9154@smos.com> david@smos.com (David Tornheim) writes:
   (article on how to avoid damage from Emacs keyboarding)
   > 13) Study martial arts.

   Not all martial arts were created equal. Aikido, which I have been
   forced to stop practicing, uses a lot of wrist grasps and
   twisting/bending motions. It also involves a lot of rolling around,
   which if not done properly can damage the shoulder and neck (wrist
   injury is probably possible as well). Martial arts that involve
   punching heavy bags or [padded?] opponents may also cause wrist
   damage.

As the one who originally suggested martial arts as a good way to keep
your muscles strong and flexible, I feel I should add in every school
and style I have studied (4 styles, maybe 10 schools) punching the
heavy bag, sparring, and punching pads with power has been a small
part of the training. Most of the training is done just punching the
air or such, and use of heavy bags, while encouraged, is not necessary
to get the benifits of martial arts. Of course, you'll want to do it
occasionally, just to get the feel, but it's not like you do it every
night, or even every week.

Also any good instructor, when informed of your medical concerns and
or problems will take care to tailor your training to get maximum
benifit and not increase your problems.

One good thing about the martial arts is that, unlike, for example,
football or jogging, there is no one part of the body that needs to be
used. You use what you have, and learn to take the most advantage of
what you have to work with. For example I knew one very advanced
student who had no right foot. It's hard to imagine any other physical
activity in which he could excell, yet it made little difference in
karate. There are styles and techniques that are appropriate for
almost any situation.

My original suggestion was not entirely serious, but I did know
another guy who's problems with carpal tunnel syndrome cleared up when
he started martial arts. MA is in general a very safe and healthful
study for people of all ages and physical conditions.

Now if only I could write a karate major mode for emacs.
--
	Don't blame me, I voted against Amendment 2!

Edward Hartnett				ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu