Comment by hinkley | Hacker News Reader

Comment by hinkley | Hacker News Reader

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I took Kuk Sool Won in college (Korean art focusing on joint locks, throws, pressure points, so not too different) and very nearly the first thing they taught us was how to break a fall in every direction.

Saved myself from being concussed twice in college (falling on ice, low speed collision with a car).

Now I do tai chi and I've had at least three bad stumbles on steps or sinkholes that would have put me in a leg cast ten years ago and I was just fine because I took all the weight off of the misplaced foot and sank to the ground.

Several of these remind me of similar injuries friends and family have experienced and I'm very glad I didn't have to go through the same thing.

If I were in charge of PE, every kid aged 10 and over would be a tumbling master. Then I would start teaching them sports.

> If I were in charge of PE, every kid aged 10 and over would be a tumbling master. Then I would start teaching them sports.

COUNTERPOINT: At age 13 we were being taught some tumbling in PE class. A mishap caused a minor neck injury. I am glad I didn't break my neck and end up paralyzed. I wore a neck brace for a couple weeks and had chiropractic adjustments for a couple months. However, that site has ever since been very susceptible to tightening of the muscles and a locus for headaches. Sometimes quite severe headaches. Somewhere in my twenties I learned to manage the headaches better but here I am in my fifties still managing headaches.

Having made this counterpoint from my own experience I think I agree with you about tumbling and others who have mentioned judo, BJJ or other martial arts training. I suspect on average it would be beneficial but the training itself is not risk free.

"low speed collision with a car"

I've heard dodging drive-by's, dealing with carjackers, and defensive driving involving cars. I didn't have any training in being hit by them. ;) I'm curious what the car was doing and your reaction specifically that you think helped. It might be worth thinking on given how people in my area drive.

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