ChristianKl comments on Rationalist Sport - Less Wrong Discussion
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Comments (58)
I think that goal misses the point. From the article you linked:
Complexity isn't the point but energy flow is. Those semantics are off-putting to rationalists. If you on the other hand simply drop the main part of the practice you are doing something like cargo culting. It might superficially look the same but you lose the essence.
I rather prefer to have bodywork that's from the ground up based on a more modern framework.
I don't think having competitions is necessary. But it might make sense to look at Tai Chi competitions. They don't do their Tai Chi patterns and see who does them the most beautiful way but they do push hands competitions.
I wasn't looking for something which was guaranteed to be good for people. I was looking for something which was harmless (probably), difficult, and possible to evaluate objectively-- the first makes it rationalist, and the second and third make it a potential sport.
I can believe that it's better for people to coordinate movement and breathing without buying into dubious metaphysics.
[Tai Chi competitions](http://www.wustyle-europe.com/competition2014.html include form competition as well as push hands.
But it's not only about coordinating movement and breathing. If you reduce yoga to those elements you lose something.
Modern body work usually is also about things like authentic expression of emotions. It's about constantly discovering new ways to move your body.
I had to check the dictionary. Webster has two meanings for sport: "a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other" and "a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment".
I don't think that competition is needed.