Martial Arts..... IN SPACE!!!!!!!!

Just started wondering about what martial arts would work effectively in low gravity/microgravity. What modifications would have to be made to create a effective fighting art?

Depending on some things, such as if the artist was wearing Velcro shoes or something similar to keep him on the 'floor', regular kicks would be difficult to do, and punches pretty ineffective. Even if you hit something, Newton's pesky 3rd Law would take effect unless you were 'rooted' to something. Same for blocks. Of course, flying side kicks and such would look absolutely marvelous. On par with 'The Matrix' without the need for wires and special effects.

I'd say that the best thing to try in Zero-G would be a grappling style.

punch facemask till it breaks

Just started wondering about what martial arts would work effectively in low gravity/microgravity. What modifications would have to be made to create a effective fighting art?

Not neccassarily. Escapes usually require something to push against to get leverage. Even if your opponent lost a hold on you, how are you going to get away? Punches and kicks will be mostly ineffective, since you can't put any weight behind them, and you don't have a firm connection with the ground- you'll go flying off in the opposite direction if you hit something. I'd look for holds, locks and stuff like that. A broken arm is still a broken arm in zero-g.

Momentum is speed times *mass*, not weight. You have mass, even in a weightless environment. Power is something else again.

Nope, because it still has mass.

Yep. Because of 'equal and opposite reaction', you'll push yourself away with a punch, unless you have a wall to brace yourself against.

The real bitch will be, weightlessness will negate much of the advantage of groundfighting. I could push a huge guy off of me relatively easily in weightlessness, and he'd just go flying away unless he grabbed me in time. The best strategy would probably be clinching, then punches with one hand while the other hand is grabbing something to keep the opponent and you from flying apart, or headbutts and knees while grabbing with both hands. And rear chokes would still work.

Say hi to L. Ron for me.

You will push against your opponent, then you will go flying in opposite directions from him (unless he is grabbing you, of course). You wouldn't need a base.

But you do have mass. And since you have no weight, you could do great flying kicks if you have a base to start from (like a wall).

Except for when you are up against the space station walls.

Remember that a lot of locks/breaks depends on the weight of the opponent to work. They still might work if pulled off fast enough, though. Then you would be using the inertia of the opponent instead of his weight.

True. Remember, kids: In space, no one can hear you tap.

Hey, great minds think alike.

Of course, great minds probably wouldn't be posting to RMA, especially about such a silly topic, but what the heck?

3rd dimentional escapes would kill a great deal of grapples too. Many of them depend on the floor and gravity (some would still work). I think a 'grabem and hitem' art (half grapple, half striking). You hold yourself to your oppoent and wail away.

Strikes would carry no weight,hence no power. But submissions would still break stuff.

Same as in the water.Grappling rules.

How does an escape kill? You guys are so scared of grapplers you always assume they are attacking you,rather than vice versa. How telling.

If you grabbed and struck it would cause some damage,as opposed to just hitting which would be irrelevent. But even if you gabbed and struck your bodies lack of weight would drastically effect your striking power.