Which Martial Arts Reality will you choose? A look at virtual/ augmented reality disruption

 "What is Real? How do you Define "Real"?"

- Morpheous, the Matrix

What will your martial arts reality look like? New technologies seem to be on the verge of expanding our reality. These technologies could potentially disrupt parts of the martial arts industry. First, we will evaluate two of the latest alternative reality technologies the Oculus Rift and Holo Lens. Secondly we will examine how these technologies could possible impact specific aspects of martial arts.

What is this crazy technology?

Virtual reality is a computer simulated world and or simulated presense. The Oculus Rift is an optical display technology you place over your face that will have virtual worlds for you to interact with. The Oculus Rift website states, "The Rift’s advanced display technology combined with its precise, low-latency constellation tracking system enables the sensation of presence – the feeling as though you’re actually there. The magic of presence changes everything. You’ve never experienced immersion like this". The estimated cost of the Oculus Rift could be around $400. 

Augmented reality is a real world environment with computer generated elements, such as sound and graphics. The HoloLens are a fancy pair glasses that overlay holographic images on top of a real environment. Per Microsoft's site, "Microsoft HoloLens is the first holographic computer running Windows 10. It is completely untethered – no wires, phones, or connection to a PC needed. Microsoft HoloLens allows you to pin holograms in your physical environment and provides a new way to see your world". The estimated cost of Holo Lens is $500-$1500. 

How do these technologies impact Martial Arts training?

Disrupting the industry: Training

Martial arts training could be significantly impacted. What if you didn't have to go to a big city to attend a seminar? What if you could interact with Erik Paulson or Dan Inosanto without physically being there? With the Oculus Rift, you could potentially enter a 3D environment and follow along with Martial Arts "Program". With the HoloLens, you could potentially sit in your living room, garage and could follow along with a seminar, by "pinning" a Skyped Martial Arts Seminar right into your living room.

Secondly, with either technology you could add a bit of character to shadow boxing. Instead of relying solely on your imagination, you could load up a Mike Tyson program to shadow box with or and Ronda Rousey program to work on MMA. If you have a stationery object such as a heavy bag. The HoloLens could potentially "pin" an opponent over the top of the heavy bag or wooden dummy. Thus adding some physical resistance to punches and kicks. 

Disrupting the industry: Viewing

 

What impact will these technologies have on sporting events and competitions? What if you could have an empty boxing ring, MMA cage or a Jiu jitsu mat and pin a fight over over the top? Would you need to tickets to the actually event or could you go to a local gym and "pin" it to your boxing ring?

 

Conclusion:

In the near term it would appear that the HoloLens could potentially disrupt the training and viewing industries of MMA better. I would personally like to try and train by "pinning" an opponent to a solid object. Until virtual reality figures out how to implement some sort of physical stimulation with the virtual environment training would just be an augmented form of shadow boxing. Still definitely an interesting alternative way to train.

What do you think about virtual and augmented reality in Martial Arts?

-Dwight

Here is the corresponding podcast: Link

References:

1. https://www.oculus.com

2. https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us