Martial Arts Recommendations

Have you considered doing BJJ instead?

Hmm ... that sounds like martial arts!

I do Gracie Jiu-jitsu. It's the most logical, efficient form of self defense (close-quarters submission grappling). Sparring is a calm, chess-like process. It is like solving real-time life-or-death body mechanical problems. It leaves you with a lean and strong body and gives you enormous confidence around other people.

I would say Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You can make good progress very quickly, it's a lot of fun, can be very demanding physically (but doesn't always have to) and is called "chess on the mat" which should appeal to a programmer's analytical minds. Plus, there's a ton of BJJ ressources on the net and the community is very active.

if you like the mental side of it but dislike the striking violence you should check out the brazilian jiu jitsu scene. there's a lot of overlap with none of the blood.

I wish Kudo had been available when I was training semi-seriously in martial arts 30 years ago. It is exciting to watch, practical for self-defense and doesn't look too dangerous for the competitors. So much more exciting to watch IHMO than 2 guys lumbering around a judo mat or 2 taekwondo guys alternately bouncing up and down and hugging each other. And less of a gore-fest than MMA.

I highly recommend trying out BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). Not only is it physically and mentally stimulating (I like to refer to it as physical chess), it also makes you appreciate how vulnerable you are, and by extension why to avoid physical altercation at nearly all costs. An added bonus is that you'll be able to defend your self against most people.

Some martial art (a real one) like muay-thai (no need for fights) works really good for this.

I've been doing brazilian jiu-jitsu for about 5 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone. I know a wide range of people who practice it, from professional fighters to little kids to a guy in his 60s.I think it fits especially well for the HN crowd, because there's generally very little mystical bs that goes on, and although this analogy gets abused, it's basically human chess. There's a very analytical approach to learning jiu-jitsu as opposed to most striking arts (I also do muay thai

You could try jiu-jitsu. I've yet to meet a person who could honestly say that getting choked out is "boring".