The Future of Martial Arts Training: Robots!

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If you don't belong to a gym, finding a regular sparring partner can be nearly impossible, especially if all of your friends are too busy or they're not into martial arts at all (or they might be, but they're too lazy to actually train!).

So what's the solution for this? Well, there really is none at this point, except to join a club that has regular sparring sessions, but take a look at what's in development in the world of robotics:

The Martial Arts Robot Project

The most advanced system of its kind; faster yet safer than a human sparring partner….
….The X-1 is a high performance humanoid fighting robot for martial arts training, demonstration, and entertainment. It consists of a mobile unit with 24 degrees of freedom connected by umbilicals to a large compressor and a computer control cart. Many advanced performance and safety features are unique to the X-1.

Images of the Martial Arts Robot's first bout with a human.

Just as Kasparov beat Big Blue, after a struggle, Wan-Yik won the first ever
martial arts bout with a machine. The Austin American Statesman
described the early prototype as "a reasonable imitation of a karate
expert."

Ongoing performance and control improvements will focus the robot's
superhuman speed into greater agility. The next human to sparr the
machine may well lose on a point score basis.

The Hyperkinetic Humanoid

After a two year gestation the Hyperkinetic Humanoid (H2-X) Robot is operational. Widely known as the Martial Arts Robot, the machine is faster and tougher than a human, yet is surpisingly safe.

Self Defense Technologies, Inc.

Self Defense Technologies, Inc. (SDT) has developed the world’s first “true” fighting android. Specifically, SDT’s invention is known as an electromechanical training apparatus or Fighting Android FA1. This android will revolutionize the training and conditioning of participants in boxing, martial arts and kick boxing along with providing both recreation and entertainment for the general public.

Well…these robots aren't what you would see in the movies or in anime films…but hey, you gotta start somewhere!