Science Study Break: Dr. Jason Thalken On The Physics Of Martial Arts, 2/10

Rumble in the SAC, as the first Science Study Break of 2015 gets rowdy with your favorite martial artists from film and TV. University of Texas at Austin alumus Dr. Jason Thalken discusses the real world — and sometimes unreal — physics of fight scenes in the films of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Ip Man and Batman. Thalken is in a unique position to talk about the nexus of the two fields: he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Southern California (a B.S. from UT) and has a blackbelt in hapkido, with 20 years of competitive martial arts experience across numerous distinct martial art styles. He’s also the author of a forthcoming book on the subject — Fight Like a Physicist — set for release in September by martial arts publisher YMAA. Thalken works as a quantitative analyst and a predictive modeler since 2006, and has several patents for innovations in financial services. He’s also worked on building his own robot training partner, and has some excellent tips for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Free pizza (while it lasts) for program attendees. Pop culture and the academy collide as Science Study Break features relevant faculty and experts from the University of Texas at Austin discussing the reality and fantasy portrayed in science-themed television and movies. Science Study Break is hosted by the University of Texas Libraries and supported by the University Federal Credit Union.