Since Air Force pilots are officers, they should have been given a more aristocratic marital art, like fencing.

Saber fencing especially is pretty quick. Which is probably what they’d like—at least, I don’t think the Air Force would like to promote a mentality of taking a few hits and slugging through.

Sabre (the wrong decision now beats the right one later) would be more air cav?

I think the Air Force would prefer epée (full court press: first mistake loses).

Unfortunately the most aristocratic art has the most concussions -- horseback riding.

¿porque no los dos?

https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/37431/trai...

(I have heard that WWI era air bases had signs "no spurs in the cockpit" but am not sure that these aren't just modern retconned "collectibles")

At least those are generally accepted as a terrible accident, and not an expected and accepted part of the sport.

Ian Millar (who represented Canada in the 10 Games of 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012) shows that unlike boxing and bull riding, most equestrian disciplines don't involve hoping to retire before the brain damage catches up with you.

(also my understanding of the curve, based on our national level hospital statistics, is that a substantial fraction of the really bad wrecks happen to people with under 500 hours)

mmm. Depends on what you consider the "sport."

My wife's a horse trainer. I could go down a long list of injuries of various severity that she's suffered over the years. There's at least one concussion (that I know of!) in there and a solid whack to the face that drew lots of blood but no other noticeable injury.

And that reminds me of the software developer I used to work with who was also previously a horse trainer but switched to software after being run over and breaking five ribs.

Unfortunately, this stuff is considered expected and accepted [shrug].

I'm assuming most riders aren't trainers, though. That seems like a different and likely riskier activity than riding an already-trained horse?

One can only hope :-)

Then again, I knew someone whose wife did intake at a nearby ER and pretty much all of their equine-related injuries came from the same trail riding outfit nearby!

The common joke in the military is that the Air Force builds the golf course before the runway.

I got a concussion one time during a saber match when my opponent “accidentally” hit me in the side of the head with the guard after the pass…

But I’m very unlucky with concussions. I once got one in a swim meet for running head first into the wall. So ymmv.

As long as it's not Kendo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo).

Back when I trained, I remember going home with headaches because as senior student, my job was basically to stand in front of a line of junior students who took turns whacking me in the head :-)

And this is why aviators have a truism: you can't win at Medical. You can only break even (walk out with the same medical clearance you had when you came in) or lose (walk out without it).