Why do so many aspies hate sports (except martial arts)?

I notice a strong common trend among people with asperger syndrome is hatred towards sports. In fact its so common among aspies of different traits and scaling in the autism spectrum to the point I would even classify it as universal (minus **VERY RARE** exceptions).

Not just sports but even for the most sport physical activities in general including non-competitive ones such as hiking. In particular I notice in particular mainstream spectator sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball, and so on are most hated by people with asperger syndrome.

However strangely I also notice people with asperger syndrome often tend to big into martial arts if they are at all into sports and (obviously) much of the brainy sports with minimal physical activity such as chess and e-gaming (debatable if its a sports) tend to be dominated by aspies or have its fandoms consist largely of aspies.

Why is this? In particular why does martial arts tend to be the only physical sport that attract a large number of people diagnosed with aspergers? I can understand checkers attracting a disproportionate % of aspies, but how come martial arts gets so much attention from aspergers people? What is it about martial arts that appeals to aspies that say tennis doesn't?

But in general why don't asperger syndrome people like sports and also even non-sport (or at least mostly non-competitive) physically intense activities such as say aerobics, dancing, and bodybuilding?

i have dyspraxia, which is comorbid with AS. i actually have not only poor gross motor control but also muscle weakness too. dyspraxia is, as far as i can establish, the physical presentation of the underlying disorder that causes AS, which is the mental presentation. they basically originate from the same thing. consequently, i get no pleasure whatsoever from physical activity and i find watch it in others somewhat disturbing. as for martial arts, i can only guess that the difference is possibly in it being self-defence rather that a team sport. aspies can become easily victimised and may more easily relate to such an activity.

I've always hated playing sports and was forced to join teams and play. Criticized heavily for my aversion to sports. I would rather do most anything than a sport.

Hated watching sports, including golf on tv, even more.

I don't understand humans identifying with a team and especially i'm confused why they allow themselves to be emotionally and financially manipulated through this identification. People who wear jerseys with someone else's name/number on them - why?? How weird is that? You aren't that person, so why do you wear their name and number? I take things very literally so I see no reason to say you are someone you are not.

I think the word, 'fanatic' needs to be brought back into popular culture as it rightly describes the psychopathology inherent in this allegiance to teams, sports, players, winning, etc. 'Fan' doesn't cover it.

I hate being 'coached'. Hate it. So I'm likely to fail on purpose or just withdraw. I grew up in a family who lived and died by college, professional and really any sport so I learned to bring a book and sit in the stands, for example. I've been brought to many a coveted event only to read a book through the entire thing and have no idea who played.

Another part of sports is I do not understand the scoring system, etc.

But it all comes back to wondering why humans 'play' with balls and jump over things and whatnot? Wherever I came from, we didn't do this.

Edited to add: I've seen a lot of autism spectrum folk in martial arts. That's such a broad term, I hesitate to use it but fwiw: to me, martial arts has an elevated, intellectual component that I do not see in other sports. Not limited to a conventional definition of strategy but a spiritual aspiration and discipline. To understand energy, unseen and seen, to align oneself with principles which testify to noble or honorable purpose(s), that's very different than football linebackers trying to 'kill' each other. Or these huge displays of emotion, high fives, people just falling all out over one point and crying...ugh. Distasteful.

And, martial arts can teach about internal power that doesn't necessarily have to be expressed. That's a comfort for aspies, I think. Having the knowledge and power but controlling expression.

didto wrote:I've seen a lot of autism spectrum folk in martial arts. That's such a broad term, I hesitate to use it but fwiw: to me, martial arts has an elevated, intellectual component that I do not see in other sports. Not limited to a conventional definition of strategy but a spiritual aspiration and discipline. To understand energy, unseen and seen, to align oneself with principles which testify to noble or honorable purpose(s), that's very different than football linebackers trying to 'kill' each other. Or these huge displays of emotion, high fives, people just falling all out over one point and crying...ugh. Distasteful.

And, martial arts can teach about internal power that doesn't necessarily have to be expressed. That's a comfort for aspies, I think. Having the knowledge and power but controlling expression.

This doesn't explain however why weightlifting, gardening, hiking, time-based car racing/driving, aerobics, running, and other solo activities are NOT popular hobbies among aspies.

I'll grant though that boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and other combat sports tend to be practised by many aspies (though they can often fall into the broad category of martial arts). Also acrobatics in general (and also gymnastics) are runner ups to sports likely to attract Aspies (though martial arts themselves feature lots of acrobatics and movements seen in gymnastics).

Is there any correlation to perhaps bullying (the main reason people take up martial arts)? Are Aspies attracted to flashy cool movements and showmanship (as acrobatics, gymnastics, and similar individualistic sports based on points by judges imply)?


To add to this, while most dancing is not popular by aspies, I read a survery saying breakdancing and other really flashy styles (often involving lots of jumping and acrobatic style movements) have a dispropotionate aspies into the event.

shock_the_monkey wrote: as for martial arts, i can only guess that the difference is possibly in it being self-defence rather that a team sport. aspies can become easily victimised and may more easily relate to such an activity.

I thought too this might be a contributing factor. I still find it strange many aspies including those into martial arts aren't obsessed with weightlifting (especially since this can help big time with self-defense and there are too many stories out thee by daily news and in cartoons, comics, etc of a puny nerd who suddenly starts going to the gym and beat up his bullies as he pumps up into as big and muscular as The Hulk).

SauronineKnight wrote:[
This doesn't explain however why weightlifting, gardening, hiking, time-based car racing/driving, aerobics, running, and other solo activities are NOT popular hobbies among aspies.

Many 'extreme' versions of sports have those on the spectrum. Ultra running, for example.

I disagree that solo activities are not popular hobbies among aspies. If anything, the idea of 'team' and 'group' can be downright awful.

the thing with weight lifting is that it's largely about brute force. if, like me, you have muscle weakness, you can't build appreciable muscle. martial arts are more about balance and using energy effectively, rather than brute force.

Maybe its because a lot of us have poor motor skills. I hated doing sports at school because I was the absolute worst at them-I couldn't run as fast as everyone else, wasn't coordinated enough to throw a ball into a hoop, hit it with a bat or kick it into a goal well enough to be any good. I am also not very sociable, and find interaction with people hard, which rules out any team sports.