The tech industry’s elite has discovered a new passion: martial arts. At ETHDenver, a cryptocurrency conference, Andrew Batey, a 40-year-old venture capital investor, was preparing for a live YouTube fight. Wearing boxers with a cartoon Santa Claus riding a golf cart, Mr. Batey flexed for cameras after weighing in at nearly 195 pounds.
This new trend isn’t limited to Mr. Batey. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has been showcasing his physical transformation on Instagram, evolving from a ‘skinny computer nerd’ to a martial arts practitioner. A recent post showed him grappling an opponent to the ground. Mr. Zuckerberg has lamented the lack of ‘masculine energy’ in corporate culture, echoing a sentiment popular among some tech founders and social media influencers.
The tech industry’s embrace of martial arts reflects a broader cultural shift in U.S. politics, with many tech moguls embracing a testosterone-driven ideal of masculinity. This movement gained attention when Elon Musk challenged Mr. Zuckerberg to a televised cage match in 2023, though the fight never materialized.
The Rise of Martial Arts in Tech Culture
The involvement in martial arts among tech elites isn’t merely about physical combat; it’s about embodying a certain ideal of masculinity that’s gaining traction on social media and in political circles. Brazilian jujitsu, in particular, has become a favorite among these tech moguls, with Mr. Zuckerberg and others using it as a way to express their physical strength and resilience.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Transformation
Mr. Zuckerberg’s journey into martial arts is well-documented on his Instagram account. His posts show a significant physical transformation and a deep interest in martial arts, reflecting a broader trend among tech leaders.
Implications for U.S. Politics
This trend has implications beyond the tech world, reflecting and influencing cultural and political narratives around masculinity and strength. As tech moguls like Mr. Zuckerberg and Elon Musk embrace martial arts, they’re not just changing their physiques; they’re also contributing to a cultural shift that values physical prowess and a particular form of masculinity.
The intersection of tech, martial arts, and masculinity represents a fascinating development in U.S. cultural and political life, highlighting the complex ways in corporate culture, social media, and political ideology intersect.
