Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson took down popular author and entrepreneur Tim Ferriss in a stunning display of physical prowess, all while in the presence of Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs.
“As I rotate, I take him down,” Tyson was quoted as saying, describing the sequence of events. “And as we go down, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Burroughs, who was present at the event, appeared to be impressed by Tyson’s display of physical prowess.
Neil deGrasse Tyson has long been known for his passion for the cosmos. But what many might not know is that Tyson also has a deep appreciation for the world of wrestling and martial arts.
Tyson’s connection to wrestling dates back to his high school days, where he served as the captain of his wrestling team. He continued to pursue the sport while studying physics at Harvard University, competing on the college’s wrestling squad. This background has given Tyson a unique perspective on the sport, often viewing it through the lens of physics.
“Wrestling is the hardest thing to do,” Tyson has been quoted as saying. “Anyone who says something else is the hardest thing has never wrestled.” He’s also noted how wrestling aligns with his scientific mindset: “A wrestling match is just the laws of physics. Where is the tipping point? Where is the center of mass? What are the support forces? And that’s how I thought about it.”
Recently, Tyson’s interest in grappling arts extended beyond wrestling when he had an encounter with UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Matt Serra. The former UFC welterweight champion gave Tyson a taste of BJJ, demonstrating a Kimura lock on the scientist. This interaction between the world’s most famous scientist and a renowned martial artist showcased the crossover appeal of combat sports and intellectual pursuits.
Tyson’s fascination with the intersection of science and wrestling doesn’t stop there. During a visit to the University of Indianapolis, he took the opportunity to demonstrate celestial body orbits using a wrestling move on a student.
He even contemplated inventing a new wrestling move inspired by astronomical phenomena: “I wanted to invent a new move called the double tidal lock. Because in space, two objects can orbit one another and one can use tidal forces to lock it so it always shows the same face.”
