Can You Combine Magic Mushrooms and Martial Arts?

Tripping doesn't tend to inspire particularly aggressive tendencies. Nevertheless, if you're a martial arts practitioner, then using magic mushrooms might give you a unique way to practise and hone your talent. Find out all about it here.

Tripping can enhance many activities, from playing video games to simply sitting outside in nature. But what about combining psychedelic drugs with martial arts? Is it a good idea? The short answer is, yes—if you know what you want to gain from the experience.

Fighting and drugs do actually have a history, and it goes much deeper than blokes sparring on the street under the influence of alcohol and cocaine—let’s take a look!

IS PAIRING MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND MARTIAL ARTS A GOOD IDEA?

As long as you don’t plan to actually fight someone, taking magic mushrooms and engaging in martial arts can be a worthy pursuit. If you’re not familiar with practising martial arts, only a very small amount of time is actually spent trying to strike, flip, or submit another person. Most of the time is spent on drills and fitness, depending on what and how you practise.

So yes, magic mushrooms can pair very well with the broader practice of martial arts. Generally, highly stimulating, fast-paced activities can be very intense when tripping, and events can tend to move faster than the brain can handle. So, for most people, slower-paced drilling is likely to be better than fast-paced or overly complex practice.

Practising martial arts under the influence of shrooms is perhaps best-suited to those who want to become extremely present with themselves and their body, and may perhaps even lead to a sort of spiritual experience—but don’t count on it!

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS FOR USING MAGIC MUSHROOMS?

Psychedelics and fighting have a long history, so you won’t be breaking new ground if you decide to pair the two. Below, we look at some historical examples of people using psychedelics alongside combat.

VIKING WARRIORS

It’s been suggested that vikings may have used psychedelics when going into battle. Specifically, it has been posited that the infamous viking berserkers, impervious to harm and utterly deadly, may have been on more than raw blood lust. The Volsunga saga states:

“They went without armour, were as mad as dogs and wolves, bit their shields, were as strong as bears or oxen, they killed everybody, and neither fire nor iron bit them; this is called going berserk”.

It has long been assumed that Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) may have been consumed by these warriors before entering the fray. This famous red and white mushroom (technically a deliriant, not a psychedelic) has a long tradition of use within Northern cultures, and fits the alleged story fairly well.

However, new research by ethnobotanist Karsten Fatur suggests that a lesser-known plant called black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) might have been used instead.

KILINDI IYI

Kilindi Iyi, a pioneering martial artist and scholar of African warrior traditions, was one of the most vocal advocates for combining high-dose magic mushroom experiences with martial arts training. He viewed psychedelics, particularly psilocybin mushrooms, as a tool for deep spiritual exploration and consciousness expansion, believing they could unlock hidden potential in both the mind and body. To quote him:

“One of the most challenging areas is the realisation of the aloneness. The realisation of the darkness, no light. The realisation that those are constructs of the consciousness. Once you lose the primal consciousness and move into that primal darkness that's so dark it has no black to it. That's one of the hardest things”.

Iyi’s perspective on magic mushrooms goes beyond recreational use, positioning them as a gateway to altered states of consciousness that could benefit martial artists. He emphasised that the heightened awareness and sensitivity produced by psychedelics can lead to profound insights into the nature of combat, self-defence, and physical movement. According to Iyi, these substances enable practitioners to experience the warrior spirit on a deeper level, helping them tap into ancient traditions and philosophies rooted in self-mastery.

If you’re going to follow in the footsteps of either the viking berserkers of Kilindi Iyi, we’d recommend the latter.

WHICH MARTIAL ARTS COULD BENEFIT FROM MAGIC MUSHROOMS?

Potentially all martial arts could benefit from magic mushrooms or other psychedelics. The important aspect is how you practise, not which you choose to practise. As mentioned, entering the ring or going for an intense fitness session may not be the best way to combine martial arts and hallucinogens.

Instead, slow everything down and get in touch with your body. Master each movement and understand how every muscle moves in the process. Focus on exactly how and where your knuckles land, how your hips pivot, and how you breathe with each movement.

Psychedelics will allow you to get very granular with your technique, and when you come to pick up the pace again when sober, you might find these tiny changes make a huge impact regarding your overall practice.

TIPS FOR COMBINING MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND MARTIAL ARTS

Below, find some general tips for trying out this combination:

• Start low: Generally, lower doses of magic mushrooms are advised when engaging in any sort of martial arts practice. The goal is not to have a wild trip, but to get in touch with the subtleties of your body and your practice. To do this, a milder dose might be more suitable.

• Tell anyone you’re partnered with: If you partner with someone, be honest with them that you’re on drugs. They need to know how to work with you, and need to feel comfortable practising with someone who is tripping.

• Try it is a safe space: Only trip in a training space if you feel comfortable there. A highly macho martial arts gym full of egos is not going to be an enjoyable place to be.

• Don’t be a culture vulture: There’s plenty of mysticism surrounding Eastern martial arts, and much of it is warped by the Western imagination. Do martial arts for yourself and to get close to the practice, but don’t walk into a gym on shrooms and think you're some kind of Zen monk.

COMBINING PSYCHEDELICS WITH MARTIAL ARTS: THE VERDICT

Psychedelics and martial arts can be great fun, helping you to get closer to yourself and making you better at the sport in question. However, be clear about why you’re doing it and what you want to achieve. Also, be realistic about your capabilities when tripping, and adjust your training to match. Slow things down, go back to beginner techniques, and hone in on every little movement.

And, stay safe!