The Benefits of Martial Arts


When you think of martial arts, you probably imagine a group of people in funny costumes practicing complicated fighting moves and shouting “hiya” at each other. The idea of it being a wholesome activity never crosses your mind. Because, hey—it’s martial arts! It has to be weird. Right? That couldn’t be further from the truth. For starters, there are different types of martial arts—not all of them involve fighting. In fact, some don’t even require physical contact. Depending on the type of martial art, its principles might revolve around self-discipline or on controlling your anger or some other such trait; this article will focus on the combat-based ones. But before we go any further, let’s get one thing out of the way:


What is martial arts?

Most people think of martial arts as just the practice of fighting. But in fact, martial arts is a broad term that includes any kind of activity where you use your body to overcome an opponent. It’s believed that the word “martial” comes from Mars, the Roman god of war. All martial arts are combat disciplines, but not all combat disciplines are martial arts. For example, sumo wrestling is considered a sport, not a martial art—even though it’s very much a form of combat. The best way to think of martial arts is as an umbrella term for all the different types of activity that involve the use of combat skills.


Why Should Kids Practice Martial Arts?

There is a long list of reasons why kids should participate in martial arts—so long, in fact, that it would take up the rest of this article to list them all. But let’s go down the top five. First, martial arts teaches kids discipline. It’s not just a physical activity—it’s also mental. Kids who practice martial arts often end up using the same techniques when studying or working on a project. Discipline is not something that you can learn from a book or a computer program—it has to be learned through practice and repetition. Second, martial arts teaches kids self-confidence. This is important for two reasons. First, if a child isn’t confident in his or her abilities, he or she could fail to reach their full potential. Second, a child who feels he or she is capable of accomplishing anything is less likely to become involved in risky behavior or to become a victim of bullying. Third, martial arts improves kids’ mental and physical health. Kids who participate in martial arts tend to be less likely to become obese or have other health issues. Plus, martial arts is a great form of exercise, which can help children and teens stay healthy in the long run. Fourth, martial arts can help kids make friends. It’s not unusual for martial arts classes to have a social aspect to them. Kids who participate in martial arts are often encouraged to compete against other martial arts students or to compete against teams of kids from other martial arts schools. Participating in these sorts of events gives kids something to talk about and brings them together. Fifth, martial arts can help kids defend themselves. But this is not something a child should rely on. A child should never use martial arts as a way of protecting himself or herself. They should only do so in cases of extreme self-defense. 


Four reasons why kids should learn martial arts:

  1. It builds self-confidence 
  2. It teaches kids how to defend themselves 
  3. It improves mental and physical health 
  4. It teaches children how to manage their emotions


Three benefits of martial arts for adults:

  1. It relieves stress
  2. It improves mental and physical health
  3. It makes it easier to deal with difficult people


Two other benefits of practicing martial arts:

  1. It helps you make friends
  2. It provides an outlet for aggression 


The Bottom Line

If your child has been asking to learn martial arts or if you yourself have been wondering if it’s a good idea, the answer is, “Yes.” There are all sorts of benefits to taking part in martial arts, both physical and emotional. And there are different types of martial arts to choose from, depending on what you’re hoping to get out of it. So take the plunge. You won’t regret it. And even if you don’t have kids, you can still benefit from martial arts. It’s a great way to stay in shape, to relieve stress, and to meet new friends.

The Shaolin Warrior

Location: 7440 W Cactus Rd Suite A-9, Peoria, AZ 85381, USA

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