I started Martial Arts at a time in my life when I was
discontent with my emotional, physical and cognitive health. I was unhappy with myself and listed all the
reasons I felt that way to come to a very solid conclusion – I was not getting
enough exercise. After having four kids
in five years, my exercise and sports were naturally not at the forefront of my
time. My solution? Karate.
Why? It would provide me with the
physical outlet I needed, would be a cognitive challenge, and would feed my
emotional need to do something for “me”.
Also, I considered self-defence, like CPR and First Aid, a tool I wanted
in my “just in case” tool box. But what
I found through Martial Arts was much more than I expected. I always struggled to explain this to others
until I read a wonderful post from Sensei Master Michael Sirota (http://www.sirotasalchymy.com/master.html). Sensei Sirota lives in British Columbia and
has created an entire Martial Arts program for people with disabilities. He is heavily involved in the Para-Olympics
and is, in my mind, a pillar in the Martial Arts Community. I was fortunate enough to meet Michael in person
last year.
In his post “Why Martial Arts”, Sensei Sirota highlighted
the benefits:
Self-Defense: “practice the fight so you don’t have
to”. This speaks to the fact that
Martial Artists develop a quiet confidence that is seen but not heard. This confidence makes them less vulnerable as
a target of violence, and teaches them to identify potentially dangerous
situations early to promote avoidance.
Athletic Enhancement
and Fitness: Many athletes combine
their sports training with Martial Arts to maintain endurance, flexibility,
coordination and swiftness. Being able
to strike, kick and move quickly mimics the explosive, fluid and coordinated
movements needed in sport. There are few
other activities that burn as many calories, or result in such an overall body
workout.
Other Health
Benefits: Martial Artists tend to
take diet and exercise seriously. This
is part of the intensity of their training and their commitment to
wellness. Martial Arts requires
concentration and focus, things relatable to all areas of life. Martial Arts is a commitment with the built
in motivation of moving through belt levels to achieve the goal of Sensei.
Respect and Courtesy:
Contrary to popular belief, Martial Arts is about restraint and playing nicely
in the sand box. It has been proven that
children (and adults) trained in martial arts tend to be disciplined, composed
and respectful. This is beneficial in
all areas of life, especially relationships, school and work.
So, if you are looking for fitness, emotional strength,
confidence, and cognitive stimulation, there are few other activities that will
provide more bang for your buck. And,
fortunately, there are many forms of Martial Arts to choose from, making it
likely that you can connect with a style and form that aligns with your
interests.
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