Do you always feel like a victim? Do you get tired often and feel weak and vulnerable? If so, it’s time to do something about it! There are plenty of reasons to take up martial arts, but perhaps one of the lesser-known benefits is that it will make you tough.
With martial arts, you will undoubtedly get stronger physically because of the training. It will also make you a tough opponent because you will have self-defense skills. Most of all, martial arts will grow your concentration and focus. Let’s dive into these three reasons why you should start training today.
It Will Make You Physically Tough
Martial arts is a full body activity which will lead to a full-body workout. The consistent practice has increased overall mobility, improved your body’s pressure response, and increased muscle mass.
Many martial arts usually involve repeat muscular actions, and they will usually help you build strength and burn fat more efficiently. Here are some forms of martial arts to try:
Kenpo
If you have always desired to increase strength and build muscle quickly and intensely, you can try Kempo! It is a full-body practice that combines the athletic abilities of Karate, Judo, Kung-Fu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Taekwondo
Originally from East Asian regions like Korea, Japan, and China, it makes you tough physically, mentally, and emotionally. If this does not appeal to you, you can try many other forms of martial arts, such as the graceful Brazilian Capoeira!
Martial arts improve technical fighting skills
One obvious benefit to learning martial arts is an improved ability to perform self-defense maneuvers in dangerous and life-threatening situations. These are great skills for you and your children to learn too.
For example, Muay Thai, also called the art of 8 limbs, is all about using your elbows and knees and your fists and feet/shins to strike. Muay Thai is quite deadly and versatile and is very effective in self-defense.
The conditioning of bones and the intense training helps you build a great skill set to help you defend yourself whenever the need arises. The versatility of this martial art form makes it a very effective self-defense weapon. With a short elbow strike, a long roundhouse kick, or a short elbow strike, Muay Thai gives you a variety of moves to add to your self-defense arsenal.
Muay Thai also helps you develop better skills in clinch fighting, which is the shortest-range stand-up fighting in martial arts. This allows you to fight at any age without getting on the ground and is highly effective. When you add throws, you can develop a well-rounded strategy of self-defense in all situations.
They develop discpline and focus
One of the main reasons why people study martial arts is because it helps them to toughen their discipline and focus. Martial arts require a great deal of concentration and focus in order to be effective. It is also important to maintain control and discipline when training in martial arts.
This is because if you lose focus for even a moment, you could end up injuring yourself or your opponent. The discipline and focus you learn can help you boost concentration, and effectively handle stress in all areas of your life.
These are the ways that Martial arts affects your body:
They boost flexibility
Martial arts are very acrobatic and involve blocks, dodging, high kicks, etc., which all require you to be flexible.
Martial arts improve strength
You don’t have to look like Hercules to be strong! Martial arts can quickly boost your overall strength, power, and muscle tone.
Follow the link to read about the process of muscle hypertrophy. It explains how you can build muscle and get stronger with consistent training.
They improve the cardiovascular system
Martial arts give you that all-important cardio workout, through sparring and training which can improve your heart rate.
Martial arts help in weight loss
Martial arts help you to increase your muscle mass and tone. In addition, it can help you improve your body’s metabolism, burn calories, and effectively control your body weight.
They boost coordination and stability
Martial arts keep you on your toes. Balance, core stability, and a solid upright stance are essential. Martial arts training can help you to improve your body posture too.
Martial arts improve overall physical condition
Martial arts can help you boost your mental and emotional wellbeing, eliminate stress, and reduce anxiety. However, they are more than just a repetitive exercise because they involve heightened attention, mental discipline, continuous lessons, and structured engagements with those you usually train with. Martial arts also entail cultivating and nurturing respect for others and yourself.
Martial arts better endurance
You do not need to be in the do Jang or dojo to get the maximum martial arts benefits. You can get into a session of Jiu-jitsu, Karate, Taekwondo, etc., several hours a week at your local gym. These repeated classes and routines will improve your endurance and performance significantly.
Types of exercises to involve with martial arts
Pull-ups
Pull-ups are very beneficial in building upper body strength because a pull-up puts almost all your muscles to work simultaneously. If you are a beginner, you can use a prop to help you get your chin above the bar and then lower yourself down slowly until you get used to it.
Barbell squats
Barbel squats help you build that significant strength in your legs. Your glutes, hamstrings, and quads all benefit by strengthening in the process.
Push ups
The building block of martial art strength – push-ups are perfect for developing striking power.
Final words
Martial arts is a wholesome activity that toughens you physically as you build strength and fitness. It also makes you a mentally tougher person with increased levels of concentration, discipline and focus. You’re training will teach you to be a tough opponent with self-defense skills for a lifetime.
So, if you are looking for a way to improve and toughen up in all these ways, then martial arts could be the perfect choice for you.