Karate is one of the oldest martial arts worldwide. It provides numerous benefits, such as increased confidence and better physical shape. So, learning it might very well be one of the best choices you can make in your life. But, will it make you stronger?
Training Karate will make you stronger because it’s an intense exercise that uses many muscle groups, such as the legs, shoulders, back, and hands. As a result, you’ll burn many calories while building muscle mass and losing body fat. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see 720 calories burned in an hour.
If you’re familiar with calories and their meaning, you’ll know that 720 calories can be the difference between losing and gaining body fat. As a result, Karate can also be the link between losing or gaining fat.
Moreover, consistent and dedicated Karate training will provide other physical results, such as potential muscle mass, better endurance, and a better aerobic and anaerobic shape.
However, don’t take the results for granted because they’ll take plenty of time to achieve. I assure you- the morning after your first training session- will be filled with muscle soreness. That’s a sign you’ve worked hard the previous day and that your body is building itself and recovering.
I believe I’ve clarified most of what you need to know at this point in the article. Now, let’s dive deep into each sub-topic and expand upon it.
Can you build muscle from Karate?
To build muscle, hypertrophy must take place. Essentially, it’s the body’s process of building muscle after a workout. For example, micro-tears in your muscles occur when you’ve lifted weights. Then, when you catch up deep sleep, your body will recover these micro-tears and expand upon them. That’s how you build muscle.
Building muscle mass from Karate training- is impossible and plausible. You’ll use many muscle groups in training, such as the back, hands, legs, and shoulders. This use will cause hypertrophy, the body’s process of building muscle. As a result, if you dedicate yourself to training, you’ll notice muscle growth.
But it’s not that simple.
Building muscle is a long process requiring your complete dedication, not only in the training realm. Instead, you need to expand your knowledge and be eager to learn more about everything related to adding on muscle mass.
For example, nutrition plays a leading role in the hypertrophy process. As such, if you’re not eating correctly, you won’t notice as many results as if you were to eat right.
Moreover, micro-tears won’t form in your muscles if you don’t work hard enough. Eventually, your body won’t need to undergo the process of hypertrophy, as you didn’t put your muscles into the training as much as you should.
As you can see, numerous factors go into building muscle through Karate. I’m no expert on the topic; I’m just an individual who went through this process and has plenty of life experience. Nonetheless, I recommend reading further on how to build muscles and suitable nutrition for this purpose.
Will Karate better my physical shape?
Participating in any sport will do the job if you want to better your physical shape. Moreover, many studies have provided time after time on the effectiveness of martial arts and its link to a better physical shape. So, will Karate make your physical shape better?
Karate will improve your physical, aerobic, and anaerobic shape and overall physical health because it’s an intense workout that burns many calories. As a result, dedicated and consistent Karate training will see an incline in their body composition and overall physical health.
While burning many calories is helpful, it isn’t everything you need to improve your physical shape. For instance, to improve your aerobic condition, it’ll be best to stick to moderate-paced exercises, such as running and swimming.
Karate can be your source for improving your overall physical health and body composition, as it can be both an intense and moderate-paced workout.
Moreover, as I previously mentioned, building muscle mass through Karate- is possible and likely to occur if that’s your pursuit. However, you’ll need to add other factors into the equation, such as appropriate nutrition regarding your goal.
How many times should I train in Karate per week?
When deciding how many times per week you’ll train, you must consider a single factor: overtraining. Countless lifestyle, physical, and harmful mental consequences will enter your life if you train too often.
So, what’s the optimized number of Karate sessions per week?
To avoid overtraining in Karate training up to 3-times a week on non-consecutive days- is the optimized way to notice steady progression and positive benefits. For example, working out on Sunday and Monday- isn’t wise because it won’t allow your body enough time to recover.
Again, the harmful consequences you may notice entering your life when overtraining- are detrimental. As a result, it’ll be best if you do anything in your power to avoid them.
If you harm your body and spirit through Karate training, what’s the point of even exercise?
Limiting your training routine to 3-times per week- is the optimal way of training since you’ll allow your body enough time to rest and build itself together. Remember the micro-tears I mentioned in the last section? Your body won’t fix them if you don’t sleep well enough and give it rest days between sessions.
How many calories does Karate burn?
Burning a set number of calories can be the last piece to start losing body fat and improving your physical health. But, eventually, such a trait is highly desirable. Thus if you can achieve it while learning to fight, you can’t lose.
It’s not uncommon to see Karate trainees burn up to 720 calories and more per hour. Seven hundred calories is a large number of calories burned in an exercise and can be the difference between gaining and losing body fat. For comparison, lifting weights burns up to 300 calories per hour.
Moreover, Karate uses most of your muscles intensely. That’s why such large numbers of calories burned can occur among Karate trainees.
The next time you enter your martial arts gym, ensure you know you’re burning many calories and improving your body composition.
Because sometimes, knowing you’re doing something to improve your physical health is all it takes to allow your body and mind to enter the workout as one.
Is Karate better than the gym?
Throughout history, gyms have never existed because we didn’t need them. In fact, humans were always in shape, regardless of age, gender, or how many times a week we lifted weights. We simply were in shape because we needed to – or else we wouldn’t have survived.
Karate is better than the gym because it promotes movement in many dimensions, and thus it better improves your physical shape than lifting weights, a linear and strict movement. As a result, participating in Karate will improve your endurance and overall physical shape.
While lifting weights- is incredibly helpful, it’s not as beneficial to your physical health. I’ve been lifting weights for the past 6-years- so I’m as unbiased as it gets.
The gym promotes linear movements, repeating the same motion repeatedly and spreading them through sets. Consequently, it may encourage boredom and repetition.
On the other hand, Karate is as dynamic and enjoyable as a workout can be. As a result, many physical benefits will naturally flow your way- if you allow yourself to enjoy the training it presents and dedicate yourself to it,
Final words
Karate is one of the best martial arts worldwide for a few reasons. First, it allows its trainees to go through a self-improvement journey. Through it, it provides them with numerous mental and physical attributes, such as increased confidence, lowered stress, and better physical shape.
Moreover, it teaches its trainees to fight fiercely. For instance, it teaches punching and kicking in many combinations and variations. As a result, you’ll know how to react the next time you encounter a dangerous situation.
Karate is a fantastic physical workout for everyone- regardless of age, gender, or amount of money in the bank. Everyone can enjoy the many benefits it presents if they allow themselves to remain consistent and dedicated through the course of training.
If you enjoyed reading this article, I encourage you to read another piece about the 5-reasons Karate will benefit you in a real fight.