11 Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Adults
Updated on January 31st, 2024 at 02:31 pm
The discipline known as martial arts has spread at an incredible speed in the West since its introduction in the 20th century from its historic roots in East Asia. Martial arts can be classified as either armed combat (including fencing and archery) or unarmed combat (such as hapkido, taekwondo, aikido, judo and karate). Awareness, strength and skill make a student in training exceptional in the discipline.
Adults who study martial arts at any level experience a wealth of benefits that transform both their physical health and mental clarity. Men and women can train in a wide variety of martial art styles.
Examples of various forms of martial arts include the following popular styles:
- Kung Fu – Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art that harnesses qi.
- Karate – This Japanese technique emphasizes the use of punches, kicks and the famous karate chop.
- Judo – As a newly developed Japanese form of martial art, competitors aim to physically throw their opponents to the ground.
- Jujitsu – This Japanese martial art disarms an enemy without the use of a formal weapon, instead relying on the opponent’s energy.
- Tae Kwon Do – Developed in Korea, Tae Kwon Do is a form of self-defense that happens to be the oldest form of martial art as well as the most popularly practiced martial art today.
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) – MMA utilizes a mix of martial arts and non-martial arts strategies.
There are immense advantages to exploring martial arts training even as an adult:
1. Boost Your Self-Confidence
Continual training and overcoming adversity in martial arts plays a vital role in the growth of self-confidence and self-esteem. As you face and conquer challenges, you gain a sense of resilience and belief in your abilities, which translates to increased confidence in your own potential.
As a martial arts trainee, the goals you set, the respect you give to the incredible history of the discipline and the positive encouragement you receive lead to greater feelings of self-confidence in your daily life. When you progress through the ranks and master new techniques, you will experience a sense of accomplishment and pride, ultimately improving your confidence. If you aim for high goals as a martial arts student, you will experience further belief in yourself to accomplish whatever you set out to do.
2. Learn Self-Defense
In martial arts training, self-defense skills play a crucial role as they provide you with the ability to protect yourself.
During classes, students practice strategic kicks and punches. These powerful martial arts moves give you a valuable repertoire of self-defense skills. By learning self-defense techniques, you can improve your reaction time, situational awareness, and physical preparation for real-life situations. There are also a number of martial arts benefits for women specifically. As you attain confidence in your ability to throw punches, you gain life-saving techniques that can protect you in the face of danger.
3. Relieve Stress
Students report that martial arts practices dissolve stress. The awareness and control of breathing that you develop allow an easy escape route for stress. Since martial artists are trained to focus on the present task, distractions melt away into the background, also helping to significantly lessen the stress accumulated throughout the day. Martial arts students who let out the vocal kihap and punches during classes also experience a reduction in frustration, tension and anxiety. Additionally, the therapeutic effects of martial arts practice can significantly lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress.
The discipline, physical activity, and mental focus required in martial arts can act as stress relief techniques, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.
4. Give Yourself a Full Workout
Practicing martial arts gives you complete, total body aerobic training. When you engage in this training, you are utilizing incredible physical energy. As a result, strength, balance, flexibility and stamina increase proportionally to your dedication to the discipline. Also, Martial Arts moves involve crossing the midline of the body, which has been proven to increase proprioception and brain health.
5. Improve Your Heart Health
Martial arts training has been found to contribute significantly to lowering blood pressure and heart rate through its impact on circulation and heart strength. The intense physical activity involved in martial arts training helps to improve blood flow and circulation throughout the body, which in turn can lead to a reduction in blood pressure. Additionally, the rigorous and repetitive movements during training can mimic the effects of high-intensity interval training, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure and improving heart health.
Furthermore, the connection between martial arts and high-intensity interval training is significant, as both involve bursts of intense activity followed by periods of rest or lower intensity. This type of training has been proven to have positive effects on cardiovascular health, including lowering blood pressure and heart rate. As a result, regular martial arts training may potentially reduce the need for blood pressure medication in some individuals.
6. Lose Weight
Every martial arts training session involves intense physical movements that burn calories. One hour of moderate martial arts training can burn up to 500 calories. Plus, martial arts students discover they tend to naturally crave less food. When eating becomes more regulated over time through martial arts training, you see a reduction in body weight.
7 . Get Faster Reflexes
Students who practice martial arts report that their reflexes are substantially improved. Reflexes not only become quicker as you participate in martial arts activities, but martial arts also helps both men and women develop quicker reaction times in a range of daily, routine life activities, like driving.
8. Develop a Positive Mood
Exercise is known as a natural mood enhancer. Endorphins that are released during exercise boost your mood for up to four hours after training. The mood enhancing benefits of engaging in martial arts are equal to participating in intense exercise sessions.
9. Build Strength
Martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, are incredibly effective for building muscle tone and bodily strength through intense training and complex kicks. The rigorous and disciplined nature of martial arts training helps you develop impressive muscle tone and strength, particularly in your legs, core, and upper body. Proper form and strength are essential for executing powerful attacks, and through martial arts practice, your body becomes stronger and more formidable. The combination of intense physical conditioning, including strength and flexibility exercises, helps you develop a strong and toned physique.
10. Improve Concentration
Martial arts training can significantly improve your concentration through various aspects of the practice. When learning new moves and sequences, you are required to actively listen to your instructors and observe their techniques carefully. This process not only enhances your ability to focus on specific instructions but also trains your mind to be fully present in the moment. Additionally, martial arts emphasize the importance of remaining calm and focused, especially during high-speed and intense situations. This mental discipline can greatly enhance your concentration and help you perform better under pressure.
Furthermore, the physical exhaustion that comes after a rigorous martial arts training session can lead to better quality sleep. Quality sleep is essential for optimizing your potential, as it allows your body and mind to fully recover and recharge. This can result in improved cognitive function, better decision-making skills, and increased overall concentration during your daily activities.
11. Increase Coordination and Flexibility
Practicing martial arts disciplines such as jiu jitsu, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and taekwondo can greatly improve flexibility and coordination through various means. These disciplines incorporate active and passive stretching exercises, as well as multi-directional movements that challenge the body to move in different ways.
Lower body stability is emphasized in the martial arts, especially since martial artists need a strong base from which to execute several popular movements. In order to perform certain martial arts tactics, like punching and kicking, increased coordination becomes tactically essential. This combination of stretching and movement helps increase the range of motion in the joints and muscles, leading to improved flexibility. Adding martial arts to your weekly routine will help you advance in flexibility and daily coordination.
Learn Martial Arts from Sr. GrandMaster Yu
The practice of martial arts in the West is more common than ever. In fact, if you are located near the Oak Park, Forest Park, IL area, the Sr. GrandMaster Yu Adult & Teen Martial Arts program is an ideal path for adults to gain essential skills in the martial arts.
Traditional noncombat arts, like Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Dansudo, Kung Fu and Judo, are a fraction of the many styles of martial arts taught at Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts in Oak Park. Students will also discover martial arts training in the use of ancient weapons at the center.
Students who are less inclined to participate in group martial arts training are welcome to take private, one-on-one sessions with Sr. GrandMaster Yu or Master Wilson. Private martial arts training is ideal for students who aim to master particular martial arts skills or who would like to work toward achieving a personal training goal.
Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts will help you embark on your journey toward becoming a skilled martial artist and reap all the incredible physical and mental benefits of martial arts classes.
Contact Us
For more information regarding our martial arts classes in Oak Park, IL, please contact Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts directly at (708) 383-3456 or fill out a contact form.
