For many people, martial arts is an integral part of life. People practice martial arts as a sport, a hobby, an artistic expression or a regimen for physical, mental and emotional well-being. Skills learned in the study of martial arts can be applied in other aspects and relationships in life.
Self-Defense
Majority of those signing up for martial arts have personal safety as their main reason for training. Violence is a reality that is faced by everyone and martial arts training provides necessary skills to increase chances of survival. Students learn and practice risk avoidance and fighting skills that they can apply should their safety be at risk.
Self-confidence
Fear and lack of knowledge and skill contribute largely to poor self confidence. Martial arts training provides tools that enable people to learn and apply skills that help them realize not only what they are capable of but also gives them a sense of pride from knowing what they have accomplished. Fear is reduced from knowing there are skills to draw upon when attacked. As students progress to new levels, challenges are met with less apprehsion and with more drive to perservere and succeed.
Overall Health
Physical, mental and emotional well-being are the other major reasons why people sign up for martial arts training. Consistent training not only conditions the mind and body to have strength and stamina to fight back in a violent situation but also helps the body fight disease, stay flexible, strong and active as people age. Martial arts provides stress relief and ways to release pent up energy. Together with a healthy diet martial arts training gives people a well rounded regimen that they can do anytime and anywhere. People take control of their well being by being mindful of and making adjustments to things that they know could affect them.
Community
Martial arts in itself is a community. While martial arts was first used by people to secretly train together to fight against oppressors, today’s martial arts has become a community with an even bigger purpose. It’s where people meet and share with others their passions. It’s where you find people of all ages and from all walks of life to learn from and pass on knowledge. It’s where people train hard, celebrate the wins and happy moments and comfort in times of trouble and loss. It is where people can improve themselves and where they can be of service to others.