Have you ever felt insecure walking down a dark alley? Have you ever been intimidated by a school bully or a muscle bounded peon? Do you live in fear of being attacked? If you have ever lacked self-confidence in your life, then perhaps your answer lies in pursuing martial arts
Have you ever felt insecure walking down a dark alley? Have you ever been intimidated by a school bully or a muscle bounded peon? Do you live in fear of being attacked? If you have ever lacked self-confidence in your life, then perhaps your answer lies in pursuing martial arts. By taking martial arts, you will not only be able to defend yourself better, but you will become a healthier individual and gain a more positive outlook on life.
There has been some form of martial arts teacher in everytown I have lived in. Even in a town with less than 200 people, there was a teacher. The possibilities that a teacher is near you are pretty high.
Martial arts are best learned at an early age. Like most things in life, growing up with the experience affects you more. Learning martial arts at a young age helps to deal with bullies, peer pressure, and shapes one into a better athlete. Since most bullies are oafs who just throw punches, taking a simple lesson in martial arts will put one at the advantage here. In one lesson, from almost any style, one should learn basic blocks, punches, kicks, and counters. Any of these combined is enough to protect oneself against a common bully. Peer pressure affects people with weak character in the aspects of self-confidence and self-respect. If one has self-discipline and self-respect peer pressure is more easily dealt with. One just has to say no, and he/she will be able to reinforce his point if required. Just being active as a youth will also make one stronger physically in life. Taking martial arts will benefit one in other sports where balance, coordination, and discipline are required.
Martial art lessons taken early can help you avoid psychologically problems in the future. Judo has been proven to lead to more easy going attitudes and decreased rates of violence in adolescents (Binder 1999. p.3). Judo, in fact, was created in order to establish through the practitioner an easy going outlook on life while taking a martial art. “Tai Chi has been proven to decrease anger, insomnia, and nightmares, while increasing the practitioner’s positive outlook on life. Military Hapkido training has been proven to strengthen group moral and self-confidence more than regular weight-lifting or obstacle course training” (Binder 1999. p.3).
Research on traditional martial arts’ reveals over time a lower aggression rate and a major difference in self-acceptance compared to just combat or competition only teachings. A good example of traditional and competition teachings can be seen in the Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel traditional Karate, whereas the Cobra Kai Sensei teaches a self interpreted crazed Karate form to his students. By the end of the movie, Daniel’s self esteem is much higher and he is not quick to anger, while the Cobra Kai Sensei’s students are quick to violence and anger just as the Cobra Kai Sensei is himself.
Each style of martial arts has something different to offer. Tai Chi is an art well suited for older people. Tai Chi helps exercise the body and mind benefiting older people by doing slow circular movements. Along with all martial arts, Tai Chi promotes flexibility, balance, coordination, and benefits the immune system as well. These factors are important for older people. Younger or more active people may look into forms of kickboxing, Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and Jujitsu,or even parkour among many others. There are many styles suited for a more active audience.
In my Karate and Judo classes, my instructor told us that martial arts are a form of self defense and should not be used to start fights. I learned later that Karate does not actually have any initial attacks; all the moves a Karate student uses are entirely for self defense. My Karate instructor had us students memorize a code of ethics. This code of ethics included respecting people and keeping your body pure. At a young age, one seldom understands enough to be able to take martial arts seriously. This is how I was. I stopped Karate and Judo classes after a year.
When one is looking to pursue martial arts, it is best to avoid schools where young children or a vast majority of the students have black belts (either they are all really good or the school is a joke). Most children receive black belts from their instructors after a few years of practice. The instructors let little kids gain black belts so they feel good and do not quit. This way, an instructor will have a client for several years. A child will likely quit martial arts soon, if he/she is not awarded with a new belt often. A child with a black belt proves weak instruction and easiness due to learning katas, positions and movement exercises, with little emphasis put on physical health, mental discipline, and character development. One may learn katas easily in order to gain belts, but true masters will emphasize finesse in their performance. A good instructor is crucial if one wishes to properly learn any martial art.
If you wish to learn martial arts, then look around and visit schools which offer different styles. Most schools offer several free lessons to prospective students. Upon finding a style that best suits you, come to class with an open mind for learning. This way you will benefit physically, mentally, and gain knowledge not offered elsewhere. I mean, who does not want to be able to smack down a pimp?
As there are readers out there far more experienced than myself, please share any information you have to offer.
Binder, Brad Ph.D. (1999). Psychosocial Benefits of the Martial Arts: Myth or Reality? Retrieved November 13, 2005, from http://userpages.chorus.net/wrassoc/articles/psychsoc.htm