I have asked many people why they would want to learn martial arts, and money-making and self-defense have been the most common answers. Only a few of them talk about martial arts for healthy living. And while everyone will have their own reason which pulls them towards getting their first judo gi, for example, and learning and practicing martial arts, the health benefits of these forms of sport are far-reaching. And that is precisely what I want to look at in this writeup. Let’s get started.
Martial Arts Keeps Bodyweight in Check
A healthy body weight goes hand in hand with general body health and quality of life. We cannot claim to be living healthily if our body weight is abnormal. For instance, let’s take karate; this style of martial art involves thorough physical exercise, which is key to shedding those pounds deemed to be surplus to requirements. As we all know, too much bodyweight could lead to obesity, whose effects are obvious. If you are interested in beginning your martial arts adventure, you could read up on professional mixed martial artist Gilbert Burns and his illustrious career on this blog at BJJ Fanatics’ website for some motivation!
Flexibility
Who does not want to be flexible? None of us. Being a martial artist means being flexible, as we must execute such moves as punches, kicks, and blocks, among other skills. These executions require a lot of flexibility. Fortunately, martial arts promotes flexibility, which benefits us in ways besides fighting. A flexible physique is necessary for a healthy life. And the sooner you begin, the more flexible your body will become. As a result, it is preferable to expose your children to kids martial arts when they are young and lively in order to improve their bodies’ flexibility.
Keeping Blood Pressure in Check
Very low or high blood pressure is lethal and can terminate our lives in no time. And while there are many ways, including medications, to keep our blood pressure in check, very few of these solutions do the job better than martial arts. Yes, every martial art involves rigorous physical training, which improves the functioning of our cardiovascular system. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for instance tends to reduce fat and improve cardiovascular health. By assisting in reducing weight, it also helps to keep blood pressure in check. This is why many people prefer going for Jiu-Jitsu training (search for bjj near me on the internet, if interested) to keep themselves fit and healthy. In fact, most doctors recommend the practice to patients with high blood pressure, and it works. I know of my neighbor who has been living with this condition for more than 10 years now, and he rarely experiences high blood pressure spikes. The secret behind this has been regular workouts, which he does every morning and evening. Thankfully, he is a taekwondo practitioner, and that motivates him to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
Improved Mental Health
Do any of us out there want to improve our mental health? Well, martial art can be an ideal way to do that. Training, as I did mention earlier, causes improved blood flow to various different parts of our body, including the brain. Proper blood floor to our brain results in better thinking, hence improved mental health. Have we ever asked ourselves why our brain becomes so active and fresh after we have exercised and taken a bath? I’m a karateka and an online writer too. After training followed by a shower, I can tell you I write a lot. I can take just three hours to finish work that I would usually have written in eight hours. This is a fact.
It Is a Source of Money
Did I mention money? That’s right. While this may not be a direct health benefit of martial art, the fact remains that we must all have money in order to live healthily. Many of us consider martial art as a source of income, and that is why we tend to go for that medal in the Olympics or any other tournament where monetary prizes rule supreme. The money we get from martial arts can be used for paying for medical care and purchasing healthy foods. We can’t have a healthy lifestyle without these two unless we are deceiving ourselves.
Source of Power and Strength
At the core of any style of martial art style are power and strength, which are actually essential for healthy living. And by the way, how can we live without power and strength? Most of us, if not all of us, have to get out there and fend for our families. And not every job involves sitting, talking, or writing. Some of them involve the use of a lot of energy and strength, and that is where martial arts come in. Besides teaching such skills as pushing, kicking, blocking, and punching, martial arts give us strength and power. After all, we need energy and strength to fight our attackers.