For some people, physical benefits alone are enough to exercise and work out. However, more and more we recognize the connection between mind and body. As a result, many are keen to learn ways that can help them improve both at the same time. However, some of the oldest sporting traditions around us may have had the answer along the way. Here, we’ll look at how martial arts can provide the balanced boost you are attempting to find.
Weight loss and heart health
Almost all martial arts require practice involving repetitive movements and much of aerobic exercise. While aerobics is usually touted for its ability to help you lose weight (and it’s), its impact on your health goes much deeper. Evolve MMA shows how martial arts can help you fight heart disease. Not only do you strengthen your heart muscle, but you also help your heart pump with greater efficiency, keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level. Weight loss and improved cardiovascular health greatly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Fight stress and improve your mental state
Exercise of any kind is an awesome stress reliever. Physical exertion decreases the production of cortisol (better known as the stress hormone) and increases the production of endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. This not only helps you push yourself a little harder when you work out, but also has a long-lasting effect on your mood. Martial arts help improve mind and body because it also teaches serious moral values, such as the importance of discipline and respect, not only for yourself but for your teacher, others you study with, and even your opponents. Most martial arts experts would agree that learning the discipline helped them form a far better, more balanced world view and a healthier mind.
Cognitive benefits
Compared to other sports, martial arts like judo and karate require more learning. Not only do you must take the time to learn and practice the fundamental moves which are later combined into techniques that you even have to memorize. There are also traditions to be learned as well. Even something as easy as how to wear your gear A brief Judo Info tutorial on how to tie a judo belt, teaches you to pay more attention to details. This memorization and attention to detail has legitimate cognitive benefits, including greater focus, ability to concentrate, and better memory. Not only can this help you now, but cognitive exercise can even prove to be key in reducing your risk of problems like dementia later in life.
Coordination and balance
Martial arts encourage strength training and aerobic exercise, just like any other sport. However, there’s a greater importance placed on mobility and control. Livestrong shows some other examples of exercises which can improve coordination and balance, but in martial arts, it’s directly related to your learning progress. New techniques will expand your flexibility and teach you better balance in numerous postures. The reason why the best in martial arts can appear superhuman is because they’ve worked on their coordination and balance again and again. Besides the benefits for your mobility now, it is also important for maintaining your range of motion as you become older.
Gained confidence
Better self-confidence it can be said the benefits of all kinds of exercise. Many people feel confident just by recognizing and measuring physical changes in their bodies, such as increased strength or increased stamina. The pride you feel for having accomplished that change through your own agency also plays a big role in that confidence. However, while martial arts should not be seen as violent, it is in fact a new ability to defend yourself that is a big boost to self-confidence. Women, particularly, have noted a significant increase in feelings of security because they know they’re better able to handle any dangerous situation. That peace of mind can help you live your life a little more freely.
The benefits of martial arts and the difference they can offer to your life will vary from one art to another. You may have a wholly different experience from learning wushu than you would from learning judo, for example. However, that enhancement to both mind and body was an approximately universal trait amongst them.
