Can Adults Benefit from real Martial Arts training?

Many non-martial artists believe martial arts to be an activity for children to help boost their confidence and focus. Possibly a fitness activity where you can learn some cool moves seen in movies or even worse just for a bunch of twentysomething-year-old males who want to fight in a cage. However, the benefits of martial arts for adults are more extensive than fitness benefits or garnering to fight professionally. Martial arts can improve your mental strength, change your outlook on life, allow you to adapt to situations, and improve your social life. In this article, we break down 5 benefits brought about by training in martial arts for adults.

Physical Fitness

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says only 1 in 5 adults meet physical activity guidelines set to improve well-being. Just as you’d think, physical activity has far-reaching benefits, such as:

• Help control your weight
• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Reduce the risk for certain cancers
• and many more

Physical activity alone can help improve your mental health and mood, strengthen your bones and muscles, and improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

Although different martial arts vary in the levels of rigorous physical activity, nearly all of them will improve conditioning and fitness. With obesity rates as high as they are, more and more adults need to find a physical activity they enjoy, to keep their health in check. Martial arts can provide a source of fitness that is enjoyable, life-enriching and can be maintained for many years.

Mental Strength

A successful practice of martial arts requires a large amount of mental fortitude. Some of the martial arts’ most traditional tenets – such as indomitable spirit and perseverance – stress the importance of fighting through preconceived limits. Discipline might be the biggest trait that leads to success in martial arts. Knowing you have a challenge up ahead and developing the discipline needed to achieve that is an important life skill that will translate to many other areas of your life.

Another important aspect of martial arts is feeling, accepting, and controlling your emotions. By practicing martial arts, you will feel anger, fear, frustration, and anxiety, at some point. The way you deal with these emotions will help you grow mentally. This will also help in everyday life with how you deal with others, from workplace discussions to family disagreements.

Improve Mental Health

The issues of mental health are becoming more apparent and our understanding of them is growing as well. Many issues of mental health are helped by fitness alone, but martial arts add a lot of benefits. We’ve already written about how martial arts can help addiction, ADHD, and autism; martial arts for adults can also help bring on a sense of purpose. Adults are goal-oriented and exploring that side of our human nature is important for our happiness. The motivation that can build up for many can power you through your fitness goals, as well as your life goals.

Social Life

In adulthood, it can be very tough for some to find peers with mutual interests and outlooks. Martial arts or Karate is a great place to meet new people. They are from all walks of life, and the shared dedication can help bond people. Lifelong friends are made all the time at martial arts gyms. Going through difficult trials – such as belt testing – can help create social bonds between friends.

Martial arts can also help you bond with your children.  We will discuss the benefits of training in martial arts as a family in our next post.

Crabapplemartialarts.com and Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has been selected the nation’s #1 martial arts schools for SIX YEARS IN A ROW by the American Budokai International!

Founded in 2013 by Mr. C. Matthew White a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate and 6^th degree Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, and Master Instructor, Crabapple Martial Arts and Karate lessons for pre-school children ages 4-6, and elementary age kids ages 7 and up, are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

Crabapple Martial Arts Adult Karate training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay) in shape, or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.

Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at office@crabapplemartialarts.com or call directly at 770-645-0930. You can also visit our website at CrabappleMartialArts.com.

About C. Matthew White, Renshi:  Matt is a fifth-degree black belt in a traditional Japanese and Okinawan Martial Arts – Shuri Ryu Karatedo. He is also a sixth-degree black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu – Shintoyoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu, and a master instructor with the title of Renshi, which means Scholar in Japanese.  Matt has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Physiology. He has been training and teaching martial arts for over 27 years and has owned Crabapple Martial Arts Academy since 2013. Renshi White is a motivational speaker and educator and teaches seminars in bullying, business, and martial arts training, around the world.

Crabapple Martial Arts Academy Headquarters is in Alpharetta, Georgia at 12315 Crabapple Road., Suite 124, Alpharetta GA 30004. You can locate the Chief Instructor, Sensei Robert Reed there or directly at (770) 645-0930.