The Effect of Martial Arts on Your Health
Many people enter the world of martial arts in order to become ripped or shredded, but that is not what the martial arts are about. There are some aspects to it that can improve your health and general well-being. Here are a few ways martial arts can help improve your life.
Physical Health
While you are not going to get huge like a stereotypical bodybuilder, and you are not going to get amazing pecks and abs if you train only recreationally, you should still consider doing martial arts for its health benefits. Every practice starts with stretches and ends with them, with special attention being paid to the proper execution of techniques and strength exercises.
In other words, doing martial arts makes you stronger, more limber, and more energetic. This, paired with a proper diet, boosts your immune system and keeps your body in the shape that is above average when compared to your age group. You can also lose some of the pain in your muscles and joints and even kick-start some of your body’s systems, like digestion or blood flow. Trust us, these are a big deal down the line.
Mental Health
As you may or may not know, physical exercise can improve your mood, which is one of the things recommended to people battling any in a wide array of mental conditions, like anxiety and depression. Physical exercise leads to the secretion of endorphins in order to make the physical stress not so scary. After practice, you feel elated and euphoric, not just tired.
There is also the added benefit of resolving any pent-up aggression you may have, by providing you with a way to vent. Martial arts do have one more benefit that the traditional going to the gym and going some sports do not – you learn how to keep your emotions in check, instead of suppressing them or unleashing them when you can’t hold back. Martial arts help develop discipline, which you can use in other aspects of your life as well. Furthermore, regular practice and the execution of techniques build your self-confidence, allowing you to make decisions you can stand behind without doubting yourself.
Rhythm
Martial arts are beneficial to people who have trouble organizing their day. Waking up, going to bed, and eating at irregular times makes us disoriented, unfocused, and unmotivated to do our best, whether it is at home, work, school, or our hobbies. Going to Judo or something else several times per week gives you an idea of how to put a bit of rhythm to your life, which makes things easier in the long run.
This sense of rhythm and discipline is, really, all you need to lead a life with better quality than what you might expect to find among your peers. Remember that doing martial arts is not just a hobby. As corny as it may sound, it is a way of life, a set of habits that makes you into a better version of yourself.
