Benefits of Martial Arts: 10 Advantages of Joining a Martial Arts Gym

What are the benefits of Martial Arts? There’s no doubt that we’ve all been fascinated by Martial Arts from a young age.  As kids, we would watch action movies starring the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan & Van Damme that would get our adrenaline pumping. 

We would also watch Boxing, Karate & then more recently Mixed Martial Arts spearheaded by the UFC. Whether it’s being fascinated by the athleticism or bravery of these warriors, there’s a lot to get from practicing a Martial Art that can enrich our lives too.

As a keen practitioner myself, I’m sharing with you today some great benefits of practicing Martial Arts and why you should get started too.  Here we go!

Teaches you self defense

One of the first and foremost benefits of joining a martial arts gym and practicing any Martial Art is for self defense. You will get some close to real world simulation training on how to defend yourself against any would be aggressor.

You get to ‘do the dance’ with other members of the gym on possible scenarios of attacking & defending.  Drills can include one on one combat training to defensive strategies against multiple opponents. 

It teaches you a lot about yourself

Training to fight with others in a controlled, professional setting teaches you about yourself more than anything.  It humbles you by showing you your vulnerabilities, and thus makes you want to improve.  Additionally, it shows how strong and devastating you can be. This will make you measured and aware of the damage you could inflict on a person. 

Also, it shows you that with enough training and discipline, that anyone can be a formidable threat. Because of this, you learn to respect everyone, irrespective of their outward appearances.

Avoidance before confrontation

Any good instructor would always teach you this: it’s always a good idea to avoid confrontation than to get in a brawl.  A real fight situation comes with many unknown variables. One of them being the fact that your opponent might be better that you.   Or he may carry a blade, knife or gun. It’s a bad world out there and you should think twice about feeding your ego, by one-upping a person.  The humbleness you learn at a gym will make you think twice and make you avoid such situations whenever possible.

Facing a bad situation confidently

Still, there are instances where there is no other option but to defend yourself or a loved one from a very real threat.  In these rare instances, all the training you have put in to landing that knockout punch, evading an attack or choking out a threat is beyond valuable.  Knowing how to fight instills in you the confidence to face and take on an attacker confidently. This is arguably one of the best benefits of training in Martial Arts. And the good thing is that you’re going into a fight knowing both your limitations and advantages.  

So having that confidence to defend yourself is a valuable weapon that you posses. As Jordan Peterson says: “A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control”. See the short video clip here.

Overall confidence builder

Knowing that you are physically fit and that you have an arsenal of weapons ready to be unleashed in an instance is the ultimate confidence booster.   The advantage is of not actually being violent, but knowing your capacity to do so regardless of any threat you would encounter.  This confidence shows, and you will see that the probability of facing a bad situation go down exponentially because of that.

Makes you physically sharper

Another one of the main benefits of practicing Martial Arts is that often it’s a cardio dream. Most often the training includes running, drills, sparring & heavy bag training among others.  Your heart rate is pushed to the max, relaxed and then repeated.  It’s a great workout that will keep you lean, flexible, energetic and ready to go at all times.  Personally, I like to mix my training with weight training. But it depends on your personal physical goals – getting leaner or bulking up.

Gives you a calmer mindset

Practicing a martial art actually makes you in to a more calmer person. When you get in to rigorous training and sparring you get to know your limitations. You will be confident yet humble because of this. Knowing that there is always room to improve makes you in to a calmer person.  Your ego is in check.

You will find that you get less angry. For instance, road rage would be a thing of the past. You will understand another person’s perspective more. And, you will know how to listen to their point of view. You will also understand that the other person’s volatile emotions, are a sign of weakness. They aren’t in control of themselves and they don’t understand that they’re a slave to their own erratic emotions. But you understand this because you have experienced the same and understand it’s causes.

Overall you will have a more open, balanced mind that is at peace with itself.  Less, stress and less expectations means that you will be a more positive and happier person. You can read more about this at WebMD.

All weather, all year sport

Another benefit of Martial Arts, from Boxing to Kickboxing, Muay Thai or BJJ is that they are at 99% of the time practiced indoors.  This means that unlike other sports like Soccer or Baseball it can be practiced all year round without any interruptions. Also, this means that you can keep honing your craft repeatedly which allows you to keep perfecting it.

Makes you resilient

Training in Martial Arts can get incrementally hard and difficult as you continue your journey. It does come with a lot of ups and downs.  These include, difficulty in learning something new, getting better at it and the occasional injuries. Because of these aspects among others, it teaches you that:

1. Looking great, skill, mental toughness and the ability to do, cannot be bought
2. You have to work yourself to get what you want, every time
3. Sometimes, however much you try, things don’t go your way
4. Failure is not an option, reaching your goals is a must
5. So, you have to still keep going at what you started
6. And eventually you will succeed in whatever you are pursuing
7. Which in turn creates new goals to aspire to

These are the exact qualities that you need be successful in life.  Practicing Martial Arts will instill & grow these values in you at a subconscious level.

Brings out positive vibes

Because of the adversity & triumph that you experience in training, you evolve in to a person who is nothing but positive.  You will always have that can-do attitude when faced with life’s many troubles and obstacles.  You will gain the ability and self confidence needed to overcome any problem. This will be instilled in you through hours upon hours of grueling training.  And you will understand that somethings in life are worth fighting for. And that you have all the strength need to get the job done. Eventually, it comes down to how mentally strong you are.

In conclusion

I think everyone should do a Martial Art even if it’s for a short term, just to try it out.  Because you will experience the benefits of Martial Arts which are so many, including the ones given above.  

What do you think?  Why should one start practicing a Martial Art? And what are the benefits that you have personally got from joining a Martial Arts Gym?

Sound off in the comments!  Adios!