Why We Train Martial Arts? Mind, Body, Spirit Benefits

What benefits the mind automatically assists the body and thus our spiritual pursuits are easier when the body/mind is healthy. There are so many reasons to engage in any activity, yet exploring our motivations strengthens our commitment and the quality of our involvement. Often I hear students say that when they leave class they feel relaxed, de-stressed and pumped about their journey. Yet many of us find it difficult to get our butts out the door to attend class. The part of us that loves comfort and is feeling exhausted at the end of a work day, doesn’t want to budge from our current location. Knowing the benefits or 'whys' (or should we say wise), leads to healthier habits. Our brains then will kick start our butts instead of sabotaging our well-being for the comforts of the couch. Remember the couch combined with electronics is the modern day equivalency to smoking cigarettes.

Here are some benefits to consider.

The Feel Good Factor:
Martial Arts (M.A.) training is a diverse compound exercise that delivers hormones and neurotransmitters throughout the body that make us feel and perform better. Like dance and gymnastics, M.A. taxes the whole body creating cardio, muscular and skeletal benefits not to mention increased flexibility and mobility. What many people do not know is that neurotransmitters like dopamine not only make us feel better by altering our mood and elevating our feelings of self-worth and confidence, they also enhance us cognitively. These chemicals released by daily exercise improves our ability to learn and to process information as well as retain what we have learned. Check out the book, “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" by John J. Ratey for the research on this topic.

Brain Fitness Factor:
As we age our brain ages. M.A. training not only provides the appropriate stresses to the heart, lungs and circulatory system, it also challenges the brain with complex body coordination and pattern sequencing. Blocking our opponent’s attacks while simultaneously using foot work and head movements to avoid being hit as well as attempting to cover your centre line, promotes new brain development ~ provided we don’t get smacked into ‘La La Land’. A complex movement where the right side is doing one thing while the left is doing something different is a positive form of brain stress. The brain has to keep re-mapping and thus creating new neuron development and circulation to support that growth. All this adds up to healthier grey matter.

A brain that receives increased oxygen as a result of regular exercise, deep breathing, along with stimulating new learning, will grow and be less affected by mental dementia, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other brain ailments. Kicking, stick drills, joint lock and definitely sparing are activities that challenge our brain often causing it to slow down as it concentrates to remove extraneous information while playing with infinite factors in an attempt to read, process and respond appropriately. The comment, “get out of your head”, and “stop thinking”, is really an encouragement for us all to let go of attachments, judgments and possibly the ‘below the line’ aspects of ego.

Cleansing Factor:
Another benefit of Martial Arts is detoxifying. Our bodies are constantly dealing with toxins; from the environment to the food we eat, the body works hard to eliminate poisons utilizing many organs in the process. The largest organ, the skin, is vital in releasing toxins daily if it is allowed to sweat profusely. Sweating like a pig or even gently perspiring, or if you identify as a lady, glowing, allows the body to detoxify using millions of pours as the sweat carries unwanted waste from our bodies. Sweating is vital to our health!

We also rid our bodies of toxins through our breath. During exercise we increase respiration and while we rev our hearts up and then drop our heart rates back down again through cardio intervals, we clean out our vascular system along with more toxins.  

Muscle Pump & Massage Factor:
Muscular action with body contact as in shoulder rolls or being punched and kicked all over by instructor Kevin also helps to massage the body, helping the blood and the bowels (timing being crucial here) to remove waste products in the process. As we continue to exercise regularly the muscles get toned which helps them to massage the organs of digestion and elimination which aids with our goal of cleansing.

Fitness Factors Continued:
Exercise whether in the form of Martial Arts or any physical activity will yield tremendous benefits adding years to your life and life to your years. Here is a quick list of how our commitment to training impacts us.

Decreases Risk of Heart Disease:
Inactive people are 2x more likely to develop coronary artery disease (CAD) then active people.

Decreases Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Inactive people are 2x more likely to develop high blood pressure then active people.

Decreases Body Fat:
Regular physical activity helps maintain optimal body weight and composition. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Decreases Cholesterol Level:
A high blood cholesterol level increases the risk of heart disease. Regular exercise raises the level of "good" cholesterol and lowers the level of the "bad" cholesterol.

Decreases Risk of Diabetes:
Physical activity lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and increases glucose uptake for those who already have diabetes. Fit women have diabetes 66% less often than unfit women.

Decreases Risk of Cancer:
Physical activity lowers the risk of colon and breast cancer.

Decreases Risk of Osteoporosis:
Regular exercise delays bone loss and promotes bone formation.

Decreases Arthritis Symptoms:
Regular exercise helps keep joints flexible and helps build muscle to support the joint.

Decreases Number of Sick Days:
Exercisers feel sick almost 30% less often than non-exercisers.

Decreases Chance of Premature Death:
Fit people generally live longer than unfit people.

Relaxes and Revitalizes:
Physical activity reduces mental and muscular tension, and at the same time, increases concentration and energy level.

A Break From Daily Routine and Worries:
Physical activity is like a mini-vacation—you’re allowed to have fun.

Helps You Feel Good About Yourself:
Physical activity increases your self-esteem and self-confidence.
 
The many benefits of regular training are minimized if we are unhappy and yet if we are unhappy, exercise sometimes helps us feel better and allows us to put things into perspective.

Be happy – live well and serve others in loving kindness - then joy will always be with us!

Namaste,
Chris