Seven Reasons Why You Should Contemplate Taking up a Type of Martial Arts

When I was 18, I went back-packing to Thailand and had planned to stay there for just 6 months. However, I loved the country so much that I ended up staying there for ten years and found myself a beautiful Thai wife. During my stay there, I took up Muay Thai and I have now opened up a Muay Thai school back in the UK. Learning Muay Thai is Thailand was one of the best things I have ever done and below I am going to explain why you should consider taking up a form of martial arts.

Great for Self-Defense

This is one of the main reasons why people take up martial arts. It really does not matter which type of martial arts you study because you can use any of them to defend yourself better. Martial arts do not only show you the techniques needed to defend yourself, but they also teach you to think about how to defend yourself, which can help you to avoid any potential dangers. Training in a form of martial arts is also great for improving your reflexes, which are vital when you are trying to defend yourself against an attacker.

Will Improve Your Confidence

As you get betting in the martial arts that you have chosen to train in, you will find that your confidence will start to grow. Confidence is great in many situations outside of a martial arts lesson. For me, learning Muay Thai has made me a lot happier about myself as well as more comfortable when I find myself in potentially dangerous situations.

Will Improve Your Discipline

Practice makes perfect is a common expression and it is one that almost certainly applies to any form of martial arts. In a traditional martial arts lesson, you will have to execute certain movements over and over again. This is something that will teach you that progression is something that only happens during slight improvements in stamina and technique.

In order to become perfect in whatever martial arts you are learning, you need to be committed and determined and go to your lessons even when you do not feel like it. Being disciplined and humble is what all martial arts are about.

There is Gender Equality

One great thing, in my opinion, about martial arts is that anyone can do it – it does not matter what age you are (obviously the elderly should give it a miss) or whether you are a man or a woman. Martial arts are one of the few sports out there when girls and boys can play together. Martial arts also give siblings a chance to practice against each other and learn from each other too.

Help You to Stay Healthy and Lose Weight

Most martial arts lessons will include warm-ups, guidance from instructors and practicing some moves. The move advanced lessons will also include other physical activities as well as sparring. The technical drills and the warm-up will take up most of the time, while ending cardio and stretches will come towards the end of the lesson. Obviously, this is just a rough idea as things can change depending on the martial arts you are studying and your instructor. At the end of the day, there really is no such thing as a real martial arts workout.

When compared to other sports such as football or basketball, martial arts are more intense as it includes your “fight or flight” responses. Furthermore, there are many sports where you do not have to use all of your body parts, but this is not the case with martial arts. Take up some type of martial arts and your body will appreciate it in the future.

They Are Not Seasonal

Many team sports, such as soccer or cricket, are seasonal. This means that there will be a chunk of the year where you will not be able to partake in your favourite sport. However, this is definitely not the case with martial arts as they take place inside. This constant availability allows you to build on your skills and your discipline. Furthermore, the fact that you can partake in martial arts throughout the year means that kids can improve at much faster speeds than they can when participating in team sports.

You Can Learn Important Values and Life Skills

Life skills are very important, especially for children. Martial arts are a great way to shape your behaviours and values such as fairness, focus, tolerance, discipline, and humbleness. If you have all these values, then you will certainly go far in life.

Learning Muay Thai has taught me a lot about life that I never knew. Not only is it a great way to keep fit, but the mental strength needed is very humbling. I never really thought that I would have grown so much as a person by learning Muay Thai, so I am really glad that I made the decision to start practicing it when I was living in Thailand. It is safe to say that without Muay Thai, my heart would not be as full as it is.