essay on martial arts

Essay on Martial Arts

Students are often asked to write an essay on Martial Arts in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Martial Arts

What are martial arts.

Martial arts are different ways of fighting, often without guns or other weapons. People learn martial arts for self-defense, to stay fit, or to play sports. They include karate, judo, taekwondo, and many others. Each type has its own moves and rules.

History of Martial Arts

Long ago, warriors created martial arts to survive battles. Over time, these fighting styles spread across the world. Today, they are not just for fighting but also for learning discipline, respect, and improving oneself.

Benefits of Learning Martial Arts

Learning martial arts is good for both the body and mind. It makes you stronger, more flexible, and healthier. It also teaches you to be patient, to work hard, and to respect others.

Martial Arts for Self-Defense

One main reason to learn martial arts is for protection. Knowing how to defend yourself can make you feel safer and more confident in tough situations.

Martial Arts in Sports and Culture

Martial arts are popular in sports too. Competitions like the Olympics have events for judo and taekwondo. Movies and TV shows often show martial arts, making them a big part of popular culture.

250 Words Essay on Martial Arts

Martial arts are different ways of fighting, often without guns or other weapons. People practice martial arts for self-defense, to stay healthy, and even as a sport. Some well-known types of martial arts include Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, and Taekwondo. Each one comes from different parts of the world and has its own special moves and traditions.

The Benefits of Learning Martial Arts

When you learn martial arts, you gain more than just fighting skills. It makes your body strong and flexible and improves your balance and coordination. It’s not just good for your body, but for your mind too. Martial arts teach you to focus, to have self-control, and to respect others. Also, if you are ever in a dangerous situation, martial arts can help you protect yourself.

Martial Arts as a Sport

Some people practice martial arts as a sport. They train to compete against others in tournaments. In these competitions, they show their skills and try to win medals. It’s not just about fighting; it’s also about showing respect to your opponent and following the rules.

Respect and Discipline

One of the most important parts of martial arts is learning respect and discipline. Students learn to listen to their teacher, to follow directions, and to treat others well. These lessons are useful in everyday life, not just in martial arts classes.

Martial arts can be fun and exciting. Whether you want to stay healthy, learn to defend yourself, or just try something new, martial arts could be a great choice.

500 Words Essay on Martial Arts

Martial arts are different ways of fighting, often without guns or other weapons. They can be practiced for many reasons such as self-defense, physical fitness, mental and spiritual development, and preserving a nation’s cultural heritage. Some well-known types of martial arts include karate, judo, taekwondo, and kung fu.

The History of Martial Arts

Long ago, people began to learn martial arts for protection against enemies. Over time, these fighting styles changed and became better. Many countries have their own kind of martial arts. For example, karate comes from Japan, taekwondo from Korea, and kung fu from China. These arts have been passed down through generations, often from teacher to student.

Learning Martial Arts

When you start learning martial arts, you begin with the basics. This usually includes learning how to stand, how to move, and how to fall without getting hurt. As you get better, you learn more difficult moves. In many martial arts, you wear a colored belt that shows how skilled you are. You start with a white belt and try to reach a black belt, which means you are very good.

The Benefits of Practicing Martial Arts

Martial arts are good for both your body and your mind. They help you get stronger, more flexible, and have better balance. They also teach you to be patient, to respect others, and to work hard. Many people find that martial arts help them feel more peaceful and calm.

Martial Arts Competitions

Some people who do martial arts like to compete against others. These competitions can be about showing your skills or having a match against an opponent. They are a way to test what you have learned and to learn from others. Safety is very important in these competitions, and there are rules to make sure no one gets seriously hurt.

Martial Arts in Movies and TV

Many people first learn about martial arts from movies and TV shows. Actors like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are famous for using martial arts in their films. These movies can be very exciting and can show martial arts in a way that makes people want to learn them.

Martial arts are more than just fighting. They are about learning new skills, getting better at them, and being a good person. Whether you want to protect yourself, get fit, or just have fun, martial arts can be a great thing to learn. It’s important to remember that while it can be exciting to watch martial arts in movies, practicing them in real life requires discipline, respect, and hard work.

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Positive Psychology in Martial Arts

Martial arts provides a strong basis for living through positive psychology..

Posted December 30, 2017 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

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I have had several jobs and careers as a physician, researcher, scientist, psychology professor, life coach, hypnotherapist, artist, and personal trainer. But first and foremost, I am a martial artist.

My Personal Experience with Martial Arts

At 9 years old, I began to study martial arts. Bruce Lee was my hero. The physical challenges, the strength, flexibility, and excitement over being able to kick above my head and break boards with my hands was inspiring and motivating. I began in the Japanese arts of Judo, Aikido, Jiu Jitsu and Karate. At twelve years old I started learning Chinese Kung Fu and for my Bar Mitzvah present at 13, my parents signed me up for lessons in the Korean arts of Taekwondo and Hapkido. It became an addiction. Initially going three times a week, I gave up my Hebrew lessons, guitar lessons, and any free time I had, to the point of studying and practicing martial arts 4-5 hours per day, six days per week. It became my goal in life to be a martial arts instructor. As the years went by I continued to add new styles and techniques, such as Thai boxing and Israeli Self-Defense.

In university, I studied psychology as many of the concepts had been previously introduced through my martial arts practice. After medical school and residency, I was able to incorporate lessons learned from martial arts into my careers and integrated positive psychology into a wellness curriculum which I taught to physicians. I have found a tremendous overlap of martial arts with all other important aspects of my life. For example, as an anesthesiologist, I used the Chinese meridians that I learned in martial arts to apply acupuncture; treating various pain symptoms. I have taught martial arts from the time I was in high school throughout my career in medicine. Martial arts not only shaped who I am today, but has been the single most positively influencing factor in my life.

Many of us think of martial arts as something for kids to do as an after-school activity so they focus on discipline, respect, getting good grades, and have an outlet for their ADHD . But it can be so much more if taken seriously and applied properly.

Kids attend classes and learn proper stances, punches, kicks, exercises, stretches and physical techniques. However, these lessons usually have deeper meanings which are important life lessons. When we learn about the importance of balance, the kids are practicing standing on one foot and doing a karate kid move, while I am deliberating on the power of achieving balance in my work and personal life, and balance in my need to give and take.

While there are certainly many benefits to participating in other sports and activities like soccer, gymnastics, and tennis, few can come close to the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health and wellness benefits that may be derived from serious martial arts practice. Below are some benefits of martial arts.

1) Responsibility. This is the first habit of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and one of the Keys to Achieve success in relationships, business and all aspects of goal-setting . We are each responsible for our thoughts, feelings, actions, inactions and responses. Without taking responsibility you are unable to truly experience positive growth and transformation to a better self.

Martial arts is a pathway to self-actualization. To not take responsibility is to put a wall in the path. We must be able to protect ourselves and those whom we love. We learn that if we don’t take responsibility we may lose the things most dear to us. With this knowledge, we become more aware of the words we use and our non-verbal communication when faced with conflict. We have control over how we respond to others and whether we choose to escalate or de-escalate conflict, whether we choose to avoid or evade a fight, and the extent of force that we use to end a conflict.

2) Discipline. Attaining and practicing self-discipline is a great asset in both our personal and professional lives. Regular practice of martial arts helps us gain the ability to control our emotions, desires and reactions. Martial arts teach us to think before acting, regulate our movements, and focus on action rather than reaction. The discipline involved in fine tuning and honing skills and techniques cannot be overstated. This ability becomes a way of life and permeates all aspects of our being.

3) Perseverance. People with perseverance are more likely able to accomplish long term goals in the face of adversity. Excelling in martial arts is extremely difficult – it takes thousands of hours of practice and dedication encountering many challenges along the way to developing new skill sets and advancing in belt ranks. Martial artists learn to view challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles; crucial in minimizing unhealthy dis-stress. As Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba said, “Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.” It is this kind of attitude which leads to an enduring and striving spirit. Through challenges we may truly grow and by growing we may best face challenges. Martial arts emphasize that it is not how many times you fall down but the number of times that you get up that is the best predictor of success.

4) Values. Establishing goals based on your core values infuses them with deeper meaning and energizes you to pursue them passionately. Values set the course by which goals are established. Living a life based on your values is a foundation for achieving a balanced and satisfying life. Bringing life to your values will bring value to your life! Inherent in martial arts are a certain set of core values – respect for others, harmony, balance, spirituality , self-determination, self-protection, and service for others. These common belief systems help establish firm bonds between fellow martial artists and allow us to thrive in other non-martial art related activities throughout our lives.

5) Positivity. A focus on positivity and optimism is associated with many health and wellness benefits including less depression , less substance abuse , greater long-term happiness , better and more relationships, improved career success, improved immunity, and living a longer life. Martial arts instill many foundational principles of positive psychology such as a focus on personal strengths, flow, positive/productive communication, optimism, resilience and celebrating successes. We must each look within to get an honest and realistic assessment of our personal strengths and find the best martial art fit. When we are deeply engrossed in martial arts we find flow – the sense of purpose and timelessness like being in the zone. Marital artists must be able to find the glass half full as we turn challenges into opportunities. We celebrate our successes such as achieving higher belt levels, hall of fame inductions and community service awards, without being overly proud.

6) Humility. Society is embattled with the consequences of more ego, self-centeredness and entitlements. Being humble is associated with more effective leadership , more self-control , improved work and academic performance, less prejudicial behavior, more kindness and enhanced relationships. Martial arts help us appreciate our strengths yet be honest and objective about our limitations, weaknesses, and areas which need improvement. Even the most successful, most famous, and most accomplished martial artists are amazing examples of what it means to show humility.

7) Confidence. A lack of self-confidence has devastating consequences for children and adults leading to avoiding social interactions, inappropriate fears, poor relationships, poor job performance, depression, and substance abuse. With poor self-esteem, you are more likely to give up on goals in the face of adversity. Marital arts excel at promoting self-confidence and self-esteem in its practitioners. By teaching respect for others, including your opponents while instilling the importance of individual responsibility, martial arts promotes balance between humility and confidence. There are endless opportunities for achieving goals and developing self-confidence.

8) Respect. Having respect for others improves all of your relationships. Respect begets respect. Showing respect and appreciation of others encourages them to respect you and increases the likelihood of having others be kind to you. Respect includes friends, foes, and strangers. Employees report that the single most important trait that a leader can possess is that of respect for their workers. In martial arts not only do we respect our teachers, mentors and those wearing a higher belt, but we also learn quickly to respect our opponents. This trait is important to not get cocky and make dangerous assumptions about their abilities.

9) Goal Setting. Setting goals provides direction in life, helps clarify your personal mission and decision-making . It gives you a defined focus on what is truly important and allows more control of your future journey; helping you anticipate and prepare for future challenges. Setting goals is motivating and inspiring. As described in my domino theory of goal-setting , there are many dominos on the road to becoming an accomplished martial artist. Your goal may involve earning a higher level belt, achieving a black belt, beating your personal best for number of strength exercises or stretching further than you’ve ever stretched before. The number and variety of goals are endless and the drive, motivation and sense of accomplishment achieved in martial arts is awe-inspiring and can easily be applied to all other aspects of your life.

10) Flexibility. Maintaining physical flexibility is important for many reasons including increased blood circulation and energy levels. Greater muscular coordination, less muscle tension and increased range of movement decreases the chance of injury and back pain. Similarly, being flexible in your thinking reduces the chance of psychological injury in the form of stress, depression, and anger . Martial arts teach us to be strong yet flexible. Set goals yet be amenable to altering your path based on new circumstances and information. Embracing change is necessary for success in the workplace. With the advent of new technologies and changing markets, flexibility drives innovation and creates boundless opportunities. In relationships at home, at work, at school, or at play, we must remain flexible and embrace the dynamics of any situation to fully appreciate and benefit from the new consequences which are inevitable. This we learn through martial arts practice.

11) Balance. Balance training improves joint mobility, decreases injuries and falls, improves control over and awareness of one’s body position, enhances overall sport performance, reaction time, strength, power and agility and even enhance cognitive memory abilities. We strive for balance in work and personal life, daily schedules, or psychological balance; not being too bored or too overstimulated, not too carefree or too uptight, not too stingy or too spendthrift, not too trusting or too suspicious, not too daredevil or too fearful, not too cautious or too outgoing, not too introvert or too extrovert . We may become off balance as we strive toward a single focused goal. The ability to recognize this and make necessary adjustments are important. Marital arts focus on the physical aspects of balance training but also the mental, psychological and spiritual aspects. If you are physically too focused on pushing forward, one has but to deflect your energy and step sideways to help you lose your balance. Similarly, if you are mentally too focused on pushing forward in an argument, you may not be open to new information, lose respect and injure your status in a relationship.

12) Work ethic. Success takes work; physical work, mental work, preparedness, and often spiritual work. True achievement takes fortitude, action and sweat. Martial arts training forms the foundational base for establishing a healthy work ethic. You could go online and buy a black belt but the initial satisfaction of seeing it hanging on your wall would quickly fade when the realization sets in that this was not earned. I attribute the work ethic I learned through martial arts to my successes in the medical and academic world. Not being satisfied with getting by, we strive for excellence. As Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

13) Wisdom . We tend to lump all martial arts styles under the umbrella “martial arts.” Martial arts reflect the people, culture, weapons, and specific circumstances of their countries of origin. These differences are reflected in how they emphasize stances, kicks, punches, blocks, and body movements. Becoming an accomplished martial artist requires more than simply learning the physical techniques. One must understand the history, culture, people, and even the language. Mastering a specific martial art necessitates practicing enough to incorporate techniques into muscle memory as well as a deeper understanding about proper body mechanics, kinesthesiology, anatomy and physiology, situational awareness, conflict management, de-escalation techniques and possibly weaponry including materials and manufacturing technology. I have been fortunate in being able to apply knowledge gained through martial arts in my travels to the far east and in building positive productive relationships with people from a variety of cultures. A quote often attributed to Bruce Lee is “Before I learned the art a punch was just a punch and a kick just a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch and a kick no longer a kick. Now that I understand the art, a punch is just a punch and a kick just a kick.” This is the mastery effect; associated with high self-efficacy and enhanced performance.

14) Courage. Acting appropriately in the face of adversity without overconfidence or inappropriate fear. Courage is important for those with families and friends whom they care to protect. It enforces personal boundaries , enhances self-confidence and has the ability to strengthen teamwork . Courage is a trait strongly nurtured by martial arts practice. Even for those with a predilection to be guided by fear, visualizing and undergoing repetitive, stressful , realistic self-defense drills helps one develop the necessary courage to face fears – both physical and psychologic. We learn martial arts not so we can hurt those in front of us but to protect those whom we love standing behind us.

15) Creativity . Creativity relieves stress and promotes overall health and wellness. It improves mood and overall emotional health, enhances brain function, promotes the production of new neurons, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s. True practice of martial arts goes well beyond planned patterns. Only following such patterns is to take away one’s freedom and falsely lead to the belief that the pattern accurately represents reality. Martial arts promote creativity in one’s approach to novel situations; thinking out of the box and using a dynamic approach to apply and develop new techniques or use old techniques in new ways. This is why so many martial artists exemplify the term “artist”. They are actors, painters, sculptors, dancers, and musicians who are able to apply this creative code to other aspects of life.

16) Leadership . Leaders set direction, create visions, inspire and motivate others, forge teams and create productive organizations. Leadership involves valuing and respecting others and knowing their strengths, thinking out of the box, looking at obstacles as opportunities and taking responsibility for their decisions. Martial arts encourage a leadership frame of mind – a mindset of improving our community and improving the world. It starts with a dream about what could be, visualizing how this will be and taking action to make it happen. Implicit in this framework is the self-confidence, responsibility and belief that one can make a positive difference. The emphasis in martial arts on effective communication, respect for allies and foes, presenting a respectable appearance, striving for self-improvement, showing humility and taking action fosters effective leadership qualities.

17) Open-Mindedness. Being open-minded is only possible if you assume that you don’t have all of the information. This is an essential trait for success in relationships, in business, and in acquiring or advancing in any sport, hobby, or activity. This can be difficult when the new information counters our long-held beliefs. However, the payoff is well worth it as we gain valuable new knowledge, become stronger, more confident and learn to change our mistakes into life lessons for success. The martial arts master pours tea into an already full cup and the tea overflows onto the table and floor. The student says, “what the heck?” The master says, “Like this cup you are so full of ideas that you can’t hold onto anything new. You must first empty your cup to be able to gain new knowledge.” As one of my instructors, Avi Nardia often states, “Sometimes a teacher, always a student.” An effective martial arts practice is dynamic wherein the martial artist must be open to new information to adequately respond with appropriate counters.

18) Mindfulness . An open, nonjudgmental moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment. A focus on the future is to live in a dream and a focus on the past is to live in a memory. Mindfulness is a focus on the here and now. It is associated with improved health and wellness, lower stress, better decision-making, less errors, an improved immune system, better relationships and greater life satisfaction! It gives us a greater sense of mental clarity and focus. Mindfulness is a key ingredient of martial arts practice. More than just being aware of what is going on; there is an implicit deeper sense of spiritual contemplation and reflection. As Harvard Psychology Professor Ellen Langer has described, mindfulness is the process of actively noticing new things, relinquishing preconceived mindsets and acting on the new observations. As in Buddhism, where mindfulness originated, martial arts helps us focus on our breath to anchor our thoughts. To excel in martial arts one must commit to being fully present in the now. Distractions of past recollections or future predictions may be life threatening.

19) Situational Awareness. Being alert to what is happening around you and understanding how certain situations, physical objects, events, and actions may affect outcomes. Situational awareness involves having a level of emotional and social intelligence to perceive and adequately interpret non-verbal information. A lack of this awareness is a primary contributor to accidents caused by human error. In martial arts it is necessary to be able to incorporate this information analytically with other input to fully assess your situation and avoid placing yourself in dangerous predicaments. The concept of situational awareness can be traced back to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War from the 5th Century BC. Bruce Lee called this “the art of fighting without fighting.” The art of verbal de-escalation, anticipation, and appropriate avoidance; the way of the peaceful warrior. We learn to fight so that we don’t have to.

20) Action. Action separates dreaming from doing; taking an active role in your destiny is one of the keys to success, not leaving your future to the universe and hoping things get better. Action arising out of your principles, energized by visualizing your goals and the path to getting there will be deep-seated, meaningful and inspired. Thinking about changing the world in a positive way is good, talking about it is great, doing it is best! Martial arts is not just a way of being, it is a way of doing. We learn to control our bodily movements with precision as we gain an understanding of how minute movements may have tremendous consequences such as during pressure point application or joint manipulations. We appreciate that in all aspects of life we have a personal responsibility to take inspired action. A Japanese Proverb says, “In the struggle between the stone and water, in time, the water wins.” The stone may seem stronger but it just sits there as the water takes action.

I am hugely and eternally grateful of the opportunities afforded me by virtue of my involvement in the martial arts world. The positive psychology lessons, the health and wellness benefits and the powerful influences of being able to interact with amazing individuals who embody the true spirit of what it means to be a martial artist.

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Neil Farber, M.D., Ph.D., is an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University. He is a retired physician, life coach, hypnotherapist, researcher and the author of Throw Away Your Vision Board.

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How Martial Arts changed my Life

As a Martial Artist, I have had many years to understand Martial Arts. I know how it has benefited me and what I use it for. I have also been an avid observer of others who pursue Martial Arts and have watched them grow, mature, and become better people.

Martial Arts serve a variety of purposes and appeals to many different types of people. Many seek sporting glory through athletic endeavours, while others seek improvement of the self. Victims of crime and bullying joined to learn how to deal with these difficult situations. The ability to fight and overcome an adversary is probably one of the most popular reasons that people pursue Martial Arts. It speaks to our insecurities. That we must overpower our enemies before they overpower us.

 My journey began as a child who wanted to emulate the great Bruce Lee. I wanted to be strong and powerful. I found that there was much more to Martial Arts than I originally thought. I am going to share some insights into how learning Martial skills changed my life with the hope that I can inspire and help you reach for a better version of yourself. 

But before I get into that, I wanted to give you a quick rundown of some of the benefits you can expect by training in a Martial Art.

Improving the Self

What about pursuing Martial Arts as a means to improve the self?  I agree that Martial Arts is useful to defend ourselves and protect others when situations turn violent, but I have also come to realise that in the absence of a foe, an enemy or a sparring partner – I am left to battle myself.  The outward use of Martial Arts is turned inwardly.  I train to battle the physical and mental weaknesses within myself.  After each battle, I should emerge better than I was before. 

Physical Strength

The physical exertion from Martial Arts training improved the overall strength of my body and enabled me to perform regular activities within my day with ease and vigour.  This is especially important as you reach your senior years where your body does degrade. 

Rigorous training in Martial Arts has also proven to increase cardiovascular health which optimises the function of the lungs and heart.  This has really had a positive effect on my ability to recover from the flu and other viral infections.

I also use Martial Arts as a gauge of my fitness, especially during tournaments and when grading for higher ranks. 

“The more I train at home, the better I perform in the dojo.”

~ Martial Devotee

Mental Strength

Placing my body under physical stress and pushing my physical limits has also served to strengthen my mind.  I found that I grossly underestimated my physical limits and that my mind tended to give up well before my body actually would.  This meant that my perceived physical limits and pain response were well under my physical limits.  With regular training, I was able to get closer to my actual physical limits by fortifying my mind and learning to embrace the hardship that I was enduring. 

I learnt that the mind is a powerful force and that can serve me or work against me.  When I regularly pushed through my perceived limits, I found that my mind proved no longer to be an obstacle but rather started to adapt to my training along with my body.

Having a fortified mind has also enabled me to control my emotions effectively.  Although I sometimes do lose my temper because this is a very human trait, I have found greater stability in my emotions and my ability to cope with stress.

My Martial Art has also kept me grounded which has kept me out of trouble.  I have found that there is little time for trouble when I am focused on my training.  I have learnt the value of humility and always keeping an open mind.  I have experienced that there is always more to learn and master.  This has allowed me to learn from those less experienced than me.

The physicality of the training highlights my weaknesses and vulnerabilities which helps me to reject my ego.  When I discard my ego, I create an environment for myself that is free to learn, experience and progress.  Hardship becomes my ally and I am able forge ahead with greater strength than I did before.

Perseverance

Martial Arts training is hard.  It is tough on the mind and body.  It takes time to master the techniques.  You must persevere to keep progressing and improving your Martial Arts skills.

This is yet another lesson I have learnt from my Martial Art.  Nothing can be achieved without hard work and dedication.  The greater the achievement, the greater the effort required.  Effort is not even enough.  Effort must be combined with consistency and deliberate practice. 

This sort of mental grit has helped me in other areas of my life as well and this is one of the positive side effects of learning to persevere through difficulty. 

Connecting the Mind, Body and Spirit

Martial Arts if practiced earnestly and for long enough will enhance the body, mind and Spirit.  Moreover, I have found that I have a better understanding of my physical, emotional and spiritual self.  Due to this enhanced understanding, I am able to combine and align these aspects to improve my happiness and satisfaction.

How Martial Arts Changed My Life

My recollection of myself as a child leaves me a little anxious.  At that stage, my future did not seem very bright and I was seemingly in complete disarray.

As I think back to my formative years, I can’t help but feel sympathy for that child. On the exterior, he was obedient, well-behaved and shy. However, this shell of my former-self lacked self-esteem, confidence and was the target of bullies. He lacked self-awareness and was so wrapped up in fear, that he performed poorly in school. This child had undergone many traumatic events which set him back emotionally and destroyed his ability to function at the same capacity of a child his age.

However, fate would have something else instore for him. His love for Martial Arts and the strength that he longed for propelled him into his deepest fantasies. Fantasies in which he would immerse himself in the pursuit of Martial knowledge and skill. Where he could be strong and in control of his own destiny.

Through intensive Martial Arts training, this wounded soul would be transformed. Indeed, he did become stronger. Not just physically but also in character. He understood his body and no longer felt like the disempowered, overweight, and awkward child he used to be. He moved with confidence but maintained his humility. No longer did others have control over him. He was now capable of standing up for himself and others that felt the brunt of vile and wicked bullies.

He discovered clarity of thought as he had dispelled all the fear that previously gripped him. Now that he spent less time on survival, he possessed more time to flourish and grow.

School had now become a pleasure instead of a chore. His Martial Arts training had gifted him discipline and a laser-like focus with which to absorb what he was taught, and he improved his grades ten-fold.

His Martial Art also taught him important life lessons like perseverance, humility, and respect. Suddenly, all problems were perceived as challenges which was his privilege to surmount. He stayed the course through hardship and difficulty. This was the mindset which was so tightly ingrained during his Martial Arts practice. Most importantly, his training provided him with a physical outlet to heal emotionally and strengthen his Spirit.

As you can see, I owe a great deal to my Martial Art. It is an integral part of who I am. This is how Martial Arts has changed my life and I could not be more grateful.

So the question is, what is the purpose of your Martial Art? How did Martial Arts change your life?

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The effects of martial arts participation on mental and psychosocial health outcomes: a randomised controlled trial of a secondary school-based mental health promotion program

• Brian Moore   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8377-8579 1 ,
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BMC Psychology volume  7 , Article number:  60 ( 2019 ) Cite this article

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Mental health problems are a significant social issue that have multiple consequences, including broad social and economic impacts. However, many individuals do not seek assistance for mental health problems. Limited research suggests martial arts training may be an efficacious sports-based mental health intervention that potentially provides an inexpensive alternative to psychological therapy. Unfortunately, the small number of relevant studies and other methodological problems lead to uncertainty regarding the validity and reliability of existing research. This study aims to examine the efficacy of a martial arts based therapeutic intervention to improve mental health outcomes.

Methods/design

The study is a 10-week secondary school-based intervention and will be evaluated using a randomised controlled trial. Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 12-week follow-up. Power calculations indicate a maximum sample size of n  = 293 is required. The target age range of participants is 11–14 years, who will be recruited from government and catholic secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia. The intervention will be delivered in a face-to-face group format onsite at participating schools and consists of 10 × 50–60 min sessions, once per week for 10 weeks. Quantitative outcomes will be measured using standardised psychometric instruments.

The current study utilises a robust design and rigorous evaluation process to explore the intervention’s potential efficacy. As previous research examining the training effects of martial arts participation on mental health outcomes has not exhibited comparable scale or rigour, the findings of the study will provide valuable evidence regarding the efficacy of martial arts training to improve mental health outcomes.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTR N12618001405202 . Registered 21st August 2018.

Peer Review reports

Mental health problems are a significant social issue that have multiple consequences; ranging from personal distress, disability, and reduced labour force participation; to wider social and economic impacts. The annual global cost of mental health problems was estimated as $USD 2.5 trillion by the World Health Organisation [ 1 ]; and the annual cost of mental illness in Australia has been estimated as $AUD 60 billion [ 2 ]. These costs are projected to increase 240% by 2030 [ 1 ].

However, for a variety of reasons including stigmatisation of mental health and the cost and poor availability of mental health treatment, many individuals do not seek assistance for mental health problems [ 3 ]. Consequently, it is important to consider the application of alternative and complimentary therapies regarding mental health treatment. Martial arts training may be a suitable alternative, as it incorporates unique characteristics including an emphasis on respect, self-regulation and health promotion. Due to this, martial arts training could be viewed as a sports-based mental health intervention that potentially provides an inexpensive alternative to psychological therapy [ 4 ]. However, the efficacy of this approach has received little research attention [ 5 ].

Existing martial arts research has mostly focused on the physical aspects of martial arts, including physical health benefits and injuries resulting from martial arts practice [ 6 ], while few studies have examined whether martial arts training addressed mental health problems or promoted mental health and wellbeing. Several studies report that martial arts training had a positive effect reducing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. For example: (a) training in tai-chi reduced anxiety and depression compared to a non-treatment condition [ 7 ], (b) karate students were less prone to depression compared to reported norms for male college students [ 8 ], and (c) a study examining a six-month taekwondo program reported significantly reduced anxiety [ 9 ]. Similarly, several studies report martial arts training promotes characteristics associated with wellbeing including: (a) a group of female participants reported higher self-concept compared to a comparison group after studying taekwondo for 8 weeks [ 10 ], and (b) a six-month taekwondo program found increased self-esteem following the intervention [ 9 ].

A recent meta-analysis examining the effects of martial arts training on mental health examined 14 studies and found that martial arts training had a positive effect on mental health outcomes (Moore, B., Dudley, D. & Woodcock, S. The effect of martial arts training on mental health outcomes: a systematic review and metaanalysis, Under review). The study found that martial arts training had a medium effect size regarding reducing internalising mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression; and a small effect size regarding increasing wellbeing.

However, despite generally positive findings the research base examining the psychological effects of the martial arts training exhibits significant methodological problems [ 11 , 12 ]. These include definitional and conceptual issues, a reliance on cross-sectional research designs, small sample sizes, self-selection effects, the use of self-report measures without third party corroboration, absence of follow-up measures, not accounting for demographic differences such as gender, and issues controlling for the role of the instructor. These issues may limit the generalisability of findings and suggest uncertainty regarding the validity and reliability of previous research.

This study seeks to examine the relationship between martial arts training and mental health outcomes, while addressing the methodological limitations of previous studies. The intervention examined by the study is a bespoke programme based primarily on the martial art taekwondo and incorporating psycho-education developed for the intervention. Importantly, this study aims to examine the efficacy of a martial arts based therapeutic intervention to improve mental health outcomes.

Study design

This study is a 10-week secondary school-based intervention and will be evaluated using a randomised controlled trial. Ethics approval has been sought and obtained from an Australian University Human Research Ethics Committee, the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education, and the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta. The study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001405202). The study protocol was also reviewed externally by school psychologists employed by the NSW Department of Education.

Researchers will conduct baseline assessments at participating schools after the initial recruitment processes. Following baseline assessments and randomisation, the intervention group will receive the intervention after which post-intervention assessment will be conducted. A 12-week post-intervention (follow-up) assessment will also be conducted. The control group will receive the same intervention program after the first post-intervention assessment and will not be measured at follow-up. The design, conduct and reporting of this study will adhere to the Consolidation Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines for a randomised controlled trial [ 13 ]. Participants and caregivers will provide written informed consent.

Sample size calculation

Power calculations were conducted to determine the sample size required to detect changes in mental health related outcomes resulting from martial arts training. Statistical power calculations assumed baseline-post-test expected effect size gains of d  = 0.3, and were based on 90% power with alpha levels set at p  < 0.05. The minimum completion sample size was calculated as n  = 234 (intervention group: n  = 117, control group: n  = 117). As participant drop-out rates of 20% are common in randomised controlled trials [ 14 ], the maximum proposed sample size was n  = 293 (intervention group: n  = 147, control group: n  = 146).

Recruitment and study participants

To be eligible to participate in the study, schools must be government or catholic secondary schools in NSW, Australia. All eligible schools ( n  = 140) will be sent an initial email with an invitation to participate in the study. Schools that respond to the initial email will be pooled and receive a follow up call in random order from the project researchers to discuss whether they would like to participate in the study. The first five schools that demonstrate interest will then be recruited into the study.

Inclusion criteria for participation in the study includes: (a) participants are currently enrolled in grades 7 or 8, and (b) participants are within an age range 11–14 years. Exclusion criteria: concurrent martial arts training will exclude participation in the study, however prior experience of martial arts training is not an exclusion criteria. All students at participating schools who meet these criteria will be invited to participate in the study. Participant and caregiver information and consent forms will be provided to students. Two follow-up letters will be sent subsequently at 2 week intervals. Students who respond to the invitation will be pooled and randomly allocated into the study, or not included in the study.

Randomisation into intervention and control group will occur after baseline assessments. A simple computer algorithm will be used to randomly allocate participants into intervention or control groups. This will be performed by a researcher not directly involved in the study. Figure 1 provides a flowchart of the timeline for the study.

Flowchart of study

Intervention design

Intervention description.

The intervention will be delivered in a face to face group format onsite at participating schools. The intervention will be 10 × 50–60 min sessions, once per week for 10 weeks. Each intervention session will include:

Psycho-education – guided group based discussion. Topics include respect, goal-setting, self-concept and self-esteem, courage, resilience, bullying and peer pressure, self-care and caring for others, values, and, optimism and hope;

Warm up – including jogging, star jumps, push ups, and sit ups;

Stretching – including hamstring stretch, triceps stretch, figure four stretch, butterfly stretch, lunging hip flexor stretch, knee to chest stretch, and standing quad stretch; and,

Technical practice – including stances, blocks, punching, and kicking.

Additionally, intervention sessions intermittently include (alternated throughout the program):

Patterns practice – a pattern is a choreographed sequence of movements consisting of combinations of blocks, kicks, and punches performed as though defending against one or more imaginary opponents;

Sparring – based on tai-chi sticking hands exercise (which has been included as an alternative to traditional martial arts sparring); and

Meditation – based on breath focusing exercise.

In the final session the intervention will conclude with a formal martial arts grading where participants will be awarded a yellow belt subject to demonstration of martial arts techniques (stances, blocks, punching, and kicking) and the pattern learnt during the program. While it is desirable for participants to attend all 10 sessions to achieve intervention dose, it is unrealistic to assume all sessions will be attended. Research has suggested that determining an adequate intervention dose in health promotion programmes can be based on level of participation and whether participants did well [ 15 ]. In the current study intervention dose will be assumed if participants successfully complete the formal grading and are awarded a yellow belt. It is important to note that aggressive physical contact is not part of the intervention program. The intervention will be delivered by a (1) registered psychologist with minimum 6 years’ experience, and (2) 2nd Dan/level black-belt taekwondo instructor with minimum 5 years’ experience. Materials used during the intervention will include martial arts belts (white and yellow), and martial arts training equipment (for example strike paddles, strike shields).

Theoretical framework

The intervention development and implementation will be based on a traditional martial arts model, dichotomous health model, and social cognitive theory. Research examining the relationship between the martial arts and mental health has typically used a bipartite model [ 16 ] which distinguishes between traditional and modern martial arts. The intervention is based on a traditional martial arts perspective, which emphasizes the non-aggressive aspects of martial arts including psychological and philosophical development [ 17 ].

The absence of an explicit health model is a significant methodological limitation of previous research examining the mental health outcomes of martial arts training. The dominant models of mental health are based on the homeostatic assumption that normal health reflects the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium; and that the dysregulation of homeostatic processes causes ill-health [ 18 ]. These models can be defined dichotomously as having a: (1) pathological basis (deficit model) which refers to the presence or absence of disease based symptoms such as depression or anxiety; and (2) wellbeing basis (strengths model) which refers to the presence or absence of beneficial mental health characteristics such as resilience or self-efficacy. While considering both aspects of the mental health continuum, this study was particularly interested in the strengths model and examined the wellbeing characteristics of resilience and self-efficacy.

Social cognitive theory suggests that knowledge can be acquired through the observation of others in the context of social interactions, experiences, and media influences; and explains human behaviour in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between personal cognitive, behavioural, and environmental influences [ 19 ]. The theory is useful for explaining the learning processes in the martial arts, which include: (a) modelling – where learning occurs through the observation of models; (b) outcome expectancies – to learn a modelled behaviour the potential outcome of that behaviour must be understood (for example, the anticipation of rewards or punishment); and (c) self-efficacy – the extent to which an individual believes that they can perform a behaviour required to produce a particular outcome [ 19 ].

The study’s theoretical framework incorporating a traditional martial arts model, dichotomous health model and social cognitive theory facilitates examination of the effects of martial arts training on mental health, ranging from mental health problems to factors associated with wellbeing such as resilience and self-efficacy. Further, the framework may determine the efficacy of martial arts training as an alternative mental health intervention that improves mental health outcomes.

Evaluation of the intervention program will involve a variety of standardised psychometric instruments to report on mental health related outcomes. Instruments include the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [ 20 ], Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) [ 21 ], and Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) [ 22 ]. All outcome time-points will be examined 1 week pre-intervention, 1 week post-intervention, and 12-week post-intervention (follow-up).

Behavioural and emotional difficulties

The primary outcome measured by the SDQ will be mean total difficulties. Additionally, the SDQ will measure the following secondary outcomes: emotional difficulties, conduct difficulties, hyperactivity difficulties, peer difficulties, and pro-social behaviour.

Total difficulties was selected as a primary outcome as it provides an overview of participants’ psychological problems. The SDQ scale is a commonly used psychometric screening tool recommended for use by the Australian Psychological Society [ 23 ] and has been normed for the Australian population.

The primary outcome measured by the CYRM will be mean total resilience. Additionally, the CYRM will measure the following secondary outcomes: individual capacities and resources, relationships with primary caregivers, and contextual factors.

Resilience was selected as a primary outcome as it is a current focus of research regarding psychological strengths, but has not been examined regarding the effect of martial arts training. The CYRM-28 was used in the study as it efficiently operationalises the theoretical aspects of resilience in a valid and reliable manner, but is shorter than comparable scales (for example the Resilience Scale for Children and Adolescents [ 24 ]).

• Self-efficacy

The primary outcome measured by the SEQ-C will be mean total self-efficacy. Additionally, the SEQ-C will measure the following secondary outcomes: academic self-efficacy, social self-efficacy, and emotional self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy was selected as a primary outcome as this operationalised a relevant component of social cognitive theory, which is important regarding the hypothesised learning processes in the intervention. The SEQ-C was used in the study as it operationalises self-efficacy for adolescents in an educationally relevant context.

Statistical methods

Statistical analysis of the primary and secondary outcomes will be conducted using SPSS statistics version 25 (IBM SPSS Statistics, 2017) and alpha levels will be set at p  < 0.05.

The collected psychometric test data will be consolidated into subscale variables using factor analysis and the internal consistency of each variable will be examined to determine reliability. Items to be included in the scale variables will be added and computed to create composite scores. Repeated measures univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) will primarily be used to analyse test data. Ordinal regression will be used to analyse test data based on psychometric measures using a 3-point Likert scale. Interpretation of effect sizes will reflect Cohen’s suggested small, medium, and large effect sizes, where partial eta squared sizes are equal to 0.10, 0.25, and 0.40 respectively [ 25 ].

Age, school grade level, sex, socio-economic status and cultural background will be included as covariates in the analysis.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the training effects of martial arts participation on mental health outcomes. The study will use a randomised controlled trial of secondary school aged participants.

Previous studies examining the impact of martial arts training on mental health and wellbeing have found positive results, which has also been confirmed by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Results have included martial arts training reducing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression; and promoting characteristics associated with wellbeing. However, the small number of relevant studies and noted methodological problems lead to uncertainty regarding the validity and reliability of existing research.

The current study utilises a robust design with baseline, post-test and follow-up measures to examine the views of participants and includes a rigorous evaluation process using quantitative data to explore the program’s potential efficacy. This is a clear strength of this study and is important due to the study’s multi-site delivery. The current study has not used a qualitative approach which is a limitation of the research. Qualitative work is planned for future research to explore issues such as mechanism of impact.

The findings of this study will provide valuable evidence regarding the training effects of martial arts participation on mental health outcomes, and information for research groups looking for alternative or complementary psychological interventions. To our knowledge, no previous studies have reported the training effects of martial arts participation on mental health outcomes on a scale comparable to the current study while maintaining a similarly robust design and rigorous evaluation process. This study has the potential to change public health policy, and school-based policy and practice regarding management of mental health outcomes and enhance a range of health promoting behaviours in schools.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Australian dollar

United States dollar

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number

Analysis of variance

Consolidation standards of reporting trials

Child and youth resilience measure

Multivariate analysis of variance

New South Wales

Strengths and difficulties questionnaire

Self-efficacy questionnaire for children

Statistical packages for the social sciences

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Dean Dudley

Griffith University, School of Education and Professional Studies Faculty of Arts, Education, and Law, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia

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BM conceived the research aims, conducted the literature search, primarily wrote the manuscript and had primary responsibility for the final content. DD and SW reviewed and approved the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Moore, B., Dudley, D. & Woodcock, S. The effects of martial arts participation on mental and psychosocial health outcomes: a randomised controlled trial of a secondary school-based mental health promotion program. BMC Psychol 7 , 60 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0329-5

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-019-0329-5

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History of Martial Arts: Taekwondo, Shaolin Kung-fu and Sumo

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Free Essay On Martial Arts And Its Benefits

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Art , Exercise , Health , Body , Cardiology , Belief , Sports , Life

Words: 1250

Published: 01/05/2020

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The term martial art is used to mean traditions or coded systems used in combat. There are many forms of martial arts such as Karate, kung fu, muay Thai, aikido, judo, taekwondo, hapkido, krav maga and jujutsu. Traditionally, martial arts originated from eastern Asian countries. The communities in the eastern Asian nations considered some of the arts to be part of their culture, background and religion. However, martial arts have spread all over the world and are practiced for a wide range of objectives. Some people practice martial arts for commercial purposes, competition, personal fitness, self defense or physical and mental health. Currently, there are martial arts associations where individuals can join, practice and get recognition as they gain experience in this field. Martial arts are known to have many benefits to individuals and society at large. Therefore, even though people have different reasons to take part in martial arts, they obtain many more benefits than they even know.

Martial arts help in the improvement of body health. Taking martial arts lessons helps enhance an individual’s cardiovascular health. The cardiovascular system is composed of arteries, capillaries, veins and human heart muscles. When the cardiovascular system is weakened, one may suffer from a shortage of breath, fatigue, and weaknesses and in some cases severe conditions such as heart attacks. Recent research has revealed that the most efficient ways of improving one’s cardiovascular system is to take healthy foods and taking part in activities that exert stress on the heart. People are encouraged to take part in intense martial arts for at least half an hour often to help enhance their cardiovascular system.

Martial arts help individuals lose weight significantly. The surest way to burn excessive calories in the body is by taking part in intense physical exercise. For instance, a pound of body fat amounts to about 3500 calories. For one to lose that kind of body weight, they need to spend at least an hour doing intense martial arts. One hour of exercise can help burn about 500 calories. Therefore, a person who participates in martial arts can lose 3500 calories in just a week. Weight loss is healthy because it keeps one flexible and avoids health complications such as obesity.

Frequent participation in martial arts is known to enhance ones moods. Research scientists argue that regular exercise such as martial arts helps relieve frustration and stress. This is because this kind of body exercise keeps and individual occupied until they forget the difficulties in their lives. Exercise makes people happier and mentally fit. The endorphins produced during physical exercise remain active in the human body for over four hours after the exercise. The endorphins help keep good moods and attitude.

Martial arts help in enhancing an individual’s reflexes. One of the qualities needed to succeed in martial arts is to possess quick reflexes. Taking part in martial arts helps improve reflex reactions not only in martial arts but also in every other activity one undertakes. This will improve people’s daily lives when doing activities such as driving, cooking and in some professions such as boxing. Another health benefit is that martial arts increase muscle tones of those who participate in the activity. Frequent exercise helps increase the muscle mass of the body. Increase in muscle mass is instrumental in improving the body tone. Muscle mass also raises the body’s metabolic needs hence; the body will burn more calories leading to less body fat and body weight. Therefore, martial arts help improve body agility and muscle tone.

There are many more benefits from martial arts that are not related to body heath. One of them is the positive psychological mindset enhancement. Martial arts have a big psychological effect on human beings. When an individual begins taking part, they may be scared of what they may go through. However, as they learn to attack and defend themselves, they begin to have an open mind. Martial arts give a positive mindset towards everything in life. It can help one improve their studies, work place performance or interpersonal relations because it give one a positive attitude and mentality.

Martial arts are known for the quick reflexes and movements. For one to achieve this kind of body flexibility, they must have sufficient coordination in their body parts. Martial arts help improve the coordination of body parts such as feet, hands, sight and many others. This kind of coordination can be achieved differently basing on the type of martial art. For instance, capoeira helps improve bodily coordination more than karate. Coordination can only be achieved through improved flexibility and agility. Those participating in martial arts should enjoy learning the art, the people around and trainers and the coordination comes naturally as one gains martial arts experience.

Martial arts are also instrumental in creating individual networks and friendships. Usually, people join martial arts clubs for different objectives. There are those who join for fun or as a hobby. Therefore, there is a chance that people of different professions and backgrounds will meet and share personal experiences. Martial arts are an activity where people with common interests may meet and learn a lot form one another. They also become friends, which makes the activity a social forum in a way.

Martial arts play an important role in helping people improve their discipline levels. Succeeding in martial arts requires that one is disciplined, following instructions and adhering to the rules of the art. Most people have the ability to succeed in martial arts but fall out because they lack the necessary discipline. However, as one learns this art, their discipline levels increase significantly. They are keen on small details and have long concentration spans. These traits obtained from martial arts become part of an individual’s character and can be applied in other real life situations at work or school.

Finally, martial arts can transform individuals from aggressive and temperamental to humble. Martial arts is not only about attacking and defending but also changing how people think. A professional martial teacher can help change people’s mindsets on their temper or aggression. This is because martial arts help one to learn how to handle themselves in difficult moments and to keep their composure all the time. This makes people humble and positive minded.

In conclusion, the benefits of martial arts are very significant in changing how people view themselves and the world around them. Martial arts can improve one’s health, physical condition, emotional behavior, interpersonal relations and general attitude. People should be encouraged to take part in martial arts because the lessons learnt can be used in different other real life situations.

Works Cited

Armentrout, David. Martial Arts. Houston: Rourke Book, 1997. Blackall, Bernie. Martial Arts. New York: Heinemann/Raintree, 1998. Cochran, Sean. Complete Conditioning for Martial Arts. New York: Human Kinetics, 2001. Gifford, Clive. Martial Arts. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2009. Iedwab, Claudio A and Roxanne L Standefer. Martial Arts: Mind & Body. illustrated. New York: Human Kinetics, 2000. Knotts, Bob. Martial Arts. Houston: Scholastic Library Pub, 2000. Levigne, Heather. Martial Arts in Action. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2000. Seabrook, Jamie A. Martial Arts Revealed: Benefits, Problems, and Solutions. New York: iUniverse, 2003. Wheeler, Tom and Diego Aragona. Martial Arts: Lessons Learned Along the Way. Chicago: Xlibris Corporation, 2009.

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Essay on Martial Arts: The Pros and Cons

The Martial Arts is a sport or a skill mainly for self-defence, to improve the physical and mental self development, law and armed authorization applications and maybe sometimes for entertainment purposes. Martial arts helps to improve our focus, stillness and self confidence and it helps children how to control themselves and how to handle difficult situations and deal with it.A person who does the martial is martial artist. One of the main style used in the Martial art is  “kata”. There are different kind martial art karate, judo, kufu…. Martial art also has a latin meaning called  “ arts of mars”.

It was mainly said that this art form was mainly originated by an Indian Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma where he spread this to China and many other dynasties. Bodhidharma taught these skills to the people mainly for self defence from the robbers and to improve the physical and mental shape of the people. Monks and nuns have practised this and many systems and institutions have been formed based on this. This world has a wide number of martial arts. Some of the widely known martial art skills are kungfu, karate, boxing, judo, kickboxing, etcetera. One of the world’s most effective and dangerous form of martial art form is Krav Maga. It is a non-sport form of martial art and it does not concern with the opponents well being. Martial arts should be taught to people as it provides confidence among people and can even change the entire personality of the person. Teaching martial arts to children is a very good thing as it used in many cases as a self defensive measure but it also has many cons.

Practising Martial Arts provides a lot of benefits not only to the body but also to the mind. Martial arts helps to improve the personality of the person and can help to create a confidence within them. The martial arts helps many students to improve their attention and concentration and would help them to remove one of the main controversies of this era, that is, the smart phones. It not only benefits us by giving self defense but also by giving us the discipline, balance, regard, restraint, improving coordination, speed, qualities, adaptability just as in general wellbeing, health, and a positive lifestyle. With this technique, we can keep ourselves safe from any kind of dangerous situations like robbery, bullying, etcetera. This keeps the body in a perfect shape which will lead to a good health without any diseases mainly during the young age. It removes the extra fat from the body and make it look fit and healthy.  

The martial arts requires a huge amount of energy and capability of a person. Less food and energy will increase the weakness in the body which makes the fighter more weak and leads to failure. Continues doing of the martial art practices will lead a person to get tired and exhausted easily because it is an art with a lot of energy needed. Customarily,  hand to hand fighting educators will in general fundamentally promote the physical advantages of hand to hand fighting, wellness, coordination, self-preservation abilities, balance, etcetera. Some include self esteem, self-assurance, and improved social abilities to the rundown of advantages. Self-assurance, and improved social abilities to the rundown of advantages.

This gives the impression that the main advantages are physical and that hand to hand fighting are „rough‟. This accentuation on the physical, joined with the films and pictures of pop culture, has lead to a confusion of the substances of long haul hand to hand fighting preparing and can make a the motivation behind this article is to examine if the hypothesis of Bandura et al. (1961) is right also, that hand to hand fighting preparing advances animosity or if the opposite is valid and that it not just abatements viciousness and hostility yet advances other, yet imperceptible, positive results of good hand to hand fighting preparing by an expert (at any rate in mentality) combative techniques instructor.

This is one of the best "con" when I considered choosing my tyke in a confrontational strategies program. I have done hand to hand battling previously, and at one school, we as a whole juveniles were lumped together – including young women and young fellows. On the off chance that it's not all that much inconvenience fathom: I'm not insulting teenagers as "young women and young fellows", I'm examining Minimal young women and young fellows that are in elementary school, winning comparative belts I'm picking up as an adult. 

Really? A multi year old with a dull belt? I am not saying that energetic youngsters can't acquire shaded belts. I'm expressing there are such countless procedures schools that hand out dull belts and whatever penultimate belt shading (darker or red-with-twofold dim stripes) likewise quickly to energetic children. Having an erroneous conviction that everything is great with the world may make a kid settle on an increasingly risky choice that the youngster for the most part won't make without a hand to hand battling "establishment". That expressed: a related "master" is that the program may confer enough assurance for the youngster to stand up to a tyrannical jolt and riotously shout, "Stop It!'". 

The school we in the long run picked was one where belts were allowed with stringent criteria. The most raised belt level we saw for youth (not kids, the juvenile class were tweens and adolescents) was a dim shaded belt, and the people who wear a darker belt, have the scope of capacities of the dull hued belt. In the kids classes, the kids who wore green and blue belts (considered widely appealing) are successfully seen in capacities from youngsters who had yellow and orange belts.

There are many research led on human brain science, that are yet extremely positive to establish that cooperation in an ordinary exercise routine is a standout amongst the most ideal approach to improve your state of mind. Being in the world class club of activity exercises, combative techniques is the main great approach to alleviate pressure and dissatisfaction yet may really assist you with making you more joyful. It's not just that you feel its impact not just amid the execution of the physical action, rather accentuation the discharge physical pressure and keep its impact in your body numerous hours after the fact after exercise. The main idea of participating in the martial art is improve your self-esteem, better manage aggression and improve discipline.

Works Cited 

Bergan, Ronald. "Martial Arts." Film, Dorling Kindersley, 2006, p. 149. Eyewitness Companions. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1802300035/GVRL?u=j079907001&sid=GVRL&xid=e3e34bba. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. 

Cabrera, Manuel V., Jr. "Lee, Bruce (1940-1973)." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, vol. 3, St. James Press, 2000, pp. 117-119. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3409001442/GVRL?u=j079907001&sid=GVRL&xid=541b2574. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. 

Maliszewski, Michael. "Martial Arts: An Overview." Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones, 2nd ed., vol. 8, Macmillan Reference USA, 2005, pp. 5730-5733. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3424501962/GVRL?u=j079907001&sid=GVRL&xid=849d4e76. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. 

Peiser, Benny Josef. "Karate." Encyclopedia of Modern Asia, edited by Karen Christensen and David Levinson, vol. 3, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002, p. 321. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3403701541/GVRL?u=j079907001&sid=GVRL&xid=4d434fe2. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. 

Shahar, Meir. "Martial Arts: Chinese Martial Arts." Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones, 2nd ed., vol. 8, Macmillan Reference USA, 2005, pp. 5733-5736. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3424501963/GVRL?u=j079907001&sid=GVRL&xid=25aed66c. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. 

https://evolve-mma.com/blog/4-ways-martial-arts-improves-your-state-of-mind/

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e452/890f4b094cb99c86bed92e90418b52338557.pdf

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-pros-and-cons-of-making-your-kid-study-a-martial_us_5

97ba23be4b09982b7376483 

https://academichelp.net/samples/academics/essays/reflective/martial-arts.html

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Category: Black Belt Candidate Essays

Black belt essay: what it is and what it takes by tyler.

• Post author By admin
• Post date November 25, 2016
• No Comments on Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Tyler

Here is a black belt essay from Tyler! Tyler is an adult provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree in taekwondo. In this essay, he talks about how different martial arts training was from his childhood ideals. He also talks about the importance of persevering in the face of his own limitations, and looking for the deeper meaning in his martial arts training–love it!

Check out Tyler’s black belt essay after the jump to find out what he really thinks it’s all about!

• Tags black belt essay

Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Kassidi

• Post date February 27, 2015
• No Comments on Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Kassidi

Kassidi is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. Here’s her black belt essay on what it means to be(come) a black belt. Through her training, Kassidi has learned how to be persistent. Her black belt essay reveals a little of what it’s taken for her to make the long journey to black belt.

Although she mentions making mistakes, tough times, & getting knocked down, she also emphasizes that black belts respond by getting back up and handling the negative with grace, self-control, and perseverance.

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Kassidi

“The black belt around my waist does not represent who I am. It represents who I can be.”

My journey to black belt was not an easy one.

Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Shawna

• Post date January 8, 2015
• No Comments on Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Shawna

Shawna is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. Here’s her black belt essay! I love how she talks about what a black belt DOES, how they interact with others and how they treat their own goals.

Kindness, awareness, respect, and persistence–check out Shawna’s essay after the jump to find out what she really thinks it means to be a black belt!!

Top Instructor Do’s and Don’ts from NWSMA Black Belts

• Post date September 16, 2014
• No Comments on Top Instructor Do’s and Don’ts from NWSMA Black Belts

A bit of introduction here: NWSMA holds a “black belts only” class once a month. We split the class time between practicing advanced material and talking about what it means to be a black belt and an instructor.

They are assigned a reading the week before class, and this month I gave them an excellent piece from Black Belt Magazine, titled, “ How Karate Sensei Can Avoid Mixed Messages in the Dojo. ”

Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Jasmine

• Post date August 19, 2014
• No Comments on Black Belt Essay: What It Is and What It Takes by Jasmine

Jasmine is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. Here’s her black belt essay, which tells the story of how she got interested in martial arts and how much she’s grown since then.

Jasmine was 12 at the time she wrote this, but she makes some observations that are really quite mature (I’m sure this is not surprising to anyone who knows her and her family). I highlighted a few quotes that I really liked.

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Jasmine

Before I started Tae Kwon Do, I watched the movie “Kung Fu Panda” in a theater. I thought all the tricks and maneuvers the “Furious Five” and “Po” did in the movie were awesome, and I decided I wanted to do Kung Fu. At that point in my life, I was eight, so I also thought that ninja-like abilities were the thing to have.

After the initial inspiration, my parents found a 2-week deal at Trinity Martial Arts in Arlington. At the end of those “nuf”* two weeks, my siblings and I made the decision to stick with it, and later my dad joined too (mom stuck with her yoga). Chris Aprecio, the instructor, made it look like being a black belt meant you could do cool things.

It’s been a long time since then, but now I know that being a black belt doesn’t just mean to have a black belt and be athletic (and that becoming a black belt doesn’t make you a superhero).

Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Nathan

• Post date August 12, 2014
• No Comments on Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Nathan

Nathan is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. Here’s his black belt essay, exploring what black belt means to him.

I really love this essay, and I love that Nathan is such a strong example for his kids and for other students in our school. I took the liberty of highlighting a couple quotes that really resonated with me. Enjoy!

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Nathan

The goal of reaching black belt has been no small task and one that NWSMA does not take lightly. For this, I am grateful. I feel to wear a black belt, it should mean something both to the wearer of the belt and to those around them. A black belt should never be a stop along one’s path in life, but rather a continuous road in itself, a life long attitude of learning, humility and challenge.

The training at NWSMA has been just this. It has been intense, focused and very, very fruitful to me personally. I have gained so much understanding, strength, and growth from my time with them both in the martial arts and outside it, that it’s hard to describe concisely all the benefits. However, what black belt truly means for me, now, is the same as what it meant to me when I started this journey about 5 years ago with my children. Black belt, to me, means family.

6 Things Black Belt Candidates Should Be Doing

• Post date October 29, 2013
• 3 Comments on 6 Things Black Belt Candidates Should Be Doing

When I look at a black belt candidate–a high-ranked student who is getting close to black belt–I usually rely on a gut feeling to tell me whether or not they’re ready for black belt.

By black belt, I mean 1st degree. Provisional black belts are not yet black belts, they are on probation and have to prove themselves worthy of that rank. By “candidates” I mean everyone from brown belt to provisional black belt–people who aren’t yet there but are trying to get there.

Today, instead of relying on my gut, I want to try to articulate some of the things I’m looking for in black belt candidates: all brown, advanced brown, and provisional black belts.

• Tags black belt , black belt candidate , black belt essay , karate , martial arts , poom belt , tae kwon do , taekwondo , tang soo do , what does it mean to be a black belt

Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Caitlin

• Post date July 6, 2013
• No Comments on Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Caitlin

Caitlin (who is different from the site author) is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree. She and her younger sister have been with NWSMA for about a decade. Here is her essay about what it means to become a black belt!

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Caitlin

When you think of a black belt, what is it that you think of?  Well if you’re like most people, you think of a black belt as someone who, obviously, wears a black belt and is good at martial arts.  If you’ve watched movies with people like Bruce Lee in them, you even have a visual.  These things all are parts of what a black belt does and wears, even what they can sometimes become, but not what they are.

Continue reading “Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Caitlin”

Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Andrew

• Post date June 30, 2013
• No Comments on Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Andrew

Andrew is a provisional black belt candidate for 1st degree, but has also received his black belt in Arnis. Here is his essay on what it means to be a black belt!

“Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes” by Andrew

I first went to Tae-Kwon-Do in September 2010. My parents took me there so I could get prepared for hockey. They wanted me to practice Tae-Kwon-Do so I could get prepared for hard hits and the roughness that hockey is known for. I did not know anything about Tae-Kwon-Do. The only martial arts, like Karate, I ever saw was from watching it on TV or at the movie. So when I started I loved the different forms and moves, and the fact I could protect myself. I also started to practice Arnis and loved the weapons forms, and stick manipulation. So I quit hockey and started practicing more Tae Kwon Do and Arnis.

A black belt to me is just not something that holds your pants up. It is a belt that shows you have respect, honor, courage, and integrity. All of these gave me strength to pursue and challenge my fears. Now I can face and conquer them.

I’m grateful for what I’ve learned. I thank all the people that have helped me get to where I am now.

Tae-Kwon-Do is now part of my life. It will always be in my heart. Tae-Kwon-Do has taught me to take on challenges like school work, chores my Mom and Dad give me, as well as everyday living and to face it head on and not fear it but accept it.

Being a black belt is hard, but it is great being one. It is great helping others. Other students give you respect for being a black belt. You also have to give them respect too. Always encourage others to keep going. Like I said being a black belt is hard, but it’s also great being one.

I have been in Tae-Kwon-Do for 2 to 3 years. There have been times I wanted to quit. It was so hard or because I hated it. The reason mostly was it was getting boring to me same exercises over and over, repetivness, not realizing I was honing my skills to become better, stronger and faster. Now that I have my provisional black belt, I just want to keep going.

What does it take to be a black belt? You need to have respect for others. You need to honor your family, friends, and others. But what does it really take? Never giving up, never quitting what you are doing. Most importantly all the other challenges life gives you.

I would like to thank Kio-Bi-Nim Chris Apprecio for teaching me what I need to do to be where I am now. I would like to thank my family and friends for encouraging me to keep going on. I would also like to thank other instructors passing what they have learned down to me, my instructors, and everyone else.

Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Miya

• Post date June 19, 2013
• 1 Comment on Black Belt: What It Is and What It Takes by Miya

I’ve mentioned before that we have all candidates for 1st degree write an essay, sharing their thoughts on what black belt means to them. Here is karate black belt candidate Miya’s essay–she’ll be testing this week, so encourage her if you see her in class!

“Black Belt: What it Is and What it Takes” b y Miya

When I first began training, I envisioned a black belt student as being some sort of super-human ninja with magical zen powers! I thought to myself, “There’s no way I could ever be that, it’s impossible.” However, as I trained and practice alongside these senior students, I began to see that you didn’t need to be a demigod to earn a black belt. I got to really know these students and discovered, they were just regular people. They had jobs and responsibilities outside the dojo, they got tired, and sad, and even mad from time to time. They also had regular problems that they had to deal with, just like you or me. They weren’t ninja master’s who spent every hour of everyday training in the mountains like I first thought they did. For the first time, a black belt actually seemed attainable.

• Tags black belt , what it means to be a black belt

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