When researching the advantages of any sort of martial art, you're flooded with all of the reasons as to why your young child should enroll in your nearest martial arts school. It's constantly stated that martial arts are the answer to your children's behavioral problems, as the sport is widely known for it's instilling of discipline and respect. Not to mention all of the energy they'll burn up in class, presenting 'Karate' as the best extra-curricular activity to most parents.
These reasons are completely true and valid, don't get me wrong. But there seems to be a stigma that you shouldn't begin practicing a martial art as an adult, as if there is only a slim window between the ages of three and twelve that you can actually learn to throw a proper punch.
As a Taekwondo Instructor, the age group with the lowest enrollment rate is easily anyone over the age of twenty-five— by a long shot. Less commonly do we have full-grown adults with families and a job stroll in, looking to pick up a new hobby. It's true, that your free time is drastically cut down as an adult, and most never have the thought cross their mind that they should fill that time with kicks and punches as a white belt, doing something they've most likely hardly ever seen before, let alone practiced.
1. Cultivating fitness.
One of the most obvious and probably one of the most common motivations behind adults who enter the dojo: physical fitness is a major component of any martial art. Things like flexibility, faster reflexes, weight loss, and endurance will all occur at different levels depending on when and how hard you choose to train.
An extent of fitness is something required of training as you progress, as your fitness level will partially determine your skill. Spending loads of time kicking, punching, stretching, and doing a variety of body-weight exercises, we use a lot of muscles that the majority of people seem to have forgotten they even have, tending to keep people more limber, help to increase their endurance, build more muscle tone, improve motor skills/coordination, and keep their bodies more energized.
2. Practicing Respect.
The first tenet of Taekwondo is Courtesy. This word is spoken at the beginning of every single one of our classes and is hopefully lived out through the average martial artist every single day.
Answering every command or question with "yes sir/no sir," or "yes ma'am/no ma'am," referring to each other in class as "sir" or "ma'am," and by bowing to the countries' flags, your instructors, and fellow students, your whole experience in a martial arts class will most likely ooze with more courtesy than you've probably otherwise offered all week.
I personally feel that common courtesy is a lost art, as the majority of all people tend to go through their days generally disrespectful. Instilling respect is a major selling point for children in martial arts, but it's equally-- if not more-- important for adults.
It's true that the young generations today are easily the most disrespectful of all time. But, this behavior is arguably learned. Most adults tend to be disrespectful to others, as we all commonly forget to be mindful of this daily. Kids would be more respectful if this respect was expected of them, taught to them, and demonstrated to them through the generations they look to.
3. Mindfulness.
Along with building respect for authority, you're taught to build respect for yourself, as martial arts shape self-discipline. This self-discipline is required through the ability to control your body to execute difficult movements through patterns and sparring. Memorization plays a major role, requiring mental focus and concentration.
These benefits are typically seen in children through behavioral improvements, less aggression towards others, and better grades in school, as martial arts builds their confidence and enhances their attention. This is also true for adults, as these benefits touch their lives as well, only in different ways— through their jobs, relationships, and improved day-to-day focus.
4. Exposure to Self-Defense Situations.
Nothing builds self-confidence like knowing you could take down an aggressor.
They say confidence is key, and that couldn't be truer. When in a situation where self-defense is required, your confidence in what you're doing could most literally be life or death.
What sets you apart in these types of situation is your reaction. When your reaction is second nature, your chances of preventing damage are much higher.
5. Solidified morals and values.
Character building is the most commonly talked about, yet simultaneously over-looked benefit of martial arts.
Not only are self-respect and self-discipline huge, but also integrity, hard work, dedication, perseverance, confidence, respectfulness, mindfulness, and self-control.
There is easily an unlimited number of things to learn from any martial art physically, mentally, and even spiritually. But cultivating your own character for the better is necessary at any age-- not just throughout childhood.
