Tag: martial arts

Too Tired to Exercise? Get Self-Sustaining Energy from Martial Arts!

Posted on | by Jason

Are you making excuses to avoid exercise and say you feel too tired to work out any more? You know it is good for you and you always feel better after, but the “do it anyway” motto isn’t cutting it any more. If it isn’t due to a physical illness or low-iron level, then here are a few pointers to try to motivate yourself to keep going.

Change your schedule

If you usually exercise in the evening, set your alarm thirty minutes early and get your exercise session out of the way before your day begins. An early morning exercise session will help energize and motivate you for the rest of the day. Plus, you can look forward to a relaxing evening knowing you’ve accomplished your goal. This can be a simple solution to the problem of being too tired to work out.

Sometimes the best cure for sluggishness or fatigue is a vigorous exercise session. Have you ever noticed how you can walk into your Martial Arts class (Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Karate, etc.) hopelessly exhausted, but after thirty minutes, you feel energized and invigorated? Exercise gets your blood flowing and zaps fatigue. Classes are designed to be both mentally and physically challenging. If you need motivation to lure yourself to class, promise yourself a small reward after you finish, like a long, relaxing bath or 20 minutes with your favorite book; just make sure it’s not a hot fudge sundae!

If it is only occasionally that you find yourself too tired to work out, go ahead and work out, but less vigorously. To help you to take the first step, tell yourself you’ll only exercise for ten minutes. Chances are you won’t notice when the ten minutes have passed; you’ll feel so invigorated that you’ll want to keep going.

You can always change your routine temporarily to get rid of the boredom by substituting something fun. Go outside for a brisk walk. Shoot hoops in the driveway. Ride your bike to the local store. You can get back on schedule the next time you exercise and the variety will be good for you both physically and mentally.

If you still find yourself “too tired,” talk to your instructor about ways to exercise outside of class that will also benefit your Martial Arts skills. Give these tips a try and soon you’ll no longer need the old excuse of being too tired to work out. Plus, you’ll look and feel like a new person.

Engaging In Martial Arts To Combat Childhood Obesity

Posted on | by Jason

With childhood obesity having become a national epidemic in recent decades, more and more parents are discovering that Martial Arts can be an effective solution for helping their children to keep or get their weight under control. This engaging, enduring activity offers children (and adults) a complete fitness program that benefits development and improvement of the whole body.
Fortunately, our community has had caring instructors teaching Martial Arts to children and adults or some time. Karate schools haven’t just stood by and watched in dismay as this particular childhood malady has spread at a remarkable pace with dismal, disheartening, and costly results. Parents everywhere bring their kids in to train at Martial Arts facilities to address the issue and obtain a litany of great benefits in addition.

Childhood obesity is be a complex and multi-faceted problem. Martial Arts, contrary to what many people believe, have less to do with violence and more to do with self-improvement.

It may sound cliché, but once embraced, Martial Arts for many become an overwhelmingly positive “way of life!” The physical practice of martial arts incorporates many aspects leading to fitness and well-being, including strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and becoming more agile, energetic, and in control of the body. Together, these elements of Martial Arts training are a very powerful tool in combating childhood obesity.

A reputable Martial Arts school will have qualified staff who diligently commit to each and every student to help him or her reach the top of his or her potential, not just on the mats and in the ring, but in all walks of life. In quality kids, teen, and adult Martial Arts programs, instructors work with individuals to help them derive from Martial Arts the benefits most crucial to leading healthy, happy, and productive lives.

When it comes to combating childhood obesity, great role models and trusted teachers encourage behaviors within the walls of the Martial Arts studio that are typically carried over into every aspect of students’ lives. Martial Arts training is even more beneficial with instruction and practice of virtues like self-control, self-discipline, and self-respect. Instructors typically also promote constructive behavior, temptation resistance, and moderation of consumption.

Childhood obesity is a very serious problem but it can be subdued and conquered. Addressing it is the responsibility not just of parents and kids themselves, but of the whole community. We must set a good example and provide an atmosphere that encourages healthy development and lifestyle choices. Martial Arts are among the most powerful tools at our disposal to halt and reverse this harmful, ongoing trend.

Be Neither Target Nor Victim

Posted on | by Jason

Every individual, at some point in his or her life, has been victimized, exploited, or abused in some form or another. Whether this relates to a child being bullied at school, an adult being singled out at the workplace, or in more serious cases, an individual being mugged on the street, what the common feature of these unfortunate scenarios is the victim’s inability to avoid, escape, or resist. Fear is a powerful weapon, and a liability for those who do not prepare. If one does not take measures to develop himself or herself both mentally and physically, he or she will continue to arrive in situations where he or she is at a disadvantage and risk. Fortunately martial arts training is fun, helpful, and appropriate for all ages, genders, and fitness levels.

Not about violence

Watching a Bruce Lee movie may inspire you to become a martial artist, but the truth is that flashy combat is not what martial arts is mainly about. Do not think you can participate in martial arts training in order to intimidate or bully your way through life. You may learn to have “presence,” but you will also learn humility, self-control, and respect. At its very essence, martial arts is training for improvement of the body, mind, and spirit. The combative aspects of martial arts, while important, are only executed in self-defense as a last resort. While martial arts will certainly teach you various techniques and strategies that will help you in a physical confrontation, the main lesson that it aims to teach is learning when not to fight. A real martial artist is able to discern whether a conflict can be resolved without violence or physical self- defense is required.

Values of martial arts

Integrating the actual spirit of martial arts training into oneself can only come with practice. Initially you may view this kind of training simply as a means by which you can protect yourself on the streets or from bullies at school. However, martial arts teaches individuals much more than that. Through this kind of training, your character itself will be positively affected. Martial arts training helps individuals build focus, endurance, confidence, and most of all respect for self and others.

The greatest victory is always found in resolving a conflict without using any violence. While it is certainly true that certain cases may call for combat, this must always be viewed as a last resort. If you are looking to stand up to someone, martial arts will teach you to do so in an assertive yet respectful manner.

No More Boring Workouts

Posted on | by Jason

Tom starts his journey super-motivated. He follows his new workout routine religiously. He arrives at the gym at 5pm every day. He hits the treadmill, lifts weights, uses the Nautilus equipment, then the cardio machine. He does this five days a week. And Tom hates it! He’s sore and exhausted, but not seeing much change in his body. He doesn’t feel any motivation to go to the gym. Before long, he starts looking for excuses to not be at the gym.

Sound familiar? If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone! Workouts can get monotonous and downright boring very quickly. Further, getting stuck in a rut causes your intelligent body to adapt and become accustomed to the workout, gradually burning fewer calories and building muscle less efficiently.

The result? You go through boring hours of intense exercise, which does little to no good in the end. This can throw you off-track if you’re working out with specific goals. Boring traditional exercises will help you stay healthy, provided you can persevere through the boredom. But if you’re exercising to lose some flab, baby weight, to reach your ideal body BMI score, those monotonous workouts will get you nowhere fast.

Variety really is the spice of life, more so when you exercise

Working out with a friend or a new group of workout buddies alleviates boredom and motivates you to push yourself harder. However, a routine sport or activity will affect your body with fewer positive effects as the same muscle groups are required every time. It’s a good idea to introduce variety in your workout routine.

Add outdoor activities with friends, family members or pets, such as jogging, hiking, trekking, or bicycling, which gives your works different muscle groups, entertains the senses differently, and carries other benefits like fellowship with others. If you’re running already, change your route, or choose a more steep slope for the workout. Similarly, switch schedules, routines, intensity, and length of workout and “cheat” days intermittently to have your body un-learn the stimulus. Aim for a switch every six weeks at least.

Martial arts is the end of painfully boring workouts for adults

To bring the fun back to your fitness routine, introduce martial arts into your weekly workout routine. Martial arts training is the fun way to give your whole body, including muscles that typically don’t get exercised on the treadmill, a thorough workout. You’ll lose body fat while increasing the health of your heart, lungs, blood vessels, and body tissue. An average person expends 600 calories in one hour of martial arts!

But this is not all. Martial arts training also helps learn valuable life and survival skills. You learn
how to respect and tolerate others, how to keep your cool but command respect, and how to fight for your life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness when needed. You learn patience and perseverance while building discipline, integrity, knowledge, and honor. So say goodbye to boring, ineffective workouts by replacing them with exciting, fun-filled, stupendously beneficious martial arts training.