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Using Martial Arts to Get into Shape
How would you like to learn a new skill, be surrounded by motivated people, be inspired by a dedicated teacher, and cross off that resolution about losing a few pounds?
For my money the best way to do this is by enrolling in a martial arts or self defense program. I have taken many martial arts and self-defense classes and, in my experience, there has been no better way to get into shape while learning a valuable skill. Every martial arts class that I have taken always had three components: cardio-vascular, core strength, and learning the art of self-defense. As a bonus, I was in a class of highly motivated people led by an extremely motivating teacher.
Now here’s the best part. In order for you to be successful at this, you’re going to have to do a bit of research, visit a few studios and talk to a few instructors. What’s so good about that? It let’s you ease into this whole fitness thing while at the same time getting you excited by the prospect of learning what could be an extremely useful skill. Here are a few thoughts to get you started.
If you are thinking about martial arts, the world of martial arts is diverse to say the very least. You may want to consider a Korean style like tae kwon do, maybe it's a Brazilian art such as Gracie Ju Jit Su or maybe it's simply traditional Japanese GoJu Ryu Karate style that you have in mind. The second task is finding the best teachers for the types of martial arts you're considering.
Although most of the martial arts have a conditioning aspect, the level can vary greatly. Furthermore, each art of self defense tends to have strong and weak aspects. Let's say you're considering traditional Tae Kwon Do as your martial art to study. This is considered a hard style and it focuses on high kicking techniques. A hard style is essentially one that places more focus on brute strength over technique. An example of a soft martial arts style would be tai chi chuan. This ancient art places more focus on relaxation, adapting to your opponent and using less effort to exert more force. As you can see, different types of martial arts offer different attributes. This is important as you must also consider your current level of conditioning.
A great place to begin your search for the ideal martial art is in cyberspace. This not only allows you to learn ample information about various types of martial arts, but it grants you access to what's available near you.
Unfortunately, not all styles of martial arts will be accessible. So much depends on where you live. However, if you reside in a large urban area such as Los Angeles or New York City, you'll probably have your pick of countless martial arts styles. But remember, the instructor is the key.