Why should everyone train in the world of martial arts, after all not everyone has too right? Of course to each their own, but not as a requirement, as a suggestion, I believe there are some reasons why everyone should at least give it a try. Martial arts for those who do not know are arts of the physical and mental form. Not only do they involve exercise, but they also involve a mental aspect and ultimately one missing the other makes for an incomplete martial artist. Martial arts range from one degree, boxing which is all stand-up and no kicks or ground game at all, to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is all ground game, no kicks or punches, to mixed martial arts, which is everything more or less combined. Of course, there are a hundred more variations which include, Kickboxing, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Kempo Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Capoeira, Muay Thai, Judo, Aikido, Wrestling and more. This may seem like a lot to choose from, but I look at it as there is no excuse for someone to not at least take up an interest in one of them. Going back though, why should someone do a martial art in the first place?
- Martial Arts teaches respect- This is the first thing I learned in martial arts, no matter who you where black belt or white belt, McDojo or Gracie certified, you always show respect to the opponent. Obviously after the war of attrition that is martial arts, one should theoretically respect the opponent already, since you have just gone through a war together. The discipline and respect are more important than winning. No martial art school will accept someone who lies, or someone who purposely injures, or doesn’t respect their opponent for participating. A person who has the courage to step onto the mat at all, I have the utmost respect for. Doctors are mentally strong, bodybuilders are physically strong, but martial artists are both.
- One gets close to their body- I always used to laugh when I saw bodybuilders kissing their biceps, why? Sure they care about the way their body looks but they don’t really care about the way their body feels, obviously this was misguided, but I still hold some truth. Martial arts makes humans move their bodies in ways that are not natural, yet in ways they are capable of. As my coach Dan Simmler said to me, everyone knows how to throw punches or kick like a maniac, but it takes a martial to truly understand their body. You find out some muscles hurt after a session, that you did not even know existed! The more pain your body feels, the more you come to tune with your body, the more you appreciate it. You are not here to lose a ton of weight or gain muscle, if you want to go ahead nothing wrong with that, you are here to find out what the human body can actually do.
- It’s a community like no other- I have been to so many gyms, mainly because as a college student its hard to find an affordable gym, but everywhere I went, everyone knew each other and were so friendly to each other. There is sense of community like no other, of course by nature interacting with humans creates friendship, but there is something else when there is something punching you or trying an armbar while laying on top of you, that makes you even closer. The people I have met not only respect the sport, but they also respect you, because frankly they know better than anybody else, it takes courage to even take up the sport, let alone stick with it.
Some Of My Favorite Martial Art Quotes
When people ask me about what I learned from martial arts, I don't talk about favorite punches or kicks, or about fights won or lost. I talk about learning self-discipline, about ethics and manners and benevolence and fairness - Jonathan Maberry
There is a difference between a fighter and a martial artist. A fighter is training for a purpose: He has a fight. I'm a martial artist. I don't train for a fight. I train for myself. I'm training all the time. My goal is perfection. But I will never reach perfection - Georges St-Pierre
