Benefits of Martial Arts Training

The Benefits of Martial Arts Training

The intention in this paper is to discuss the benefits of martial arts training, with an emphasis on their contribution to increased selfesteem for both children and adults. Martial arts are a blend of mind, body, spirit training that can enable the individual to become centered, grounded, and in control of their presence in the world. Martial arts are similar to hatha yoga in that they offer a physical discipline that also enables the individual to master the restless mind and bring the whole organism together in a unitive state.

There are a number of different styles of martial arts, and many schools of training within each of them. Some of the more common martial arts in the West are judo, karate, aikido, tai chi, and tae kwon do. They stem from practices ancient to the Far East, generally originating in China, Japan, or Korea.

In contemporary times, they also often represent an amalgam of styles and teachings. For example, one Asian woman has created her own discipline of Jung SuWon, starting from the principles of tae kwon do, which she learned in her native Korea (Jordan, 1994). This particular discipline involves the means to access ki (the same as the Chinese chi, life force or vital energy), without the lifetime of study generally required by most martial arts.

Although selfesteem is not a term associated with the tradition of martial arts in the Far

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events are the result of temporary conditions, which can be altered, are more likely to be optimistic and positive about their lives. When they feel that they can change their behaviors in ways that improve their lives, this is likely to give them more of a sense of mastery. For children, martial arts can assist them in developing this sense of an internal locus of control, as well as the mental focus and discipline to make changes in their behavior. Martial arts can lead to improvements in selfesteem and positive cognition. One of the more interesting efforts to teach children martial arts in order to improve their selfesteem, sense of empowerment, and general wellfunctioning is that by actor Chuck Norris. This program, called Kick Drugs Out of America, is specifically designed to eliminate violence in families and neighborhoods, while improving the selfesteem of kids in junior and senior high schools. The program is located in Houston, Texas and focuses on sending black belt martial arts instructors into the schools to train kids from the ages of 11 to 13. The program emphasizes discipline, selfesteem, and a healthy lifestyle, which does not include drugs. It is designed specifically for atrisk kids who can be reco

Category: Psychology - B