Why You Should Start Martial Arts Now

Why you should start Martial Arts

I don’t enjoy running. I have come to this conclusion a very long time ago, and while I can force myself to lace up and hit the pavement it takes a tremendous amount of willpower in order to do so and it isn’t something I look forward to. I definitely enjoy the endorphin rush from a good long run however, I must be honest with myself and I would much rather do something I enjoy for exercise. Aside from the fun factor of training in Martial Arts for exercise, there are many other benefits that have gone overlooked by the general population.

Psychological Benefits

The foremost factor is fulfilling each and every aspect of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid above our basic human needs (Which training will help do as well!).

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid

After our physiological needs, such as air, water, food, and shelter comes our safety needs. Training in Martial Arts will not only boost your confidence by giving you the body you’ve always dreamed of but, provide a confident mentality that you will be able to defend yourself if the need arises. One of the duties of your instructor will be noticing any lack of confidence in their students and address this by either enrolling them into tournaments to prove their abilities to themselves or providing scenarios in which the practitioner can grow comfortable facing.

Next, the Love and Belonging tier are fulfilled by the family your dojo or class provides. In our industrialized society we are given limited opportunities for interaction and as we get older our available options grow smaller. Martial Arts classes are often one of these opportunities and given that the school is a good one, provide a sense of a second family. In Wing Chun, we will refer to our peers as brother and sister treating each other with respect and growing closer. It gives the opportunity to help others and watch them grow as well as receive help yourself creating deep lasting relationships which you will both remember.

The Esteem tier is filled similarly to the Safety tier, in which once you begin gaining confidence in both yourself and your skills or physical strength from training your self-esteem will begin to rise. The more time you invest in yourself and own personal development the more sense of individuality and being you will gain, giving you the freedom from any dependencies or baggage weighing you down.

Finally, the Self-Actualization tier which I believe to be one of the most important in an individuals development. In Martial Arts, there is the realization that we will never be able to fly like the Kung-Fu movies we grew up watching or gain the ability to kick through a 4-foot wide concrete pillar in the matrix. However, we will have the ability to become better than we were yesterday and pursue our goals which can be set to an infinite height. Martial Arts will allow you to both begin the path toward Self-Actualization and reach beyond this, by setting and meeting personal goals continually. I once heard a saying in my youth (which I now know to be scientifically incorrect but it drives a point home) and have never settled for less. “Shoot for the moon, and land amongst the stars” meaning the higher you set your goals, the higher you will land even if things don’t go perfectly. “

Martial Arts will teach you how you learn.

This is one of the most important skills any individual can learn, it is said that we humans are a or mixture of auditory, visual, reading/writing, or kinesthetic learners. There are many techniques you will be exposed to in your practices and learning them all is a lifelong challenge in itself. Understanding how to retain knowledge in the most optimized way personalized to yourself is a key in succeeding in your practices. It is said that in college, the most important thing you can take away is gaining the ability to gather knowledge and learn on your own. Well great, we can all practice martial arts and not have to go to school anymore!

You’ll meet amazing individuals and be exposed to many opportunities

Through Martial Arts, I have both met and drawn a connection with a number of very inspiring people I owe so much to for assisting in my growth. I have been invited to travel internationally and meet famous individuals through my practices, and even got a part in an A-list celebrities music video! (which I was edited out of, but nonetheless).

Martial Arts is a lifelong journey

There are few activities in life that will see us into old age and continue to offer benefits. There exist in Martial Arts the soft styles such as Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Bagua Zhang and many more in which elderly individuals can continue to practice while reaping the benefits of exercise, movement and everything else Martial Arts have to offer. 

It's never too late to start, never any shame in starting and it will only benefit you! Just make sure you choose a great instructor to start with.