How many stay fit through martial arts?

As my signature photo indicates, I am a practitioner of Kendo, Korean Kumdo to be more specific. This is a sword art and involves the use of a bamboo sword (Juk-do) and hogu (armour) when dueling. There are also numerous kata and excersises involved as well.

The reason that I ask this is because of the health benefits that I and my children have experienced from the class. Everything from increased strength and stamina to burning fat and in general, feeling better. I would gather that this is the same for any martial art. I am curious to see what experience others here have had, and if so, does it help keep you feeling healthy and vigorous as it has for me?

DanE

I practice Budo Kempo and find that it's a great way to help stay in shape! Between the warm up exercises, drills and kata's it's a great way to not only keep the body in shape but to help focus and keep the mind sharp as well. It definately builds strength and stamina as well as self confidence.

The reason that I ask this is because of the health benefits that I and my children have experienced from the class. Everything from increased strength and stamina to burning fat and in general, feeling better. I would gather that this is the same for any martial art. I am curious to see what experience others here have had, and if so, does it help keep you feeling healthy and vigorous as it has for me?

DanE

Hi there Knight,

I am very happy to see your post here related to fitness and staying healthy.

My fiance started practicing Budo Kempo a couple months now, and I can tell already many changes in Gabe's life because of it. Not only his physical health but also his emotional health have improved, it helps him get fit at the same time realease stress.

I don't have to say how proud I am of him, right? :D

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Commit To Conditioning

Most martial arts are high-action, high-energy activities that build strength, speed, and agility. Judo is said to be one of the best for developing fitness and stamina, but none of the martial arts will get you into cardiovascular shape without complementary aerobic workouts. So commit to a conditioning program in addition to your martial arts training. It's a killer combination.

Be Careful To Prevent Injuries

Martial arts training is fraught with peril. All the kicking, punching, falling down and flipping over puts high stress and strain on muscles and joints. Many of these injuries are preventable, if you stay alert, stretched and strong. And you must master the art of falling.

A Style For Every Age

Practicing the martial arts is a great way to keep your body strong and your mind sharp as you age. Younger people may gravitate to the Karate Kid/Power Rangers style, and that's OK, as long as personal safety is stressed. Good martial arts training can teach children a lot about discipline and desire, commitment and goal-setting. It gives them a safe way to act out their aggressive impulses. And it helps build their self-confidence, too.

Strength Through Relaxation

Very often, sports training adds tension to our lives, instead of helping relieve it. Not true for the martial arts. Martial arts training allows you to experience a profound, life-changing truth; strength comes from relaxation. The martial arts teach you what it means to move from your center, and they put you in touch with the true source of your energy, which is much more about your mind than your muscles.

Become A Warrior

Don't study the martial arts because you want to be a killer. Right sport, wrong reasons. Be open to the deeper meaning and philosophy of the martial arts; the emphasis on strengthening mind, body and spirit, and the teachings that tell you the most powerful warrior is the one who is strong enough to avoid fighting. If all you want to be is a street thug, please leave the martial arts alone.

by Marilynn Preston
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Get fit doing what you enjoy~

I took Shaolin Kempo for three years and have been out of it for for a year and a half now do to my financial status, but that is improving and I plan to be back into it soon. I had never felt better about myself then when I was involved with Kempo.Wonderful way of keeping yourself, physically and spiritually happy! ;)

I forgot to add on my post how martial arts also helped me get in shape.
I also practiced off and on Kickboxing and Yoga, alterneting one activity to another to lose weight. Now I still practice Yoga twice a week and walk every morning, to keep in shape.

For who haven't seen my before and after pictures:

http://www.agelesslove.com/boards/showthread.php?t=23997

lots health~

I practiced Shotokan for a couple of years but determined that it wasn't for me in the long-term.

I practiced Tai Chi for a while and have recently been looking into taking it back up again.

Until I blew my knee out, I was really into kickboxing. The 'snap' is really hard on my knees and I got tired of trying to get some instructors off my back. I'm far from a wimp when it comes to pushing myself, physically, and some instructors really got on my nerves.

Yeah, bad knees are not condusive to kick intensive martial arts. One of the facets of Kum Do is a stomping strike, where you stomp the ground as you strike your opponent. It puts more power into the sword, but it is also jarring to your knees. I am looking at taking up Hae Dong Gum Do, a different Korean sword art which is more smooth and has less emphasis on juk-do technique.

A good friend of mine does Tai Chi and has found it to be far less jarring than other martial arts. He's been at it for about five years and loves it. He's in his forties and is in better shape than he was in his twenties because of it.

Daniel

My SO is into kickboxing, and because of it he has/had to stop(ped) smoking! And that is HARD to do in Serbia when like 70% do! But not only does he have a great bod :p , he is also healthier!

I practiced Shotokan Karate and Kodokan Judo for many years from my childhood through my early 30s (with some breaks here and there).

I did this in conjunction with playing a couple of other sports, competing in power lifting competitions and generally doing quite a bit of athletics.

I would say that Martial Arts are generally an excellent thing to expose children to. It not only provides health benefits, but can instill a child with a great deal of self understanding and self confidence. And, if it is tied in with an understanding of the culture from which it comes (which it should be imho) it can also expose a child to the wonders of learning about other cultures.

Naturally though, you have to choose your dojo very carefully to be sure the child is safe and properly taught.

The one problem I had was in high school when I was also a wrestler. I had a hard time avoiding some moves that were not legal in wrestling since they were so ingrained in my training by then.

Yes, I think Martial Arts are a great form of exercise. But like any other sport, I also believe that you need some diversity in your exercise that includes other forms of exercise too.

I did Shito Ryu for several years, and loved it, got into great shape and increased endurance. I was up in Portland at the time, had no car, and walked four miles there and back, along with 1 1/2 hour workout 3 times weekly. Tough stuff!

Now I enjoy Qi Gong or Tai Chi Chih movements, much less stress on joints. Also BKS Iyengar yoga. Pat Walden has some beautiful videos out on her form of yoga. Tried Tai Chi several times, looks easy, but was sore for days!