Fighting fit

Martial arts will stand you in good stead if you meet a shadowy figure in a dark alley – and keep you fit.

March 2008

The benefits of martial arts training

As any martial arts practitioner will tell you, there are multiple benefits in martial arts training. Of course, the most obvious benefit is a knowledge of self defense which is one of the major reasons why the martial arts were developed in the first place. Knowing how to defend oneself and loved ones in a potentially dangerous situation is an asset in today’s world just as it was hundreds of years ago. Unlike the portrayals in the movies, martial arts are not just about fighting.

Many people take up martial arts for the fitness benefits as well. Training in martial arts such as karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and other martial art styles will improve one’s cardiovascular fitness as well as tone the muscular system. Strength will increase from the calisthenics usually employed within martial arts training but perhaps not to the same extent as working out with weights. But overall power of one’s body will definitely increase since martial arts techniques teach how to use strength effectively.

Most people will also improve their flexibility significantly while training in martial arts since entire ranges of motion from the body are exercised. This is especially true with martial art styles such as tae kwon do, Thai kickboxing as well as some schools of karate and kung fu where high kicks are used. All martial art styles will result in an improvement of one’s co-ordination as well.

The 5 core ethics of martial arts

By Paul A. Walker, a fourth degree black belt karate instructor

Many martial arts schools around the world promote a philosophy of self-improvement as well as an expected standard of technical skill. When you think about it, it is the philosophy rather than the technical skill that should influence every practitioner’s daily life.
The martial arts philosophy, or at least the traditional karate philosophy, is called the Dojo-Kun. The Dojo-Kun is simply a five point ethical guide for training in the martial arts and for behavior in your everyday life and is sometimes called the ‘Student Creed’ in English. The traditional karate ethics are often translated as:

· To strive for the perfection of character
· To follow the paths of truth
· To foster a spirit of effort
· To honour the principles of etiquette
· To guard against impetuous courage

In many traditional karate schools these precepts are chanted at the beginning and end of each lesson in Japanese, and in other schools in English. In some schools there is no chanting at all, just a posting of the principles on the dojo wall and other schools invent their own ‘Student Creed.’

I’m not here to tell you which way is right or wrong, but what you should do when choosing a martial arts school is ask yourself whether the core values of that school resonate with your view of life and your moral ethics. After all you are exposing yourself and your family to a very emotive venture by beginning your karate journey. A conflict of moral values is likely to “Dim Mak” (deliver a Death Touch to) your involvement in the martial arts from the very beginning.

The Dojo-Kun’s precepts can offer a very simple template for following a virtuous path and for reaching your potential in everything you do and for being a good citizen. It’s up to you to decide how this philosophy fits in with your own ideals and ethics.

Most people find these five core ethics to be something that they can relate to on an intimate basis; some people don’t place much value on the philosophy of the martial arts and are in your karate class alongside you for very different reasons such as self-defense or basic health and fitness.

The phrase “each unto his own” is definitely applicable here. As with so many things in life, we have to find our own way given our own set of criteria and backgrounds.

Essentially there are many other paths to self-realization and understanding of the greater world around you. The martial arts simply offer a valuable template for beginning to understand yourself and others through understanding movement, power, speed, timing, energy, tension, relaxation and harmony. It is a beginning of what can be a long and extremely rewarding journey.