As adults, we face constant challenges in our life that must be overcome in order for us to find success. Our jobs place great demand on our time, effort, and mental energy. Our families and friends require our attention. The problem is that very often we become so consumed by providing for others that we lose sight of our own personal goals, we are too tired to take care of our own needs at the end of the day, and our health can sometimes even begin to deteriorate.
Martial arts training as an adult at any level can provide multitudes of benefits not just physically, but also intellectually, emotionally, and socially. The advantages of exploring martial arts like Taekwondo as an adult are guaranteed to influence all aspects of their life in a positive way.
Physically
Finding the right-for-you method of keeping the body moving can be a daunting task for adults. Predetermined preferences, motivations, and perceptions can keep adults from trying a lot of avenues. But, studies show that regular physical activity “can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.”
Martial arts is a complete, full body workout that also increases flexibility to reduce injuries and keep full range of motion in the joints. Adults who participate often also see an increase in balance when training in arts like Taekwondo as well, where kicks are utilized often more than punches and strikes. Plus, because it’s a non-traditional way of getting the body moving, it’s often easier to have the motivation to get to class and participate.
Intellectually
Martial Arts moves involve crossing the midline of the body, which has been proven to increase coordination and brain health. Learning and patterns, or forms, drives expanding both working and long-term memory. And “martial arts encourages you to dig deep, uncover where you’re stuck, and move through mental blocks” according to WebMD. That determination to power through, and rewards from earning stripes and belts, is guaranteed to bleed into the home and workplace, keeping adults motivated towards reaching personal and professional goals.
Emotionally
It makes sense that being able to punch and kick a bag or break boards would relieve stress. But training in martial arts also helps its students focus – learning to block out distractions and things that don’t positively serve them in the moment. That ability can reduce the effects of stress and anxiety in everyday life.
A positive, encouraging atmosphere found in martial arts classes, like at Southwest Arkansas Taekwondo, is also beneficial to building self-esteem. Aiming and achieving high goals, with a mass of peers and instructors cheering them on, is motivation that is rarely found anywhere else.
Socially
Beyond the workplace, it can often be difficult for adults to develop core friendships beyond people they’ve know for many years. But connection is key to a positive outlook on life in general.
Martial arts classes that are geared specifically for adults provide an atmosphere of like-minded, and like-motivated people. Most adults in a class together, while possibly from different stages in life, are all looking for the same benefits of self-defense, stress relief and physical activity. Martial arts also tends to bring together people that may never have met otherwise, broadening each adult’s network of peers and friends.
The Hardest Step as an Adult
Juggling the work-life balance as an adult can be difficult, but finding an avenue to grow all aspects of experience doesn’t have to be the same. Martial arts can provide a wealth of benefits, including many more not listed here. And the best part: programs like at Southwest Arkansas Taekwondo give you at least a free class, some even a week, to see what the program is all about and how it fits into your schedule. The hardest part is putting away excuses and stepping through the door.
