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[ Values ] [ Learning
Skills]
[ Social Skills ] [ Special Needs ] [ Calming, Relaxation, Stress-Relief ] |
Undoubtedly, the physical benefits of martial arts are monumental. However martial arts training offers mental and emotional advantages that are not often found in other exercises or sports. Research has shown that the martial arts, because of their equal emphasis on internal and physical health, have unique psychological effects that are substantially greater than those produced by other activities. We will explore these effects and how they relate to students' abilities to improve themselves, learn, and get along with others.
Note:
These benefits cannot be attained without the guidance of a professional
instructor whose interest is in helping students develop them. Classes
that emphasize formality, etiquette, and non-violent behavior, instead
of competition and winning, tend to better assist students in self-development.
Values
Moral cultivation is highly stressed in martial arts training. Many of
the values taught in martial arts reflect the cultures from which they
originate. Respect is at the core of many ancient disciplines, and likewise
rules of etiquette and conduct in martial arts teach students to show
respect to all people at all times. Bows, for instance, are performed
to instructors, peers, and even upon entering and departing the school.
In addition to respect, they express gratitude and humility. The organized
nature of martial arts instruction also develops a deep sense of discipline
in students. They learn that in order to achieve worthy goals or specifically
to become a Black Belt, they must be patient and dedicated to work even
when they do not want to. Experiencing the rewards of their hard work,
they gain discipline and a strong work-ethic that often contributes to
achievement in school.
The disciplining effect applies especially to young adults who often encounter negative pressure from their peers to engage in unhealthy activities and tend to get in trouble at school, home, and the law because of lack of respect for the rights and properties of others. According to a 1985 study by the American Psychological Association, a few months of Taekwondo practice made previously troubled teens dramatically more respectful and self-disciplined.
Students
learn to respect and cooperate with one another
Learning
Skills
Young people also do better in school because many martial arts practices
foster intellectual development. Physical activity combined with the thinking
required in martial arts serve as double stimulation to blood flow in
the brain.
To obey directions and learn new techniques, students must develop a high degree of focus and concentration. In many situations, they need to concentrate under pressure, a skill that proves valuable in academic studies as well. Memorization is also key in the martial arts. Students need to remember numerous terms and techniques, such as forms and kata, or prearranged sequences of techniques. In addition to learning the proper sequence and execution, they must also have an understanding of the specific technique's role in combat. The instruction through repetition and evaluation through belt exams, kata interpretation, and sparring help students in this learning process.
As students overcome challenges in their training and acquire more skills, they also gain confidence. Most martial artists begin study with little ability. Their gradual progression in rank and accumulation of skills provides great satisfaction and increased self-esteem. Those who may have been previously bullied also feel better about themselves and their ability to deal with conflict. Specific studies have found that Hapkido training for military trainees improved "individual self-confidence and group morale" more than fitness, resistance, or obstacle training (Spear, 1999); martial arts students, when assessed one year after finishing a one semester class, showed a decrease in feelings of vulnerability and likelihood of attack (Madden, 1995); and one semester of Taekwondo substantially increased self-esteem in students (Finkenberg, 1990).
Hear
(60 kb) what a Black Belt Karateka
from Ireland has to say about learning skills.
Social
Skills
The martial arts learning environment is uniquely supportive. Oftentimes
in organized and team sports, students are not given the opportunity to
develop their individual self. Martial arts helps students work on improving
their overall health and self-image. Although some arts contain competitive
elements, the students ultimately compete with themselves. At the same
time, they learn to function as a part of a group and gain a sense of
camaraderie with their classmates. Martial arts class gives students the
sense that they belong to a greater community, not only because the martial
arts have such an extensive history and culture, but also because the
students and instructors share the same healthy pursuit and experience
the challenges together. Students of different levels and ages, although
separated into smaller groups, also generally take lessons in the same
room.
In
martial arts class, students learn together
Special
Needs
Because martial arts offers the opportunity to strengthen mental and social
skills, they can dramatically influence children and adults with physical
and learning disabilities. These include those with polio, cerebral palsy,
birth defects, amputees, the deaf, and the blind. Martial arts training
is especially popular for people with attention deficit disorder (ADD),
a neurobiological disability that interferes with an individual's ability
to sustain attention and control impulsive behavior, and autism, a disorder
that impairs development of a person's ability to communicate and interact
with other people. Up to five percent of all American children, ages five
through 18, are diagnosed with ADD, and autism affects 2 to 5 out of every
10,000 children, typically appearing before age three.
Arts such as Taekwondo, Karate, Aikido, and Judo address the special needs of handicapped children for several reasons. First, the structured environment requires students to become mentally focused and use critical learning skills, self-control, and memory. Positive reinforcement and repetition from instructors combined with social interaction and partner practice encourage students to continue trying. Gradually, as these individuals overcome challenges and improve, they experience a significant boost in confidence. Most importantly, they gain a sense of personal achievement and the realization that they are "handi-capable."
Calming,
Relaxation, Stress-Relief
Portrayals of violent martial artists in the media have raised many concerns
about the aggressive nature of martial arts practitioners. But martial
arts, if practiced correctly, can actually have the opposite effect on
students-producing calm, relaxed, and less-stressed individuals. And with
an estimated 60 to 70 percent of hospital visits due to stress-related
illnesses, these benefits are increasingly important.
The intensity of practice in some classes allows students to release negative energy that might otherwise be used for nervousness or anger. Physical activity relieves tension and gives students a positive outlet; punching and kicking practice bags or pads, for instance, is definitely safer than using force and energy to hurt another person. Uttering shouts (kiai or kihap) at the moment of attack, while startling the opponent, can also serve as a method for release. Slower martial arts are especially effective for relaxation. Tai Chi Chuan and Aikido are two of the many arts in which students practice breathing, relaxation, and visualization drills to help manage stress and anxiety.
Many studies have found that these exercises ultimately develop greater inner peace and harmony in individuals. A 1970 edition of The Research Quarterly reported in the article "Comparative Effects of Judo and Selected Physical Education Activities on Male University Freshman Personality Traits" that Judo training produced more easygoing, warmhearted, and participating individuals than did a variety of Western sports. Another study from the 1979 edition of Dissertion Abstracts International, found that Judo training also lowered rates of violence in youths. In other studies, Tai Chi Chuan students have also expressed greater life-satisfaction and reduced feelings of stress.
Martial
arts gives students a positive outlet for their energy
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