Are you looking for a new sport or martial art to learn, but are torn between which to choose from? Well, if so, this article could help you out. Here, we lay down 4 reasons why you should strongly consider picking up karate.
1. Cardiovascular and Muscular Fitness
Karate is a full-body workout that trains multiple areas of your body and aspects of your fitness, as it involves a variety of movements which engage multiple muscle groups.
Karate techniques such as strikes, kicks and throws require proper form for effective execution, which in turn requires good muscular strength. Repeated practicing of these techniques will allow you to develop toned and strong muscles over time.
Furthermore, these techniques can be demanding on your hearts and lungs, therefore improving your cardiovascular endurance.
2. Coordination and Balance
Defence is an integral part of karate, and this involves the dodging and blocking of your opponent’s attacks. Defending against your opponent’s attacks successfully would require quick reaction times, as well as the ability to ground yourself firmly.
By practicing karate defence techniques, you will improve your coordination and balance – important motor skills very useful even outside of sports.
3. Mental discipline
Karate is not just an intense physical disciple, but is also a great form of mental training. Good execution of karate techniques requires the body and mind to be at one, and this demands a huge degree of focus on the inner being.
In order to help you achieve this mind-body synchronization, mental training is typically included in karate lessons. This involves mental techniques such as meditation, the learning of proper breathing techniques, as well as the cultivation of good inner values such as respect, honour and perseverance.
4. Self Confidence
Karate can have a positive impact on your self-confidence. Karate is a skill sport, and the learning of its techniques requires a certain degree of patience and perseverance. The process of learning and attaining greater mastery in these techniques will thus impart in the learner a sense of accomplishment.
Furthermore, the self-defence and sparring training undertaken in karate classes will help the learner to be more comfortable and assertive in actual physical confrontations.
Both these are tremendously beneficial for the learner’s self-confidence.
If karate sounds like the something you would like to engage in, you could check out one of our Entresellers, Karate Nation. A karate school in Singapore, Karate Nation aims to promote the above-mentioned comprehensive benefits of karate to everyone. Founded by Cyril, it places great emphasis on character building, centered upon the values of Respect, Perseverance, Self-Control and Loyalty.
