A large number of us suffer from several issues associated with self confidence. Whether it is in our schools, workplace or anywhere else, certain things are bound to happen that cripple our self-esteem and ruin our confidence altogether. But did you know that every time we confront our fears, we end up gaining a lot of inherent strength and confidence? This is exactly how Martial Arts, helps us. Martial Arts, challenges our comfort levels and compels us to confront obstacles. It teaches is to come face to face with our fears. Taking up Martial Arts might seem incredibly difficult for both kids and grownups. But once you get the drill, your confidence levels are boosted like never before.
Self confidence is nothing different from your body. All you need to do is exercise and develop it in order to be stronger and fitter. In martial arts, this happens over a period of time and every small success that you achieve in your training sessions makes it possible for you to achieve larger and better goals. With every small success, your self confidence increases and you feel like challenging yourself once again. Martial arts can help you in setting and achieving goals while giving you the strength and perseverance of mind even when the situations seem to be adverse.
There is nothing better for a child than having confidence, high-self esteem and courage at a very young age. In most cases, one of the main things that affect a child’s confidence is fear. Whether we accept it or not, but bullying has indeed become an insurmountable evil in your child’s everyday reality. These cases even tend to extend till the early adulthood of the child.
Kids are extremely vulnerable to anxiety, and there is nothing more traumatizing for them than to be exposed in a kind of environment that constantly terrorizes them. Whether it is bullies or family tiffs, martial arts, will help your little one to understand who they truly are and how to control and handle these situations around them. When a child is trained to face an opponent in a touch martial arts’ match, he will end up gaining enough courage. The confidence they get would enable them to take on the different challenges that life puts up for them. Challenges are indeed an excellent crucible, and a child who learns to tackle these challenges, are not at all afraid of accomplishing any goal. No adverse situation will intimidate them anymore.
Martial arts, normally takes your child through a beautiful journey and helps them to discover their true personality. And children do need that. As they try concentrating in mastering the different levels, their confidence and courage will grow significantly. They will get a feeling of accomplishment and realize that they can do and perform anything without being afraid.
A tad bit of self-confidence can truly transform the lives of your kid. It will help them to handle different situations, experience hard times, lose excess weight and do many more things. When it comes to martial arts, one of the main focuses would be that on self-discipline. It will also help in making them even more disciplined, thereby reminding them how to act in different situations. You will observe that the martial artists are more likely not to get into an ugly spat even when provoked, as they are completely aware of protecting themselves. Due to this reason, they will be more comfortable and confident in trying to talk their way out of a particular situation.
Having the proper training on how to fight and ample confidence to do so, doesn’t really mean that your child will be knocking off everyone who stands on their way. Rather, martial arts will teach them to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way. Although most of us have a perception that Martial arts can be violent, in reality the style and technique incorporated in this sport is much different from what is telecasted in the shows. There are many defensive styles and techniques that render insight on peaceful resolution of conflict.
Other than self confidence, this self-defensive mechanism is also likely to improve the skills of your child in various other sectors of life. For instance, the fitness levels of your child will increase, he will have better skills for teamwork, he will learn to set goals on his own and achieve them at the same time. Additionally, it will also boost the socialization skills of your child and he will learn to understand and manage both the academic and non-academic aspects of school. In this way, martial arts will help in developing a respectful and responsible teenager.
Enrolling your child in these classes, will play a vital role in building their strength, stamina and endurance levels. It will change the way your child thinks, improve their creativity and develop a better sense of self-esteem. The training will go much beyond the simple concept of self-defense and will truly transform the life of your child.
Why Martial Arts, builds more confidence than any other sport?
It has been observed that any tedious and rigorous sport can effectively increase both your mental and physical fitness, thereby turning up your level of confidence. But since time immemorial, martial arts have been observed and proven to render excellent results in a wide variety of aspects. Why is this so?
Firstly, martial arts, is a personal endeavor where training is provided in a room with students following a particular decorum. Here, the individual results totally depend on your individual efforts, unlike the different team sports where you need to consistently rely on others for support.
Secondly, the structure of martial arts is empirical. This means, the level of difficulty will rise as you eventually progress. Your challenges too will increase in terms of requirements and complexity with each new level. The prestige and self respect that you will earn through every color of belt will be extremely satisfying and motivating.
This controlled structure and environment of martial arts will help you develop a better physique, body language, stance and a posture. These extremely visible and tangible effects will reduce the severity and instances of the different perceptions that lead to low-self esteem and self doubt.
While training in martial arts, you will observe that there are different points of training that will ask you to be confident even in the situations where you are really not. For instance, when you are testing for belts you get to experience public demonstration, when you spar with someone else you have this slight fear of losing or getting hurt, when you train self defense you realize that bad things are likely to happen; but despite this, you face these challenging situations and develop a greater level of self esteem. Ultimately you get the opportunity to practice the most uncomfortable things in a regulated and comfortable environment until you gain a particular level of confidence. This is the confidence that lets you sail through the chaotic environments. Once you see these visible results, there’s absolutely no looking back.
Training sessions will boost your confidence
Martial arts, not only boosts the self-confidence of your child, but it also plays a significant role in boosting your inherent self esteem. I don’t know whether you realize this, but in reality, you end up building your confidence every time you show up to the classes. Simply bowing and stepping for your dojo sessions takes a lot of courage and every time you end up doing it, you also end up being stronger.
Well, I don’t know how you feel, but I definitely feel butterflies in my tummy when my trainer asks me to spar with someone. Every time I am asked to spar, I take one deep breath and compel myself to go out there and get it done. As soon as the match commences, the butterflies are replaced with a focus. This is the focus that drives me to give my best shot. And this is exactly how martial arts training, effectively boosts your confidence. When you are an adult you will realize that the butterflies you get when you’re asked to spar or perform a kata in front of your classmates and trainer are the same butterflies that you experience when you are supposed to give some important presentation, consult with your boss about a relevant assignment or when you are about to call some major client.
The different spheres where Martial arts boosts your confidence
Bully/bullying- One of the worst things that hurts us most while we are bullied is the feeling that we are helpless. But proper training in martial arts can help us solve this issue. Once you understand that you do have a way out to escape bullying, it will hurt considerably less and you will be tad more confident while confronting bullies.
Inferiority complex- There are many individuals who feel that they are not strong or powerful enough to handle any complex situation. The media had brainwashed us in such a way that anyone of us who do not fit the societal standards of being strong and powerful, can feel insecure about ourselves. But martial arts will flawlessly tackle this issue and restore your confidence back. It will make you feel good about yourself once again and increase your self esteem immensely.
Attractiveness- Most people prefer being with a tough significant other who can protect them and help them and help them to combat difficult situations. The ability to protect oneself and one’s family is an immensely attractive trait for many. Martial arts will help you with this and further ensure that you get your lost confidence and self esteem back.
Helps in both physical and mental development
Training yourself in one or more of the programs taught at the martial arts sessions can help you to develop both physically and mentally. As you constantly train, your body will get tad more powerful and lean. Due to this, you will look and feel better about yourself. Just imagine looking at your reflection in the mirror and seeing a fitter and stronger body. This will automatically give you an entirely new level of self-esteem. A strong body will aid in developing a stronger and better mind.
Another excellent thing about the martial arts session is the martial arts concept that suggests that you tend to be stronger both physically and mentally when your skills improve. This is indeed a very practical skill that can be used in any kind of situation that requires self defense or in a situation where your loved one or acquaintances are being threatened. This will empower you once again and boost yourself confidence. The very idea that you can indeed look after your loved ones and your family will effectively boost your self esteem.
Handling everything that comes your way
As you train for martial arts you will soon develop a feeling that’ll assure you and tell you that you can actually handle everything that comes by your way. This is because you have already exposed yourself to challenging situations in a competitive environment and performed your best in every session. With these training sessions you are actually conditioning and building your confidence. You are getting a chance to develop and strengthen it in every class. You are training and preparing yourself for focusing and performing under pressure, irrespective of the situation or the incident that causes the pressure. And this is exactly why martial arts, is an excellent tool for building and enhancing self confidence both in children and adults. You will never find something that builds and develops your confidence in a safe, fun and interesting way at the same time. You will never end up with something like this that will push you to perform and give your best shot.
Whether it is through the martial arts classes or through participating in the martial arts tournaments, every time you push and compel yourself to train, you end up building your confidence and a stronger part of yourself. With every one of those punches and kicks, you get to build a stronger self both on the inside and the outside. Keep up your training to feel and exude this confidence in every sphere of your life.
They say honesty is the best policy but it can sometimes be a little difficult, especially when telling the truth might hurt someone’s feelings. Most everyone is guilty of telling a lie from time to time, though we will rarely admit to doing so. We often shield our lies under the guise of being polite and our kids see us doing it day in and day out. So, if we cannot even be honest ourselves, how are we to ever teach our kids the value of honesty?
Why Should Anyone Attempt to Practice Honesty?
Many people are surprised to learn honesty can be practiced until it becomes a mastered skill. We train our bodies in practices, such as Martial Arts, but we often do not put this same focus of attention on the skills that shape our character and make us honorable people. If it takes great focus to shape the body and mind, why shouldn’t it take the same to develop a character of integrity?
Have you ever been asked a question and immediately found yourself thinking up a lie to say? “Do you like my new haircut?” You really dislike her new haircut but you do not want to hurt her feelings. So, you lie and say you love it but what does that do to your honesty meter? Does your character develop towards honorable or dishonorable when you do this on a regular basis?
When you go to the gym to train, you know you are going to feel uncomfortable and you are going to have to push yourself to the very limit to gain success. This goes with Martial Arts training, sports, or any other physical endeavor. We must look at practicing honesty as a means of stretching ourselves to the point of discomfort so we can be a better person. This applies to adults and kids of all ages. Work must be put in to see success.
What Lying Traps are Waiting For You?
* Your spouse cooks dinner but they put way too much salt in the soup. Do you tell them the truth or eat it, while smiling and pretending you are enjoying it? How will they ever learn to be a good cook unless they get honest feedback?
* Your friend wants to buy a new skirt but it does nothing for her figure. Will you be honest and tell her so she can avoid making a bad purchase? Do you really want your friend walking around looking less attractive than she could?
* Your mom just made you your “favorite” cookies again and you really dislike them and wish she would stop. Can you look mom in the eye and let her know? Do you want your mom to keep wasting her precious time making you something you dislike?
There are many traps that we all fall into and they can be cumbersome to overcome. We don’t want to hurt those we care about but are we hurting them more when we lie? Perhaps, we are hurting ourselves more than anyone because we are slowly becoming less honest each time we tell one more “little white lie”.
It Takes a Concerted Effort to Develop Honesty
Every parent knows the importance of training during parenting but we often forget to train ourselves. We do not realize the impact we are making on our kids’ lives when we constantly lie. When we approach honesty from a training standpoint, our goals become benefits. We strive to reach our goals by working hard and then we reap the benefits by changing who we are, for the better.
Honesty training is not going to be easy, especially if you have built up a lifetime habit. Before you begin your training, it is important you realize how you would feel if you knew someone was lying to you, no matter how small the lie. Would you want to know you made the soup too salty? Would you rather a friend tell you the one you are interested in is no good for you?
You first need to discover why you feel the need to lie instead of being honest with your friends, family, and acquaintances. When you focus on being honest, it can sometimes be embarrassing and uncomfortable. We may be afraid we are coming across too bluntly. Being honest requires true clarity in the situation. Sometimes, we fall into the trap of lying simply because it is easier and we do not ruffle any feathers along the way. Instead, we slowly destroy our foundation of honesty and lose who we really want to be.
How Can You Get Started?
1. Always be honest with yourself! We often lie to ourselves more than anyone else. Look at yourself in the mirror and be brutally honest with who you are, blemishes and all. Be you and only you and you will never have to pretend you are something you are not. Do this once a day to begin changing your integrity level.
2. You must realize you are showing kindness when you are honest with others. This is going to take practice so you may want to start with someone you know you can trust, who will not be easily offended. Make a goal of being honest every time you speak with this person, no matter the conversation. If you can master honesty with this with one person, you are well on your way to becoming a truly honest person.
3. Practice makes perfect in any method of discipline, including honesty. When you know you are going to be around a person or in a situation that normally triggers your impulse to lie, prepare yourself by practicing in the mirror. You may even find it helpful to video yourself so you can see your facial expressions and listen to the tone in your voice. This can help you look at yourself through the eyes of others so you can be honest without causing undue offense.
When you take careful consideration before you speak, you will find yourself being empowered with honesty. Instead of blurting out an immediate response to a question or comment, think on your answer and ask yourself is what you are about to say true and is it necessary. If you answer yes to both, you need to say it!
No, it will not be easy at first! Your heart is going to pound like it will burst your chest. You might find yourself sweating and you may feel tension all over your body. This is the same way you will feel when pushing your body to the limits but think about the end rewards. Just like your body changes from the hard work you put in, so can your integrity.
Conclusion
The benefits of honesty are profound because your new level of integrity will begin to have a positive effect on every aspect of your life, including those you care about. Parenting is difficult for every man and woman and we all fail at some point, no matter how hard we try. When we train to be honest people, we are showing our kids a life-changing message they will take with them into adulthood.
There is always someone watching you and learning from your actions, especially your kids. Kids learn more from what we do than what we say. What are you teaching your kids each day? If you are a little concerned over that answer, consider holding yourself accountable to honesty training each day and see the changes it can make in your life and the lives of those around you. Decide how bad you want it and what level of discomfort you are willing to feel to obtain your goals. Remember, you are not only shaping your character, you are also helping to shape your child’s!
Don’t assume the person knocking on your door is the person you are waiting for. Make SURE you know who is on the other side before you open the door.
Even though most burglars and potential intruders look for unoccupied homes as their targets, you should never assume that just because you are home you will be safe from a potential break-in. Not only are your home and personal belongings at risk, but your family and loved ones as well if an intruder enters your home while you are in it. In addition to ensuring your home security system is up to par and in good working order, they are a best self-defense tactic if someone enters your home threatening harm while you are at home with your children?
When people mention the phrase self-defense it conjures up all sorts of images. For some those images will be of the Karate Kid, for others it will be visions of elderly women learning techniques in the local church hall. Then of course we have the extreme, men dressed in camouflage, rolling around in the woods and eating bugs. All these images spring to mind because there are actually courses and classes being taught that mirror your visions. Sadly, these courses and classes are not how a self-defense class should be structured and taught.
It is unfortunate that there are instructors all over the world teaching versions of self-defense that actually are far removed from the reality of violence, and what they teach is not likely to ever help you to be able to both protect yourself and reduce risk of being involved in a violent incident. This has caused people to ‘switch’ off about the need and importance of learning a quality self-defense system, in fact due to these images the term ‘self-defense’ is often deemed ‘un cool’ and almost slightly ‘cheesy’. The truth however is that it has never been more important to learn self-defense skills and when taught correctly self-defense is an interesting subject to learn regardless of your age.
Now I am not going to sit here and frighten you with stories of violence. We all know that there are dangerous people out in the world that can cause both our loved ones and ourselves harm. The chances that you will come into contact with these individuals after the age of 25 are greatly reduced due to a likely change in social habits. After all most people either settle down at this age into a relationship or career.
However self-defense is certainly not all about fighting or fancy moves. It is my belief that good self-defense and self-protection is about applying common sense crime prevention advice to your life.
If you learn something but then do nothing with the information you have received then learning it in the first place was pointless. This is exactly what self-defense is all about. It is the study of preventing harm. Not just dealing with it when it happens.
A good self-defense instructor should tell you that 90% of self-defense skills are what are known as ‘soft’ skills. They are the physical application of common sense crime prevention tips. For example, you might be walking home and have two routes to take, one is across a dark and spooky looking field and the other is actually a longer but well-lit route which takes you passed populated areas and is clearly a safer option.
Now the person who takes the safer route is actually practicing self-defense. This shift in viewpoint is essential to acquiring the belief that self-defense is not about fighting. It is about avoiding the need to fight and removing the risk from your life.
For that reason it is so important to take a good quality self defense course. Not because you want to learn to fight, but because you want to avoid the risk of being hurt. Many people believe that self defense is just about fighting down the local bar or pub. This is totally not the case.
Good self-defense is routed in taking steps to minimize the risk of harm coming to both yourself, your family and your property. These steps are usually simple ones such as taking a safe route home, to the more complex ones that involve installing burglar alarms to your homes and perhaps where appropriate using physical intervention and self-defense skills to keep safe.
It is essential that you take steps to learn these skills and pass your knowledge to your children and you friends. This is why it is never too late to start your self-defense training, because the most effective self-defense training actually involves using your mind.
So please at least look into finding a course or session near to where you live, however as I have said not all self-defense courses are the same. You need to be aware of just what a good course offers. However a good rule of thumb is a course that focuses on avoidance and awareness, rather than physical fighting skills is actually far more useful that a fighting based class.
So if you sign up for a short course or a class makes sure you ask the instructor what the course entails. Ask them if they cover things such as ‘avoidance and awareness’. If the course or class is a quality one then these skills will be a major part. As I stated it’s never to late to start training because self -defense is not about fighting. It is about using your mind to avoid danger and take steps to reduce the risk that you will ever face violence.
Real self-defense knowledge is more necessary than it has ever been. The world is a dangerous place. It does not matter where you go; you hear stories about terrible things happening to the nicest people. Sometimes it seems like dreadful threats are lurking everywhere you go – in the cities, in the towns and even in the villages.
You’re probably thinking that this is a paranoid, pessimistic attitude to take, right?
Maybe yes, maybe no, but if you are female, do you want to take the risk of becoming another awful statistic?
This is where real self-defense comes into play because it is better to have practical self-defense tools that you do not use than to lack the means of defending yourself when the worst comes to the worst!
Real self-defense is a complex subject, though, and there are many powerful, practical techniques and theories that can be learned, but here are a few simple tips on how best to defend against a bigger, stronger opponent.
Maintain your distance. The best means of real self-defense is the avoidance of physical confrontation. Whatever the creep says or does, try to maintain and if possible extend the distance between the two of you. The best possible outcome is an easy escape from a dangerous situation, and being able to maintain and control distance can be the key to making this happen.
When there is no alternative to getting physical, remember that:
1) You might not be able to rely on your strength, but a palm slap can help you to escape a potentially dangerous situation. It does not require fine motor control, which is one of the first things to be inhibited in a tense situation, so it is easy to perform. It may not be a strong attack, but a well-timed slap might stun your attacker long enough for you to make a quick escape. You can extend this line of thought to many other forms of attack too; stick with strikes that do not require too much accuracy or complicated movements to be performed effectively. Gouges, rakes, slaps, bites: these are not fancy to look at, but they can be effective means of real self defense for people who lack quality training in more sophisticated methods.
2) A swift kick or knee to the groin of a male opponent, if landed correctly, is guaranteed to weaken even the strongest punk. Real self-defense techniques might not be flashy but they work!
Follow these few tips and you will have an advantage over many people who know nothing about real self-defense applications, but there is so much more to know. Finding yourself out of your depth in a dangerous situation is not the time nor place to realize how much you do not know, so you owe it to yourself to get informed!
Effective self-defense requires more than just a few “karate moves.” It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible. Especially if you are a woman dealing with a larger, stronger, male assailant.
Many sensible aspects of self defense involve avoiding those situations where you may be at risk and also ensuring your personal environment is secure, i.e. correct locks, movement activated lights, alarm systems etc.
The question which arises is, do you or do you not defend yourself? The reality is that you won’t have much time to ponder this question, and even a moment’s hesitation may see you overpowered.
You need to make up your mind and have a plan in advance. Different circumstances will call for a different response. e.g. someone enters your home threatening harm while you are at home with your children?
That example is clear-cut, don’t be hero, even if you are taking self-defense classes! Just cut your losses. So here you have a clear policy.
But what if you encounter someone in your home or a pleasant date turns nasty? Here you have to make another decision, do I fight or give in to them and hope they don’t hurt me too badly. The problem is you don’t know what their intentions are.
What you do know is that a decent normal human being wouldn’t be doing what they are doing. If you are going to fight then you must fight with all your heart, all your resources and all your brains.
Note I didn’t say with all your strength. This is because it is highly likely that your attacker will be stronger than you, if you try to match strength then you will tire faster than them.
The main thing is the intensity of your defense, which must instantly become an attack. Make a lot of noise, scream and yell. Don’t just flail your arms widely in circular motions, use straight-line thrusts to the eyes, throat and face.
If your arms are being held stomp with your feet and thrust forward with your knees, jab with your elbows and bite!
Whenever I discuss some of these aspects of defense some people cringe and think it’s just too much. But imagine yourself being knocked to the ground, kicked punched, raped. Your attacker isn’t going to be gentle, why should you!
Fight and fight until you are exhausted and then keep fighting. So what if you are tired, so what if you can hardly breathe, never give up! Your adrenalin will mostly mask your injuries.
This will certainly gross you out, but if you thrash and fight for your life and you reach a point of utter exhaustion then you may well vomit from the shear effort. If so don’t turn from your attacker but vomit on them. Yuk I hear you say! Survive I say!
The harsh reality is that you may do all you can and are still badly injured, raped or both, but you will know in your heart you did all you could do and this knowledge is sure to speed your physical and emotional recovery.
If you have already been the victim of a violent assault and you didn’t fight back. Don’t blame yourself, don’t look back in regret, you’re not weak; you just didn’t have a plan, you weren’t prepared.
In our world we shouldn’t have to think about such things, people should treat each other with respect, but sometimes life isn’t fair! Take action attend a quality defense class and decide to fight if heaven forbid the situation should arise again.
How being honest will improve your life health and wellness? If you are struggling to have good discipline, honesty has to be the core foundation. Change and punishment will be of any benefit to you if you are not honest. Honesty being the bridge to self-compassion and authenticity. It also helps you to have a realistic and achievable goal. Honesty is essential in that it improve your courage and free you to be your best self. The following are ways in which being honest will improve your life.
Honesty promotes authenticity in life
>Honesty is a reflection of your feeling and thought and people will always judge your discipline depending on how honest are you in your self-expression.
Honesty improves your courage
>The absent of fear is the courage, and courage is doing what you need and wants to do despite your fear. It requires a lot of courage to express and say what you feel. It’s always hard to take patience and discipline, but the fruit of being honesty are enormous.
Honesty demonstrates that you care
>If you are honest to other and yourself, it shows the level of how you care. It also shows respect to others and self-respect because you are discipline. Having good discipline and caring attitude make the person have critical thinking in life. Gentle honest is very appealing and attractive.
Honesty promotes a circle of love
>Being honest establish an example that makes people imitate your discipline, and if people respond honestly it authenticity and creates interpersonal closeness with people. This led to love and created an evolution of loving relationships with other people.
Honesty shows self-acceptance and maturity
>It’s painfully and hurt a lot if a person lacks honesty and discipline. If a mature person shows true expression in a way that reduces painful impact and when other people are hurt, the mature person self-accepting person remains in the interpersonal relationship and work through any pain results experienced by others.
Honesty establishes a connection
>Honesty brings people closer to creating a right connection and forms a setting for the right relationship within peoples thus secure enough, to be honest in their acts. This relationship can empower and invite people to work through person issues.
Honesty being so freeing feels exhilarating
>Being honest and say what you feel and like great, by doing so you reduce the limitation of fear.
Honesty helps reduce garbage
>Withholding information or hiding true feeling led to emotional garbage. Which is known as gunny sacking, it needs a lot of self-defeating energy. If you are honest from the beginning of the interaction, it assists you not to build-up emotional garbage by cleaning out your emotional gunnysack.
Honesty attracts honesty
>Honesty people have an unconscious behavior that makes them attractive to other honest people. A life filled with honest people is somehow enriched.
Honesty and discipline keep you out of trouble
>The fact that people can dig deeper into a hole with full of deceit and lies.so earlier in the beginning don’t go there, being honest and it will help you to keep a clean slate more when you fear the likely consequence.
In conclusion, individuals aren’t honest with themselves about their ability to carry on with the life they need. They recount to themselves false stories regarding why they will never have the love, or body, or cash, or a new profession, their perfect partner or any of their soul’s yearnings to happen.
They start to believe that it’s simply the way it is and there is nothing they can do about it, and I’m sorry to learn, that is just a lie. Presently, if you need the truth you need to borrow somewhere inside and see you truly are, a beautiful, divine individual who has the God offered power to do the thing you think you can’t.
The truth is that you can do whatever it is you need when you believe you can. The fact is you shouldn’t believe these false beliefs you’ve been bolstering yourself about your identity since you are far beyond you have given yourself credit to be. You are who you believe you are!
So today, be honest with yourself. You may not love where you are at this moment in life however that doesn’t imply that things can’t change. As you most likely are aware, life is a voyage, and it’s about getting a charge out of the place you are at this moment along the way that will start to shed light on your days rather than dimness. Your future is yours to make, one loaded with happiness, love, peace of mind or whatever you need. What’s more, that my companions, is the truth!
Martial arts teach people to be morally upright. You will develop the high level of integrity after you enroll in martial arts classes. The trainers will teach you the need to uphold the highest level of integrity if you like to succeed in your life. If you like to succeed in life, you need to be an honest person. You will be trusted by other people to perform different tasks. For instance, you may like to start a joint venture where you need other people to trust you with their resources, the discipline taught in martial arts will make it possible for you to have the necessary virtue which will make it easy for you to work with other people.
Unshakeable Self Confidence
Martial arts make it easy for you to learn on how to stay confident in different situations. The various tactics taught in martial arts make it very easy to develop the skills of martial arts which are very necessary for your struggle to stay confident. You need to develop the high level of confidence so that you will achieve great success in different matters of your life. You will easily handle pressures from your family as well as workplace if you enroll in martial arts where you will acquire the necessary skills.
Improve Heart Health
To be stronger in different aspects of your life, you need good health. The health muscles determine your health to a great extent. People who engage in martial arts are assured of good heart health. The exercises performed in martial arts are closely related to interval training. The short and intense exercises make it easy for you to lose weight to an extent where you will maintain good health for your heart. The activities performed in martial arts have been proved to be effective in the maintenance of good health. This is according to research which has been carried out by medical professionals.
Lowering Cholesterol
Martial arts classes make you lower cholesterol levels in several ways. First, losing weight help you reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your body. The process of losing weight stimulates enzymes which move bad cholesterol from your blood to the liver. The bad cholesterol is then processed and removed from the blood system. The process is very necessary for you to enjoy healthy living.
Lowers Blood Pressure
The exercises in martial arts make your heart muscles stronger. The stronger muscles result to achieving the right blood pressure. People who participate in martial arts classes are less likely to develop the complications of blood pressure. The health complication can lead you to a miserable life, but things will change for good if you decide to go for the martial arts classes.
Regulate Glucose and Insulin Levels
Systemic inflammation, insulin, and glucose levels are associated with diabetes. You will achieve great success in getting rid of diabetes if you will rely on the exercises carried out in martial arts. The Karate and Kung Fu is a lifestyle which you will develop, and it will offer you great success as a way of trying to improve life. You will enjoy your workout session as a way of enjoying your martial arts classes. Strenuous exercises carried out during martial arts classes are very helpful in regulating your blood glucose.
Reduce Systemic Inflammation
Systemic inflammation leads to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia and other conditions. Physical training makes your body release anti-inflammatory substances which are naturally created by the body. The exercises in martial arts help release excess insulin and blood glucose from the body which can lead to inflammation if left to accumulate to high levels. You will quickly lower your systemic inflammation if you engage in martial arts on a regular basis.
Boost Endurance
Martial arts will expose your body to short interval like training. If you are a regular martial arts guy, you will expose your body to basic exercises which will make it easy for you to increase your endurance level. The body will adapt to intense periods of lower intensity exercises which are done over an extended period. This will result in making your body achieve a significant level of endurance. Increased tolerance leads to increased focus and steady energy through your day. It leads to making you more productive.
Develop Excellent Flexibility
As people older, they tend to lose flexibility. But, martial arts are the top ways you can use to stay flexible. The tutors will teach you on how to make different movements. You will learn on how to make hits, kicks, punches and other body movements which will lead you to stay focused in your life. Body muscles, ligaments, and tendons tend to shorten if you will ignore exercises, but things will change for good after you start engaging in martial arts. The frequency of muscle injury will reduce to a great extent after you adopt the martial arts techniques.
Improve Balance
Martial arts expose participants to all planes of movements. The members move forward, backward, side to side and even rotate. It increases the level of balance in people to a great extent. As people age, they tend to lose balance; they can correct the situation if they engage in a martial art where they will learn on how to make different movements. With time, the muscles will get used to the changes which make it easy for them to achieve the high level of balance.
Develop Muscle Tone
The martial arts techniques get you exercise different muscles. You will use your body weight to make different movements. This in effect leads to significant muscle development. The total body training makes it easy for you to achieve muscle tone similar to the one performed by military personnel or athletes who train on a regular basis. Martial arts are fun; you will not feel like you are under a punishment when in karate training. You have close friends who will encourage you to overcome different challenges so that you will raise the ranks. Other benefits of martial arts include getting rid of stubborn fats, improving your metabolism and achieving mental toughness.
Motivation is a common commodity when you’re heading to the beach or shopping for a new car. But some tasks are not enjoyable, and motivation can be challenging to find causing you to lose the discipline to succeed. Keeping discipline is a skill, and there are several techniques that can be helpful. The ability to motivate yourself to maintain discipline is among the most important skills you can have.
Try these tips when you feel you can’t stay disciplined:
Keep your attention on the end result rather than the process of getting there. When you find yourself getting bogged down with a large project, remind yourself of the goal. It’s challenging to get started when it’s necessary to put in 100 hours of work or to lose 50 lbs. If your motivation is waning, focus on how great you’ll feel when the objective has been met.
Schedule regular breaks. Working for 8 hours straight might seem daunting, but knowing that you can take a break in 60 minutes can free up your mind enough to focus intently for an hour. Approach your work 60 minutes at time and you’ll be done before you know it.
Stand up and move around.Short period of intense exercise can improve creativity, sharpen the mind, and decrease stress. Find an activity appropriate for your environment.
Give yourself rewards as milestones are reached. Think of a few self-indulgences that you consider motivating. Break your work into reasonable chunks and give yourself a small reward as the milestones are met.
These rewards can be very small. A cup of coffee or a short break might be enough to get through a rough patch.
Do whatever it takes to get started.It’s surprising how motivation can seemingly appear from nowhere if you can just take the first step. Waiting for inspiration to get started is a mistake. You’re likely to notice that the work wasn’t nearly as disagreeable as you thought. You’ll probably be impressed with your progress and begin to feel motivated.
Whether it’s writing one sentence, making one phone call, or doing one pushup, do whatever it takes to get the ball rolling.
Find inspiration through a song or video. YouTube is loaded with inspirational movie clips and presentations. Maybe there is a particular song that motivates you. A couple of minutes spent on this sort of activity can be well worth the time. Consider listening to a favorite song or watching a video on your break time.
Avoid getting distracted and wasting hours. Five minutes is enough!
Use a timer. A timer is a very effective way to focus the mind and get things done. Knowing that the seconds are ticking away is very motivating.
Having a timer also eliminates the questions of deciding how much to do or when to stop and take a break. You stop when the timer stops.
Make a list of the benefits you’ll receive upon completion. Will you finally have the money to pay all of your bills and take a trip? Will you be proud to show off your body at the beach? Can you realize your dream of gaining acceptance into graduate school?
Keep the list handy and review it whenever your motivation is lacking.
Being a Martial Arts instructor I have seen what kind of success can come from learning to be disciplined in your life, but it’s tough. Strive to further develop your ability to motivate yourself. Discipline is a powerful tool for creating a successful life. Remember that the most challenging task can be to take the first step. Get started and you’ll find that your motivation begins to grow!
Martial Arts is an amazing way to stay engaged while you workout. If you don’t do Martial Arts ask yourself, “Do you look forward to your workouts?” If not, you’re more likely to come up with reasons to skip a session or two. As missed sessions become more common, you’ll lose the health and fitness benefits that made you want to exercise in the first place, so it’s important to keep things fun.
Consider these tips to bring some fun into your exercise time:
Analyze your current workout. If your exercise time is less than fulfilling, an analysis of your current workout will help you identify why you’re not happy.
Does the thought of using the Stairmaster make you want to cry? Do you try to come up with excuses to avoid running? If your workout makes you sad, it’s time to reevaluate how you exercise.
Consider why you’re unhappy and search for solutions that will work with your lifestyle. Would taking a group class make you more likely to exercise? Do you simply need a different type of workout?
Consider signing up for a Martial Arts class at a local gym or other venue. They are fun and engaging and most have a belt system that can act to give you motivation to workout consistently.
Add a friend. Exercising alone can get boring, but a good friend can change how you think about your workout.
Do you hate to exercise alone? Finding a friend who is also trying to get in shape can help both of you by making the workout more fun.
A study, titled “The Influence of Partner’s Behavior on Health Behavior Change,” found that adding a partner to your workout can help. Researchers learned that it makes you five times more likely to exercise.
If your workout requires a partnering up for a portion of it, like in a Martial Arts class, then you and your friend are less likely to skip and let each other down.
Turn it into a game with rewards. Games can make your workout more fun. This will motivate you to keep going and stay active.
You don’t have to be competitive or combative to enjoy the spiritedness of Martial Arts. The great thing is that most of the time you are only competing against yourself and where you were yesterday.
Add music. Do you have music playing in the background as you do your cardio? Music has a powerful impact on exercise. There is a reason why you hear loud music in gyms.
A study, titled “Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis,” found that music can actually make you better at exercising. The study also found that music makes the workout seem easier and more fun.
In Martial Arts classes, often times music will be used to increase the intensity. However, if there is not any music, it is acceptable and encouraged that you yell in class; that get’s everyone going.
Find someone to emulate. Channel your inner Bruce Lee.
Even if you can’t bring yourself to pretend like you’re an action movie star, you can always find someone who is doing something impressive and try to copy or mimic him or her. You never know, you might accomplish something you never thought you would.
Change your workout environment. Workout someplace that will give you a change of scenery. Sometime going to the gym everyday, the only thing that changes is if someone new shows up and happens to be using the piece of equipment you normally use.
Exercising outdoors can make your workout more enjoyable. Researchers found that the outdoors helps you forget the pain while you focus on your surroundings.
Martial Arts classes are often structured differently each time you go. You may work on different techniques and with different partners each time you come to class
Post motivational notes. Putting notes to encourage exercise wherever you might see them during your day can help you stay in shape. Research shows that even simple things like smiley faces can have a positive impact on your workout.
Spend some time writing inspiring notes to yourself. Consider writing funny quotes to help you stay inspired to work out.
Achieving new rank is like telling yourself that you’ve gotten better. It can be a constant affirmation every time that you put it on.
Add variety. Do you do the same exercise routine every day? The same workout can get boring over time. Consider trying new exercises you’ve never done before. Also, think about exercise in different ways.
Dancing can be a great way to burn calories and stay in shape. Do you have a dance you love?
Playing sports is a workout too. Organize teams with your family and friends or join community teams and have some fun!
Of course Martial Arts fits here as well.
Your workouts can be more fun with a few simple adjustments. Make exercise a better experience with these tips and you’ll find that fitness can be fun!
If you want to eat healthy, start planning ahead. A little foresight will help you to learn new habits when it comes to choosing nutritious foods and assembling balanced meals. Take a look at these 5 benefits of deciding what to eat ahead of time, along with strategies you can use when you’re dining at home or visiting your favorite restaurant.
Benefits of Planning Ahead
Discover healthier choices. You have a wide variety of ingredients to choose from when you’re mulling over your eating plan in advance. Try out exotic vegetables or fruits. Experiment with a recipe for slimming down a cream sauce.
Resist temptation. It’s easier to turn down corn chips when you have wasabi hummus and baby carrots on hand. Find lower calorie substitutes for junk food.
Enjoy food more. Anticipation heightens any pleasure. Look forward to the special brunch you’ve arranged for Sunday morning instead of settling for the same old dry cereal you eat every day.
Track your progress. It’s easier to evaluate your diet when you can remember what you ate for lunch yesterday. Planning ahead gives you more accurate data to enter into your weight loss diary or your mobile fitness app.
Manage your busy schedule. Maybe your days are jam packed with soccer games and sales reports. Advance preparations may be the only way to stay on top of caring for your health.
Strategies to Use at Home
Shop smart. Bring home groceries that are good for your heart and waistline. Fill your cart with fresh produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Cut down on processed foods.
Rearrange your kitchen. If you still want to keep some brownies around, put them out of reach. On the other hand, park a bowl of apples in the middle of your kitchen counter so they’ll be the first thing that you reach for.
Design menus. Exercise your creativity. Turn weekday dinners into 3-course feasts. Round off your main course with a simple soup and a fruit parfait for dessert.
Cook in batches. Focus on make-ahead meals. That way you can cook once while feeding your family two or three times. Prepare chili or lasagna. Freeze the leftovers and reheat them when you arrive home after working late at the office.
Measure portions. Spending more time on food preparation gives you time to become familiar with eyeballing portion sizes. Practice identifying one ounce of cheese. It’s about as big as a pair of dice.
Strategies to Use for Eating Out
Carry snacks. Dine out without sabotaging your good intentions. Bring along whole wheat crackers or a handful of nuts to munch on before you walk into the restaurant. You’re more likely to order a light dish like grilled fish if you feel slightly full.
Call ahead. Place a call or go online to check out your options before you reserve a table. Many restaurants post their full menus. Look for calorie counts for each dish or any special sections for dieters. Phone ahead to see if the kitchen will take custom orders.
Enlist support. Studies show that our table companions have a big influence on how many calories we consume. If your friends are hearty eaters, you may want to invite them out for a ball game instead of a steak dinner. When dining in a group, try ordering first. You may find that your friends will join you in asking for broccoli instead of French fries.
Maintain a healthy weight by creating an eating plan and sticking to it. Planning ahead provides the structure you need to make wholesome foods part of your busy lifestyle.
Martial Arts instructors see a variety of body image issues in their classes every day. From young children to adults, they have important lessons about how people perceive their own bodies and the bodies of others.
The way you view your body is important for overall health and fitness.
Use these strategies to develop a positive body image and gain the advantage of stronger mental and physical health:
Understand why body image matters. How do you feel after you look in the mirror? Do you love your body, or are you constantly searching for new flaws?
It’s easy to become preoccupied with external appearances. Do you see every flaw and feel imperfect? Do you worry about how others perceive you? Your mind forms your opinions of body images.
Body image issues are tied to self-esteem and confidence. They’re also part of overall emotional health, so unhealthy opinions can have a strong negative impact on your life.
Focus more on what your body can do and it will change how you look at yourself
Challenge stereotypes. Martial Arts instructors see a huge variety of body shapes and sizes. The human body is not restricted to a specific mold. Everyone isn’t the same height or weight. Accepting this variety will help you to challenge stereotypes related to body image.
It’s important to understand that one body type isn’t the correct way to exist. There is no ideal weight, height, or shape on the planet. The universe has created a variety of shapes and sizes for a reason. Diversity makes things more fun and avoids boredom.
It’s also crucial to understand that exercise doesn’t produce the same results in each person. One person may lose weight faster, and another may gain muscle slower.
The stereotype of a stick-thin model or muscular man has to change. Martial Arts instructors recommend avoiding these stereotypes and focusing on your own body. What do you think is your ideal shape?
Martial Arts instructors will be the first to tell you that body type does not determine success. Every body type has the ability to do so much. Martial Artists learn to use their bodies in the most effective way. Shape does not determine ability.
Find positive role models. A good role model can help guide you to better health.
Your Martial Arts instructor could make a good role model, but there are also other options. Have you watched in awe as 90-year old women practices Tai Chi in the park?
Positive role models don’t have to come out of magazines, television shows, or gyms. They can be normal people who stay in shape and love their bodies. They don’t have to be triathletes to inspire you.
A positive role model can help you to see how a good body image can help make life better.
Focus on healthy eating. A negative body image can lead to eating disorders and other concerns.
Obsessive calorie counting and worrying can be a serious issue. Martial Arts instructors see punishments for messing up a diet or eating something sweet. All of these issues are linked to a poor body image.
With healthy eating, flexibility is at the heart of the meal plans.
Experts recommend consulting dieticians and nutritionists to work on eating disorders.
It’s important to allow yourself to have cheat days or cheat foods, so your body isn’t constantly craving certain foods. Eating these items in moderation can help you stick to a healthy diet.
Avoid judging others. The judgment you pass on others often transfers to yourself.
Instead of criticizing others, focus on positive aspects of their body. This will help you see positive points in your own body image.
A positive body image is essential to overall health. If your body image is suffering, then consider these tips from Martial Arts instructors.
Finding the motivation to exercise is sometimes challenging. It can be tempting to loll around on the couch instead of climbing onto the treadmill. Try these three easy secrets that will get you moving.
Surround Yourself With Green
Understand the power of green.A recent university study found that cyclists who watched a nature video through a green filter said it increased their motivation. They even felt like they were expending less effort while working out at the same intensity.
Head outdoors. Put natural settings and the color green to work for you. Take a bike ride in the fresh air and enjoy the scenic beauty.
Bring in plants. Plants make any space more luxuriant. They’ll also improve the air quality while they sit there looking pretty.
Redecorate your exercise space. Create an accent wall in your home gym and paint it aquamarine. Shop around for a chartreuse exercise mat.
Dress the part. If you work out regularly, you need to replace your clothes anyway from time to time. Choose your next leotard or sneakers in a shade of green. If pink is still your favorite color, you can always get a green headband or water bottle.
Have Fun
Pair off with an exercise buddy. A workout partner introduces a sense of accountability that makes it tougher to find excuses for skipping the gym. Socializing also adds to the enjoyment, especially if you find someone who makes you laugh.
Take a class. Discover the satisfaction of learning a new dance move or improving your tennis swing. Share a sense of camaraderie with your fellow students.
Listen to music. Check your community calendars for fitness events featuring popular DJs or live music. Put together your own soundtrack for home work outs. Any kind of music is good if it makes you feel like dancing.
Seek out new settings. Get off your treadmill and try a new jogging trail. Anticipate the thrills of scuba diving on your next vacation while you’re doing laps at the public pool. Changing your environment will keep you feeling fresh.
Pay attention to your body. Gradually, you’ll find that physical activity comes with its own rewards. Luxuriate in how peaceful your body feels during a yoga pose. Welcome the way a long run melts away the stress that builds up at the office.
Set Specific Goals
Improve your health. Talk with your doctor if you’re working out to alleviate certain medical conditions. Achieving lower blood sugar or cholesterol could be the best inspiration of all.
Change your measurements. Losing weight is a sensible goal for many, but reducing abdominal fat may be an even better indicator of progress. Celebrate every inch you take off your waist. You’ll look better and reduce your risk of heart disease and other serious conditions.
Increase your strength. Powerful physiques are good for office workers as well as bodybuilders. Strong muscles and bones protect you from injuries and make daily activities like keeping up with your grandchildren easier. As a bonus, lean muscle tissue burns calories more efficiently than fat.
Enhance your performance. Maybe you play competitive sports or just like to beat your own past records. Set targets that will help you monitor your progress. You could run a slightly longer distance each week or gradually increase the amount of weight that you can bench press.
You know exercise is good for you, but you may still need a little help getting to like it. These simple motivations will get you on your feet and have you looking forward to your next workout.
