Who needs martial arts and physical self-defense? We have firearms, wars are fought from afar, and this is the safest time in history to be alive. Therefore, there’s no reason to train martial arts anymore, correct? False. Physical self-defense is still an important skill. However, martial arts training goes far beyond just physical self-defense. It even goes beyond general self-protection. Even if world peace broke out and not a single violent attack ever happened again, martial arts would still be a useful skill to learn. Martial arts training goes far beyond just physical hand to hand combat. I’m going to outline a handful of aspects that martial arts training develops. Know that the benefits of martial arts are endless. In order to stick to brevity, I’m just going to just briefly cover a few different areas of focus where benefits are gained.

The Physical Benefits

Let’s start with the benefits in the same realm as personal protection. While proper training can develop your physical skills, personal protection goes beyond just a physical self-defense. Improved balance, body control, and body conditioning are all things that anyone can benefit from. While most martial arts systems don’t place much effort into building physical strength or endurance, just the act of going through the physical movements of an art form develops neurological connections with the muscles that considerably improves strength and muscle endurance.

Another skill that many martial arts train, is falling techniques. The average person, if forcefully or accidentally, fell to the ground, they would fall improperly. This may lead to broken bones, dislocated joints, torn muscles and concussions. Most people, especially as we age, will fall at some point. So many injuries could be avoided from these falls if we properly trained falling techniques.

These physical benefits will help anyone, not just those looking to learn self-defense.

The Mental Benefits

A more overlooked set of benefits martial arts trains is the mental benefits. Increased confidence is something many know is associated with martial arts. However, I’ve found that many people don’t know the connection. In part, it’s due to the confidence you gain by feeling you can handle yourself in a physical conflict. Yet, there is more to the improved confidence than just that.

Many people have confidence issues due to the fear of failure, fear of criticism, and the assumption that others are better than oneself. Martial arts training forces one to fail constantly. Yet, nothing but good things result from it. Your instructor will critique your technique regularly, and that too makes you better. And most importantly, you begin to see how important you are as fellow students will rely on you for help, even as a beginner. A student essentially experiences and faces their worst-case scenarios they fear most, but in a controlled environment. Not only do they get through it, but they are better for it and see rewards from it. This is how the confidence is built.

In this same vein as confidence lays leadership skills. One of the biggest elements in training my mid to higher rank students is learning how to lead. I place students in leadership roles regularly in my youth classes. Something as simple as having a youth student lead the class through stretches or an exercise is powerful. Even if they are just regurgitating what I told them to do, it helps build their leadership skills and boost their confidence.

I first started teaching when I was about sixteen years old. The majority of the students I was teaching were older than I was. Yet, they listened, and even showed respect as they knew that I was knowledgeable in what I was teaching due to my confidence. How often does a sixteen-year-old get a chance to talk to a group of older adults and they, in turn, listen, respect and trust the guidance of that sixteen-year-old? It never happened to me in any other scenario.

Calmness and stress relief are more benefits that come from training. For myself, the second I walk onto the floor, any and all stress and negative thoughts disappear instantly. Teaching and training are two of my greatest joys in life. The positivity from that doesn’t allow the negativity to reside while focused on those two things. Many students have claimed the same stress relief upon entering the studio. Add in the act of beating on a heavy bag until all energy and stress is let out, and the stress relief benefits become quite vast.

Calmness comes about due to the lack of stress and the confidence of knowing how to handle a situation or altercation. That calmness can de-escalate a possible altercation. Many altercations turn physical because each person escalates the situation through anger or yelling. Person A gets upset over something person B does. Person B reacts by feeling talked down to and yells back louder. Person A does the same in return. Eventually, you can only yell so loud and provide witty degrading quips so long before the next step becomes physical acts of violence. If either person A or B stays calm and never elevates the situation with anger, then there is no logical reason why a physical altercation will result.

Lastly, as it relates to the mental benefits, is controlling fear. All of the above mentioned can combine to improve this aspect. It’s important to note that fear isn’t a bad thing. The way we react to it can be a bad thing. If fear overwhelms you, it can trigger the sympathetic nervous system – SNS – to activate. This is more commonly known as fight, flight or freeze. This is not a good state of mind to be in as it’s a survival mechanism, not a thriving state of mind. Tunnel vision, restricted blood flow to extremities leading to loss of fine and complex motor skills, as well as a lack of cognitive thought process – decision making, logic, rationalizing, etc. – , are just a few of the negative effects from this system.

The best way to control fear is to understand what is causing it and recognizing that fear is the result of what you think might happen and not what is actually happening. Essentially, experience helps you control that fear. Training how to deal with altercations and failure are huge elements in improving your control of fear. Many martial arts schools teach breath control, which also helps negate the effects of fear and the SNS activation. It can even keep you from activating the SNS.

Professional Benefits

The last set of benefits I’d like to mention are those that are most over-looked, professional benefits. Virtually no one thinks about how martial arts can improve your career. Unless, of course, your career is that of a Mixed Martial Arts fighter, then it’s quite obvious! Even those that live in cubical land can reap the benefits of martial arts training. So can students wanting to improve their chances of being accepted into a prestigious college.

Any amount of martial arts training on a resume or college application is a benefit. Listing that you have earned a black belt is even better. What’s best is listing that you hold a leadership role at the school you train in. Not only does this show that you have drive and commitment, but it also shows that you have leadership skills and a willingness to give back and help others. Both colleges and employers love seeing this. I went on three major interviews near the end of my final year of college, earning a degree in Architectural Drafting.

All three interviewers noticed that I held a black belt in a martial art and was a certified instructor, teaching multiple nights each week. In every interview, we spent nearly half the interview discussing my time in martial arts. My college courses and skills in my field of study were barely even mentioned. Not only that, but my knowledge of martial arts gave me confidence in the interview. We were discussing what I knew best! I was a huge introvert, but not when it comes to discussing martial arts.

There is no doubt in my mind that my martial arts training played a large role in me getting job offers. This held true numerous years later when I changed careers and interviewed for a fitness trainer position at a local gym. Virtually the entire interview was discussing martial arts as the manager was an active martial artist himself. Not to mention his questions of whether or not I could train someone was answered immediately upon knowing I was a martial arts instructor. Martial arts training can also build your network and social group. It’s one of the few activities that does not care about your social status, income level, talent level, age, gender, size or strength. You’ll meet all sorts of people in martial arts. I’ve seen numerous students become great friends with fellow students that they would never have met outside of class. I’ve even seen victims befriend their school bullies through martial arts. Everyone is placed on a level ground in the martial arts studio. Looking to build your business up with new clients, join a martial arts studio!

There is one more benefit in the professional category that I’d like to mention that I discuss in my self-defense classes. The question I ask during these courses is as follows: A fellow employee approaches you and frantically tells you that their child was just sent to the hospital and they need to take off early. However, they must get a project finished. They ask you if you would be so kind as to finish the project for them as a favor so they can leave early. What is your response?

Most good people will say yes. That’s very nice of you to just say yes. But when the next emergency pops up and they need help again, who do you think they will go to? You, again. And it may keep happening. And one day, they get a promotion for always getting their projects finished. And you, get scolded for always being behind on getting your projects done…due to always working on their projects.

This is the worst-case scenario, obviously, but still possible. Does this mean you need to tell them, “No! I’m glad your child is in the hospital, he’s a jerk!” Of course not. What I’m getting at here is that you need to set a clear boundary. Be that nice person and help them out, but also state that this is a one-time thing. Or maybe trade and say you’ll help them today if they can help you with a project tomorrow. By doing this, you’ve helped them out as well as set a very clear boundary that you will not be the go-to person for help unless they help you in return. They will know next time to either go to someone else, or to be prepared to help you in return.

This may not seem like it has anything to do with martial arts training, but it does. For one, I specifically cover this scenario in classes and courses when we discuss boundaries, prevention and awareness tactics. Secondly, everything listed above – confidence, take-charge attitude, and calmness – all help you make these decisions and boundaries. Someone who lacks these skills may be frazzled just by someone asking for their help or may be quick to help others just because they were asked. This leads to being taken advantage of, personally and professionally. The skill and confidence to stand up to someone to protect yourself goes beyond just the physical or school bully. Even good people will take advantage of you if you do not set clear boundaries.

The benefits I’ve mentioned in this blog are just the tip of the iceberg. I hope, if you didn’t already know, you understand the powerful benefits of martial arts training in this technology driven age where physical altercations are thankfully dropping in rates. The physical self-defense movements of martial arts training are simply a vessel for developing human potential. Look past the high kicks and throwing someone over your shoulder and see martial arts on a deeper level!