There Is More To Martial Arts Than Just Fighting

Many people have a wrong notion that if they teach martial arts to their kids, the kids may become aggressive or even violent. This is far from true. It is true that development of martial arts has been based on the fact that it is a combat weapon that may mainly be useful for the purpose of self-defense. But, you can derive a lot of health benefits also from them. You should make it a point to choose the right teacher. Especially, if you want your kid to learn martial arts, you should do your research carefully and choose the right teacher. Otherwise, the kid may become aggressive. But, the right teacher can transform a violent kid also into a calm child.

The fact of the matter is that martial arts do not encourage violence. This art of fighting alone teaches the students to empathize with the pains of the opponents.

If you want your kid to learn some kind of martial arts, you should begin the coaching only after the child attains the age of six. This is because only then, the child may have developed the neuro-muscular coordination. They can execute the required control only from this age. Cognitive ability will also be there only from this age and so, the kids can easily understand the instructions of the teacher.

In fact, all the combat forms are called martial arts. You have many varieties like Karate, Kung Fu, Judo and so on. You also have the Korean martial art form called Tae Kwan Do. The modern varieties like kick-boxing and the age-old Kalari Payittu of India are also there. So, you should choose the right form of martial art for your kid to learn. But, almost all these arts have become highly competition-oriented.

If you choose the right instructor, the teacher will coach your kids not only the competition-oriented techniques but self-defense techniques also. A right instructor will ensure to stick to the original form of the martial art. The instructor will teach the principles of the art first and then only, he will go to the techniques.

While choosing the instructor, you should check if the school and the instructors are recognized by the international forums or federations.

Since these arts are taught in a group, your kids will learn social skills also. At the same time, since they are mostly competition-oriented, kids will learn to exhibit their individual skills also. But, you should instill in the minds of your kids that learning is more important than winning in competitions.

Another great benefit is that your kids will learn to face crisis situations they may face in life. Their reflexes will also become sharp, their self-discipline may improve and their self-confidence may increase a lot. 

Physical Fitness Will Lead To Mental Alertness

Most of us know that regular exercises and eating nutritious food are the secrets for physical fitness. But, we may not know that these are good for mental fitness also. Especially, today's leaders and managers need to be mentally alert to face the stiff competition that is rampant in every field. That is the reason these people are advised to eat well, that too, on time and exercise regularly. Since their services are highly needed in their chosen fields, they can not afford to lag behind because if they are mentally not alert, they will be easily surpassed by their competitors.



Experts have done extensive research and found out that regular exercises promote physical, mental and emotional well-being and so, the performance of these leaders and managers will become more efficient if they do regular exercises. Another important point is that doing these regular exercises should be an ongoing process and the minimum duration of exercises for these people as advised by experts is one hour per day.



If these people fail to follow this routine, they may fall ill more quickly than other normal people because they face more tension and stress than them. The problem is if they fall ill, they may be forced to take rest for more number of days, which will prove to be very costly for them. Instead of facing such a situation, they can better do their exercises and keep themselves fit and healthy.



The fitness regimen advised for these managers and leaders should consist of those exercises that use all the three systems of the body namely, the cardiovascular system, the muscular and skeletal system and the venous system. This will help them to combat stress and tension and they can also be mentally alert. Cardiovascular exercises help them to have a good blood circulation, exercises using muscles and bones will improve their endurance levels and strength-training and agility exercises will improve their flexibility. They will be less prone to injuries and they can have a fast healing from injuries, even if they sustain any.



In addition to doing exercises regularly, they should take care of the foods they eat. They should switch to foods that contain unsaturated carbohydrates, fresh fruits, vegetables and fish instead of junk foods, processed foods and oily and spicy foods.



If these people follow this advice, their mental and physical fitness will improve phenomenally. This will happen secretly and in a subtle manner. Experts say that the mitochondria of these people will increase and this will help them in being alert both physically and mentally.