Eradicating Misconceptions. Empowering All People, All Ages.
Fiction: Martial arts is rough and dangerous! It's a sport that only tough guys get into.
Fact: Women, men, teens, children, mature adults- with hundreds of different disciplines and styles, everyone can find the right martial art to match their unique set of needs and lifestyle goals. You can go at your own pace and your martial art instructor will work with you to get the perfect mix of fun and a challenge!
Fiction: Martial arts is best applied as an after-school activity for my kids.
Fact: Martial Arts is a phenomenal youth activity, but ask many serious adult martial artists how they got into it and you may find that they got tired of watching their kids have all the fun! The best thing about martial arts is that it is appropriate for any age. With countless martial art disciplines and various class types and levels of intensity, anyone from toddlers to mature adults can enjoy martial arts too! Many atheletes, from high school to a collegiate level also often find that martial arts is a great off-season or cross training activity.
Fiction: Martial arts for women is usually just self-defense and anti-rape classes.
Fact: Women can find as much or more benefit from martial arts as any other fitness activity. Calories burned from martial arts rivals that of nearly any other activity you might choose to do. We did the research! The well-rounded martial art workout can build strength, endurance, and flexiblity, not to mention self-esteem and confidence.
Fiction: Overweight people will struggle with martial arts.
Fact: Martial Arts is a great way to kick-start your weight loss goals. Your martial art instructor will support you as you train together to reduce your weight. You will find that no matter what your current size or fitness level - you CAN do martial arts and enjoy it!
Fiction: Martial Arts will teach my children violence.
Fact: In a study where at-risk juvenile children were taught a complete martial arts curriculum, parents and teachers acutally noted a drop in hostility, violence, and discontent for their fellow students. Martial arts provided them with both the structure and discipline necessary to overcome the previously violent tendancies they had before they started taking the class.
Fiction: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a rough sport for men.
Fact: MMA is actually a very popular fitness alternative for all shapes, sizes, ages and genders. By integrating techniques from a variety of mainstream martial arts with real-life training scenarios, participants really get a full-body workout. While you can certainly participate in a full-contact MMA class if you like, there are many non-contact fitness driven MMA alternatives available.
Are you a parent? You can learn more about martial arts for your child here.
Do you have a newsworthy article? Email a link to 411@thekickereffect.org today!
Ready, Set... Martial Arts Article by Joe McGurk for Weight Watchers
The martial arts are literally the “arts of warriors” but they’re not only for summoning your inner Chuck Norris. They can be a great way to get fit, stay that way — and learn a little self-defense. Read More.
A Review of the Effects of Martial Arts Practice on Health
Martial Arts: An Activity for the Entire Family
Article by Wendy Jane Henson
When I mention to strangers that I once studied karate, they usually give me a quizzical look. "Really?" they say. Or "You're kidding!" A co-worker chuckled, "Why would you want to do a thing like that?"
It was a good question. Why did I do it? What made a mild-mannered office clerk don baggy white pajamas and learn karate? A mad desire to punch someone's lights out? Not really.
The primary motivation came from my kids. I mean, when a single mother is raising three boys, all of whom want to be black belts, she better do something.
ADHD and Tae kwon do – Your Child’s Success Strategy Article by Kalynn Amadio. April 2011
The child that has ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is gifted. This special child is creative and spontaneous with the ability to hyper focus on any interesting task.
On the flip side, that same child can be difficult to parent due to frequent distractibility, impulsiveness, aggressiveness and hyperactivity. These traits usually define the ADHD child to the outside world and label them as “troublemakers” which can irreparably damage self-esteem. Read More
Oklahoma City Woman, 68, Getting a Kick Out of Martial Arts Article by David Zizzo
Hadley always had athletic ability. And grit.
When she was 11, back when a personal flotation device consisted of an inner tube around the waist, Hadley took up water skiing. “My dad told me everything to do except to let go when you fall,” she said. The girl was dragged almost to the lake bottom, but held on. “I came up chewing the same gum I went down with.”
In her later years, however, Hadley slacked off. At 60, her weight rose to 156 and she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. That wake-up call prompted her to hit the treadmill every day for three years. But it wasn't until she began helping care for her three grandchildren that she found her latest passion, taekwondo. Read More
Martial Arts Offers Extraordinary Fitness and Health Benefits to People in Their 40's and 50's
Article by Mike Adams
It's not just for fighting: new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that people in their 40's and 50's who regularly practice martial arts demonstrate astounding levels of physical fitness in comparison to people the same age who don't exercise at all. The study subjects who practiced martial arts had 12% less body fat, were able to do twice as many sit-ups, had enhanced flexibility and leg strength, demonstrated a stronger immune system and showed greatly improved balance. Read More
The Benefits of Taking Martial Arts Lessons with Your Child Article by Brandon Miller
When I started studying Karate at the age of 13, my mom joined with me. We had a great time learning, practicing at home together, and preparing each other for belt tests and competitions. There were lots of families in our martial arts organization that studied together. Here are some benefits to taking martial arts lessons with your child. Read More
Choosing the Right Martial Arts Training for You Article by John Benedetto
There are many reasons to begin martial arts training, at any age. Martial Arts of all styles offer many benefits such as exercise, improved balance and coordination, endurance, and confidence. However, depending on your reasoning for starting a martial art, the style you choose can have a significant effect on your experience. Read More
