The Fitness Advantages of Each Martial Art

The Fitness Advantages of Each Martial Art Practicing a martial art is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health. Martial arts have the advantage of not only teaching self-defense, but greatly increasing physical health. By practicing a martial art, you avoid the eventual boredom and burnout of a regular workout, and you gain a useful skill as well as gain life-long confidence. i this article we explore the fitness advantage of each martial art. The following is a list of martial arts and their various health benefits. Muay Thai Originating in Thailand, Muay Thai is a very high impact form of martial art. It incorporates the whole body to form an attack, using punches, kicks, elbows and knees. Many MMA fighters use this form of martial art. Because all parts of the body are used in Muay Thai, it is an excellent cardiovascular strengthener and fat burner. Students of Muay Thai are very lean and muscular as the martial art conditions the body to operate at its finest. It also aids in preventing injuries from every day accidents such as falling or tripping, by having conditioned the body to respond to a fall in a manner that will prevent an injury. Traditional Boxing Although a history of boxing, also known as Pugilism in its earlier days, can be found in many different countries, a history of it was first recorded in Britain. Boxing is a martial art that focuses on punching and being agile while on your feet; no kicking is allowed. Many boxers are not quite as lean as other martial artists, yet are still smaller than body builders. This is because boxing requires agility in the ring. Given the nature of boxing, with its strength training and high intensity workouts, it is a fantastic fat shredder. The arms and shoulders not only gain plenty of muscle tone and mass, but the abs and back are greatly strengthened as well, as they are what provides power to the punches. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu The origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be traced back to the Gracie family, who were trained in the Japanese martial art of Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a viciously violent martial art that practices moves such as eye gouging and joint locks. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent way to condition your entire body. It builds strength, muscle and flexibility. Typical training in Jiu-Jitsu includes resistance training, cardiovascular training as well as stretching for optimal flexibility. An added benefit to training in Jiu-Jitsu is guaranteed weight loss and muscle toning. Kali A Filipino martial art, Kali originated as a defensive martial art practiced by Philippine natives as a way to ward off invaders. It focuses on being able to fight with weapons as well as transitioning to weapon-free fighting with grace and fluidity. Modern Kali teaches weapon fighting, grappling, throwing, striking and in some instances, biting when facing an opponent. Kali is a fast-paced sport that requires swift and agile movement. It increases eye hand coordination, strengthens the upper body and improves speed. The aerobic Kali sessions not only burn fat and strengthen the heart, it also improves the body’s reflexes and response time. Jeet Kune Do Developed by legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do is a well-balanced martial art that teaches you to defend yourself at both striking and grappling ranges. Jeet Kune Do emphasizes speed, smooth transitions and movements, and using your opponent’s own momentum against them. Because Jeet Kune Do places an emphasis on speed, it is great for improving your reflexes, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination. It is also provides a fast paced workout optimal for burning calories and improving your cardio. Conclusion Different styles of martial arts will harmonize the mind and body, strengthen the heart, burn fat, tone muscle, and improve eye-hand coordination. The benefits of learning a martial art are far-reaching, both for mind and body. Training in a martial art is something you can devote a lifetime to—a lifetime of mental health, discipline, and fitness. Hope you enjoyed this article on the fitness advantage of each martial art!