Talking about martial arts and weight loss, the truth that you should learn beforehand is this: It is not just a work out regiment.
Karate is a way of life. It is a way of training the mind, the spirit and the body. You are equipping yourself with all the tools you will need to succeed in life, and not just in staying in shape, nor just in winning a fight should you be attacked. A person who has mastered the martial arts will be happier, healthier, clearer of mind and more successful than they would be had they not studied Karate.
If you\’ve ever lost interest in a workout plan, it\’s because, at the end of the day, all you\’re really doing is moving weights up and down, or running in one place on a treadmill for hours on end. There is physical change, but there\’s very little in the way of meaningful growth beyond just getting in shape, and sadly, getting in shape isn\’t really enough of a motivator to, well, get in shape, at least not for most people.
This isn\’t mysticism we\’re talking about here, but a kind of philosophy, a way of life that helps to redefine you. A person who hits the gym is just a person who hits the gym. A person who practices martial arts is a martial artist. Beyond the personal growth, you are also part of an ancient and significant tradition.
You are training your mind, your body, and your spirit to become a martial artist, a living weapon. It is through this that you do not grow tired or disappointed at slow results, and you keep coming back, day after day, because the dojo is where you belong. You\’re a fighter, and you can\’t wait for the next sparring session.
If it sounds like we\’re oversimplifying it, we\’re really not. It\’s sort of that Zen perfection that makes it so simple and so addictive. You go to the dojo because it\’s where you want to be, where you feel you need to be, and not because the world tells you that you need to weigh X pounds if you\’re Y feet and Z inches tall.
In essence, the decision to practice martial arts must not be made lightly. Karate is a path of personal growth, and you should know that you are ready when you begin.
But back to the original question: Are the fighting arts an efficient method of weight loss? Oh absolutely. In fact, the fighting arts may well be the best form of weight loss. It\’s not just exercise, it\’s a full physical training program. Your entire body changes and develops and grows in ways that you didn\’t think possible. You work up a sweat and you use every muscle in your body. You\’ll even learn how to control your internal organs in ways to make you stronger and faster. Ironically, by the time you notice the weight loss take place, the weight loss will be beside the point. You\’ll have been on such a journey of self discovery and development that it will feel like you didn\’t even work those pounds off, rather, it\’s just a by product of this life you\’ve chosen for yourself.
This article was submitted by Dustin Fennell, black belt in American Tae Kwon Do and owner of Martial Arts Equipment Direct, where you can get high quality MMA gloves such as the GTMA Padded Leather Grappling Gloves at a good price.
categories: weight loss,marital arts,healthy lifestyle,lose weight,staying active,fun weight loss
