Humanity has been developing martial arts for millennia. It’s something that’s been in our DNA as long as we have had civilisation. But it goes deeper than that. Martial arts came out of the ancient need to survive. Warring tribes had to develop combat skills in order not to fall prey to the other. And hunters had to develop skills to track and kill animals.
In the modern world, we don’t wage war on the next village, and we shop at the supermarket. And while this is perfect for staying alive, it’s not so great for connecting us to our primal heritage. Today, the best way to do this is through martial arts. Here’s why.
Coordination
Modern living doesn’t require us to balance our bodies or use our hands in the way that nature once forced us to. As a result, many adults don’t have well-developed coordination skills. That’s fine if your goal isn’t fitness and strength. But coordination is essential if you’re going to avoid injury in the gym. Some martial arts are better than other for developing coordination. For instance, capoeira might be a better choice than, say, judo.
Mindset
Having the right psychology is essential if you want to improve on anything you do in life. Psychology is what drives us to succeed and what causes us to fail. It’s especially important when it comes to nutrition and training. Success in both of those areas depends on the choices that we each make as individuals. Martial arts help to get you into the zone and give you a focus. It’s more than just turning up to the gym to do battle with the weights. It’s about rekindling what it means to be a strong person, both mentally and physically.
Control Over Your Body
Martial arts force your body to move in ways in which it would never otherwise move. Mixed martial arts, for instance, involves grappling, kicking, punching and even throwing. Performing these moves over and over again helps to develop a sense of where your body ends and where the rest of the world begins. Right now, there are plenty of options for people who want to get involved in the sport. Of course, finding a club or class to join should be a priority. But that isn’t your only option. Don’t forget; you can now use an MMA dummy to practice your technique, even if you’ve got a busy schedule.
Discipline
Discipline has always been the cornerstone of martial arts philosophy. And it’s not hard to see why. Discipline is what makes warriors great. It’s that ability to get up in the morning with an attitude that says, “I am going to succeed.” Sites like Pick The Brain offer great advice on how to build discipline in your life. It’s all about having self-knowledge and being aware of why you’re behaving in the way that you are.
Our primal ancestors had to have discipline to survive. If we are to live more like them, we have to find ways of improving discipline in our own lives. What better way to do it than through martial arts?
