What’s the first thing you think of when you hear karate? The Karate Kid? Bruce Lee? People doing extreme tricks to break boards? It’s okay, I think of that too even though I am a third-degree black belt instructor in Tang Soo Do, a similar style to Tae Kwon Do. Learning karate isn’t always as robotic as is typically portrayed. There are also helpful benefits that learning martial arts can help you in life, even if you don’t realize it, like…
It’s a great workout!
Most martial arts schools require a certain number of training days that students come to during the week. The classes are designed to help you learn skills to defend yourself while also keeping you in shape physically. If you’re lucky, you can also workout before or after a shift if you work at the school so you don’t have to worry about if you worked out for a certain amount of days or not. I normally work in the afternoons-evenings, and at the end of my shift, I can do a class and finish the rest of my day.
It can teach you life lessons.
I have definitely encountered real-life obstacles that I was only able to accomplish because of my experience with karate. I work with different kids of all ages, with many different skill levels and personal challenges to face. Patience is a skill that I have had to work to achieve. When I started teaching when I was 12 years old. Now, at 21, I have a longer span of patience than I used to and I constantly get complimented on it. Personally, I never realized how much I could handle until I looked at my progress.
It makes you aware.
Think of your intuition, the feeling in your gut. Karate can help you stay aware of your surroundings no matter where you are. Knowing the techniques and skills, that are taught, you gain a sense of awareness of your surroundings. It can really help with quickly escaping situations that you would rather not be in. It has helped me catch things faster, as well as protect people.
Karate, to me, has offered me an endless amount of knowledge, skills, and lessons I don’t think I would’ve learned anywhere else. It may not be for everyone, but it can be simplified into small self-defense classes. It has helped me in my life become a better version of me, I never thought was possible.