Martial Arts training has much in common with the usual American sports. This includes physical fitness, development of coordination and social interactions. However where most American sports focus solely on the competition between individuals and teams, the martial arts focuses on the overall development of the practitioner.

A good martial arts school teaches more than just a physical activity.

The curriculum of a traditional martial arts school and the activities it practices are designed to provide, physical fitness benefits, personal development and a level of personal security and safety. A quick summary of the benefits is listed below, but the list could go on and on:


Physical Benefits:

The physical benefits are obvious to most people, but what most people do not know is that the curriculum of a traditional school is designed to guide the student from simple, easy to perform physical activities through progressively more difficult and physically demanding actions.

The testing and grading system provides both positive feedback and assurance that the student has mastered the physical skills necessary for that level of training.


Benefits include:

Coordination –  The positions and movements used progressively develop better coordination, balance, and grace.

Flexibility –  Martial arts training places a high emphasis on flexibility and focuses much of the effort on development of this characteristic. Flexibility greatly enables the development of the speed necessary to generate power for strong kicks and punches.

Endurance - Because of the sustained effort required, students find that their stamina increases and they can work harder and longer with less effort.

Strength - While much of the power developed in martial arts training comes from the interaction of coordination and flexibility, The traditional and modern exercises used develop core and general body strength rather than focus on a specific area of the body.

Other benefits can include weight loss, lowered levels of stress and anxiety, increased fitness, and improved general health. Martial arts can be a strong contributor to a balanced wellness program for any individual.


Personal Development:

In addition to the health and self defense aspects of martial arts, traditional martial art methods focus on appropriate behaviors. Based on codes that reflect personal characteristics like control, discipline, honesty, loyalty, and courtesy, the activity in a martial arts school promotes behaviors in the students that carry over into their business, social and family life.

Respect - This behavior teaches appropriate behaviors towards others and towards the self. Behaviors such as respect , humility , courtesy and honesty are modeled by instructors and upper belts through their actions and the interactions with students.

This behavior drastically reduces inappropriate behaviors by the student and serves to prevent inadvertently provoking others.

Achievement -By presenting the student with a series of difficult but possible challenges, the student will develop a sense of achievement and pride in their efforts. This in turn develops self confidence and sense of worth , both of which lead to an individual who is less likely to demonstrate inappropriate behaviors or use violence as a means to an end.

Self-reliance – A large share of the student's success is based on their own efforts. As they progress, they are challenged with higher and higher levels of standards. These standards are high and attainable only with effort. The student learns not only how to work hard and diligently, but that their success is the result of their own efforts.

Focus -  To succeed, the student finds that they must concentrate both mentally and physically on the task on hand. Many people, both young and old, lack this ability and when this ability is gained, find many benefits in their everyday life.

Discipline - On the Young Masters Martial Arts logo, the Chinese Character for ‘discipline' is displayed. Discipline here does not mean punishment, but has the meaning of ‘control' and a ‘learned art or craft.' Discipline in both definitions is the key to success to martial arts training and in life.

Young Masters Martial Arts uses consistent, but fair rules, standards, and expectations to guide both the student's behaviors and attitudes when training. As the student progresses, they begin to take more and more responsibility for themselves and their success as they learn how self discipline and mastery of the martial arts can reward them.

Students find that this same attitude provides additional benefits in their life outside the martial arts school.


Personal Security and Safety:

While Martial Arts teaches the most effective use of force, the focus is not on aggression or violence. The focus is on building behaviors that allow non-violent conflict resolution and prevention. Appropriate levels of response are taught so that the least harmful resolution of the situation can be used.

By focusing on specific types of behaviors and methods to address threatening actions, such as bullying or other aggressive acts, the student is more in control of dictating the outcome and is less likely to be forced to use violence or become the victim of it.

If violence does occur, the student will have much higher probability of surviving the encounter with a minimum of physical damage.


Benefits:

Self-Defense- A student will know when and how to defend themselves with both non-violent methods and appropriate levels of physical response in order to avoid or survive aggression or violence.

Awareness- By understanding and being able to recognize the signs of aggression and degree of threats through movement, posture and attitude, the student should be able to avoid, evade or reduce the chance of violent situations.

Legal - A student will develop an understanding of the legal ramifications of self-defense and the appropriate use of force.


Additional Notes on benefits:

Most of the time, the image of the martial artist is this serious, grim, intense person intent on spending hours and hours at a fevered pitch perfecting their technique.

In spite of Martial Arts training being tough, demanding and usually exhausting, the majority of people find it fun and enjoyable and in truth, most martial artist are fierce competitors, but display a calm , compassionate and gentle nature in real life.

The people involved in most martial arts are personable, friendly and willing to help others. There is not so much a sense of competition, but recognition that we can all help each other to become better Martial Artists and better individuals.

This camaraderie among martial artists is legendary and transcends differences in style, school or geographic area.

Additionally, many individuals keep training for 20, 30, 40 and even beyond 50 years. Martial Arts can provide a healthy activity that can be enjoyed for a life-time.