Karate is a fascinating art with a storied history. It began in Okinawa, sometime in the 1600s in response to Satsuma samurai’s attack and vassalization of the island. During this time, much of the population was forbidden from carrying weapons, so the Okinawans invented a fighting style that didn’t require weapons.

This style became known as karate, Japanese for ’empty hands,’ and today it is among the most famous martial arts in the world.

Perhaps you want to learn karate, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve already begun but could use a little extra advice. Either way, we’re here to help. We’ll offer some great advice on karate for beginners in the paragraphs below.

1. Understand Karate

Before committing to anything, you need to understand the entire point behind this martial art (and most martial arts). It’s all about confidence, respect, and strength of both mind and body.

It’s about peace, not conflict. The philosophy is that there are going to be bullies in the world, and that’s inevitable.

However, bullies are after power and control, except that they are after power and control over others, not themselves. Knowing that somebody can stand up for themselves, if need be, should ward off some of them.

Karate can also help you dismiss certain bully tactics like namecalling and hurtful remarks. If they can’t make you care, then they may leave you alone.

Conflict should be avoided at all costs, but karate will help with the conflicts that can’t be avoided.

Of course, it’s also best to understand how a certain karate class works before joining it. Every group has a different dynamic, and every teacher has a different approach. It may be best to observe a class before deciding if it’s right for you.

2. Be Respectful

If peace is the first cornerstone of karate, respect is the second. Respect is one of the key factors in avoiding conflict. It is the difference between a difference of opinion or a friendly debate and an argument.

This will be evident during your first day in the dojo. You will be expected to address your teacher as Sir, Ma’am, or Sensei. You will also need to see and treat your fellow students as equals.

3. Stretch

One great tip about karate for beginners is to stretch. Karate is just like any other physical activity in that it helps to warm up first.

Stretching before and after any kind of workout offers a whole host of benefits for the body.

For karate, in particular, it’s best to use stretches that require a wider range of movement. Not only will this prepare your whole body for physical activity, but it can also help prevent injuries.

Keep in mind, that injuries are going to happen occasionally, and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. However, the less often it happens, the better your experience is going to be.

4. Expect to Work Hard

Karate is different from any other class or school. In some ways, it’s more like a sport.

It’s not about knowing answers, because there’s no right answer to anything. It’s about improvement. Even if you’re good at something, you can always get better at it.

Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” In other words, there’s no such thing as too much practice.

You may know what you’re doing this week, but there’s always more to learn. Karate is something that should always demand your 110%.

As an added bonus, all this hard work can even make you healthier.

5. Meditation

As with everything else, karate should be approached calmly. While being nervous and unsure of yourself is understandable, it doesn’t help you.

Meditation is a practice of understanding your thoughts and worries and learning to put them into perspective. This is a skill and it takes some practice to learn.

That being said, it will definitely help, not only with your karate but potentially with life in general. Too many mistakes in life are made because we’re nervous or not thinking clearly.

6. It Doesn’t End in the Dojo

We’ve already mentioned that martial arts are about more than just learning to hit things. It’s a philosophy, and it’s a philosophy that carries far beyond the walls of the dojo.

You may find that the discipline, respect, and personal knowledge you gain begins to affect other aspects of your life, most likely for the better. You may find that you concentrate harder on work and other tasks you have to do.

Perhaps you have less conflict in your life. Perhaps you don’t take things as personally as you used to. We all take things the wrong way sometimes, and the self-awareness you gain through karate can be a great help.

Karate for Beginners: Advice for Starting Out

Karate, for beginners, can be confusing, but the biggest thing to remember is that it’s a philosophy above all else., a lifestyle, even.

Sure, learning to fight is some of it, but through that process, you learn discipline. You learn that there are going to be issues and conflicts in the world, but at the end of the day, all you can do is your best, and live your life in the best possible way.

If you want to learn more about karate and other martial arts, especially in the Las Vegas area, please visit our site. We can start by telling you about the differences between Kung Fu and karate.

Are you or your child feeling sluggish? Are you struggling with self-confidence or self-discipline and focus? Want to lose weight and get back in shape? 

The benefits of martial arts could be the answer you’re seeking. Martial arts provides a variety of benefits for the body and the mind, including stronger physical well being and better brain health.

Whether you’re a child or an adult, practicing the art and the philosophy of martial arts can get and keep you in top form for a healthier body and a stronger mind.

In this post, you’ll discover seven main benefits of martial arts. Without further delay, let’s go!

1. Self Confidence

Sometimes we doubt our abilities when we compare ourselves to others. We see other people getting better grades or co-workers receiving promotions at work. We may struggle to believe in our worth when we face challenging circumstances in life.

But the truth through martial arts training, we can rise above these feelings of low self-confidence. Martial arts strengthens our inner being with practice. One of the main benefits of martial arts training is that it develops a strong sense of confidence and sense of self.

In class, students practice confidence-building skills. The techniques taught in martial arts, whether it’s kung fu or karate, or another discipline, build self-esteem skills.

Some of these skills include strengthening mental concentration and developing the patience needed to expand our capabilities so we can move past our perceived limitations. 

How Training Helps

When students practice the techniques of martial arts, they get back a sense of achievement. While perfection takes time to master, attainment of surpassing each level brings confidence and self-esteem.

Students in training discover qualities they didn’t know they had when they push their limits in martial art training. When they uncover these abilities, it enables students to gain confidence within themselves.

To add, having the abilities to defend ourselves creates more self-assurance in our minds. And it feels great!

The confidence we gain through martial arts goes beyond the martial arts classroom. We take it with us into our everyday lives: to our families, our work environments, and in our school setting and interactions.

2. Reduces Stress

Martial arts exercises increase brain health. Doing these exercises in martial arts classes provide an excellent way to relieve stress.

Stress is everywhere. When we’re running late, we feel stress. When our boss gets mad at us, we feel stress. When we’re asked to do tasks on top of other tasks, we feel anxious and frustrated. It can make us feel so stressed out.

But martial arts can enable us to lift these stresses through breathing and other exercises taught in class. It helps us keep away distractions and concentrate on what we need to accomplish without getting sidetracked.

Another way martial arts helps relieve stress is by releasing endorphins. When this happens, it helps us fight off stress-related illnesses.

In class, we learn self-discipline. This allows us to stay focused on our goals and keep stress at bay. 

3. Cardiovascular Health

One of the biggest stress-related disorders occurs in our cardiovascular systems. Cardiovascular stress can be the main cause of a heart attack. Cardiovascular health is strongly linked to getting the proper amount of exercise.

But it’s not always easy. Especially when many of us have jobs and take classes in school that requires us to be sedentary.

The age of computers has made it more difficult to get exercise. We sit most of the day while we perform our daily responsibilities.

According to the CDC, only 29.9% of people get enough exercise. It’s essential that we exercise for cardiovascular health.

Drill exercises during martial arts training is a great way to improve cardiovascular endurance because it increases our heart rate. 

4. You Become More Athletic

Do you want to run a longer distance in track? Sprint faster? Jump higher when you play basketball? 

Martial arts strengthens our muscle groups and enhances our physical abilities more than most workouts do.

The techniques taught in class, not only train your legs and arms, but they work your entire body. Training our whole body rather than isolated parts improves our athletic abilities. This helps us go faster and further than we did before.

Did you know many celebrity athletes cross train in martial arts? It’s no wonder. By training every muscle group, they’re strengthening their bodies from head to toe. This can prevent sports injuries that occur to many professional athletes.

5. Builds Character

One of the greatest benefits of martial arts is that the practice helps our children (and ourselves) build character.

In class, we study philosophies that makes us aware of ourselves and our environment. These teachings and principles teach us about honor, perseverance, courage, and respect.

6. Coordination and Focus Improves

Other benefits of martial arts include developing stability and motor coordination. This is something students learn when they defend themselves against attacks in class.

Practicing the techniques require focus and self-awareness. The blocking techniques and specific moves learned in sessions enable students to build motor coordination and increase concentration and focus.

7. Fights Obesity

It’s no secret that children in the United States struggle with obesity.

In fact, the Center for Disease Control reports that one in five school-aged children suffer from obesity. The article reported that childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s. But what has made it increase so much?

Obesity has increased due to poor diets and a lack of exercise. Obesity is caused when we ingest foods that contain high sugars and unhealthy fats into our bodies.

Another factor in obesity could be getting less physical activity. Today, many children sit down to play video games after school, spend time on their cell phones, and sit at their computers.

That’s why it’s so important to do a sport like martial arts that works the entire body. 

Martial arts provides an efficient workout. Its aerobic exercises burn fat and benefit the body by enabling students to achieve weight loss and better physical fitness.

The Takeaway on the Benefits of Martial Arts

Now you know seven powerful benefits of martial arts. Whether you study kung fu, karate or another martial art discipline, martial arts provides a set of skills that improves your child’s state of mind and overall health.

Our Nevada-based martial arts academy offers a variety of classes for children and adults. Contact us today to experience the benefits of martial arts.