Martial Arts and Beating Stress

Are you a busy executive or mom trying to do everything? Are you getting so stressed out that it seems like you're not accomplishing anything? If so, you can use martial arts to combat that stress! Many of the skills and techniques used in martial arts training are the same skills and techniques you can use to rid your body of stress.

So, you might be wondering how a skill that is commonly depicted as a fighting tool can actually reduce stress... Some of these common images of martial arts aren't completely accurate. The cartoons, video games and movies showing martial arts as a fighting tool are only showing you one small facet of the art. The skills necessary for training martial arts can teach you how to balance your mind and body and give you the confidence you need to face the stressful events in your life.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

One of the techniques used to create this balance is using breathing and meditation techniques to help you connect and control your mind and body. There are different types of meditation: sitting, standing, kneeling and moving. Find the position that works best for you. Here's how to start.

1. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

2. Breathe deeply. To make sure you're breathing deeply enough, put your hand on your stomach. If your stomach isn't pushing out as you breath in, you're not breathing deeply enough. Try to pull the air all the way to your navel before you let it out.

3. When you breathe out, keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth. This keeps helps minimize your saliva and swallowing.

In the Chinese way of thinking, breathing like this is completing a path: The mouth is a gate and the tongue on the roof of the mouth allows your vital energy called "Qi" or "Chi" (both pronounced "chee") to circulate throughout your body. Chi is what helps your mind and body connect.

After you've gotten the physical aspects of breathing down, you can start counting your breaths - this is a form of meditation that many experts teach during stress management courses. Start short and work your way up.

1. Begin with a count of 4 as you breathe in and a count of 6 as you breathe out.

2. As you go along, extend the in and out until you can get a count of 6 as you breathe in and up to 24-30 as you breathe out. Just remember that you want a short, deep breath in and a slow, long breath out.

WHY DOES IT WORK?

This mind and body connection through breathing works because stress is a mental state that manifests itself as a physical symptom in your body. This physical symptom then acts as a trigger to tell you to do something about it. As you become more aware of your body, you'll be able to notice the "trigger" before it becomes something unbearable such as a severe neck problem or a migraine headache. Once you notice your trigger, you can stop and do something about it such as practicing a breathing technique. For example, I used to get stress-induced migraines that would leave me out of commission for a whole day. Now, I've come to realize that it actually starts in my lower back as a small thing. If I let it go, it works its way up to my head. Now, when I noticed this trigger in my back, I stop and do my breathing. It allows the issue to surface so I can deal with it and I don't have to deal with a migraine.

We all have those moments from time to time when we experience stress (some more frequently than others). The overall benefits of training martial arts for the mind and body (including self-awareness, self confidence, focus, concentration and physical conditioning) all lead to reducing that stress. You owe it to yourself to start relieving the stress in your life with the skills taught through martial arts. The best place to find these skills is at a fine martial arts school. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. To make it even easier, I'll help you get started. Just contact me and I'll send you my free report on how to pick a martial arts school.

For more information on this article or others go to Articles on Martial Arts

Robert Jones runs three successful martial arts schools located in Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Kent Washington. He has been helping families make positive changes in their lives through martial arts for over 20 years. He has also written A Guide on How to Pick a Martial Arts School

He can be reached at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts. 800-508-6141. His schools can be found on the web at Bellevue Martial Arts and Kung Fu

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Martial Arts Training is Not Just About Being Practical

I find it slightly amusing that quite often when I talk to other martial artists, some of them get so worked up about what's practical and what isn't. In one discussion, we were talking about martial arts weaponry including bo staffs and swords. This one fellow was commenting that swords are not practical since we don't usually carry around swords anymore but sticks can be found anywhere, which can substitute for staffs.

This is the same type of fellow who would discredit the fancy moves in many bo staff forms, especially the open and extreme style of weapons forms since they are not practical for the streets. Although he has a point in all this, he is missing something that will be very relevant for many martial artists.

Although many of the fancy moves in both weapons and non-weapons forms as well as unpractical weapons such as swords have very little use in real life combat or self defense situations, one should not forget that there are other purposes with these.

Many martial arts techniques and activities, no matter how unpractical they are, can still be done for the pure enjoyment. There's the exercise involved, which benefits health both physically and mentally. There's the show aspect, which entertains audiences (and what's wrong with entertaining audiences?).

There's the progression of skills involved, which help with confidence levels to do other things in life. This is certainly practical for one's own personal development.

There's also the lowering of boredom because a bit of variety in martial arts enables people to train and keep interested in training much longer. The evidence in this is for those who take up martial arts just to learn practical techniques and nothing else, their years spent in training are often relatively short because after they learn the practical aspects, they just become bored.

Yes, we've come a long way in the martial arts world in terms of realizing what exactly is practical and what is not. This may have started out with Bruce Lee when he pounced on classical and traditional techniques. Of course, he had strong points which ultimately led to mixed martial arts or MMA which are so popular these days.

At the same time, open style forms became more exciting and extreme in the competition circuits and this includes the introduction of Chinese wushu. These developments may seem to be in complete contrast to the MMA mixed martial arts movement.

These seem like two very distinct and distant camps in the martial arts world. As a result, many martial artists from the practical side would be quick to discredit the 'fancy' side. But really, there's no need to.

So there are many other aspects to martial arts besides just the practical techniques. The whole enjoyment that non-practical, i.e., the fancy stuff, should not be discounted. Martial artists can train with these other techniques no matter how useless they would be on the street just for the pure enjoyment. Train for similar reasons why people choose to play tennis or golf. For the pure enjoyment.

Clint Cora is a former member of the Canadian National Karate Team and a Karate World Champion as well as a motivational speaker and author. He has a martial arts information website at www.martialartsarticlesonline.com where he also offers a free World Champion Personal Growth Guide.

Finding a Quality Youth Martial Arts School or Program

Getting your child involved in Martial Arts Training is an excellent way to boost their self esteem, teach them valuable lessons in discipline, and get them started on a wellness program that can last for years to come. If you're thinking about enrolling your child in Martial Arts Training, here are some very useful tips for locating a quality program in your area.



Find Available Classes or Programs

An excellent way to begin your search for a Martial Arts school is to find out where classes are offered. Go online or look in the phone book and compile a list of places that offer Martial Arts training. Unless you don't mind a half hour or more drive after work or on the weekends, look for classes offered in your area. Finding classes in your area is convenient for you and less stressful for your child.


Contact the Schools

Once you have compiled a list of Martial Arts schools or training programs, you will want to contact each one. When you contact them, ask specific questions about the age groups, instructor qualifications, the price of classes, and the time and availability of classes.



Decide on Your Goals

Are you considering enrolling your child in Martial Arts training for recreation, exercise, or discipline? The reason you enroll your child in Martial Arts training is a good way to narrow down your search. After you have located a few programs speak to the instructor(s) about their theory on youth Martial Arts and what school of thought they prescribe to. For example, if you are enrolling your son or daughter in or to work on their discipline, you will want a program and instructor that focuses on the serious side of Martial Arts.


Find Out What Your Child's Goals Are

You child's goals are just as important as yours when it comes to Martial Arts. Discuss with your child what he or she would like to take away from the class. This can be something they can do to meet friends and stay in shape, or it can be taken to the next step where they can compete and become extremely involved. Martial Arts training takes a lot of dedication and your child should be interested in enrolling in a program. While this doesn't mean it should be love at first site (since many children get discouraged in the early stages of any activity), but the thought of going to Martial Arts classes shouldn't bring your child to tears.


Visit the Schools

Once you find schools that you believe may be a good fit for you and your child, make it a point to visit each one. By visiting a Martial Arts school you will be able to meet with the instructors, see how classes run, and find out what methods and principles are important to the school and it's members. Since your child is the one who will be taking the class, be sure to bring him or her along so they can decide if they will be comfortable.

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Martial Arts Over Training - Important Martial Principle While Driving a Car

The best martial artists don't limit their training to a few hours a week. They are constantly bettering themselves in the martial arts by learning to live their principles. After all, if it's good enough for the dojo or garage, then it's probably a principle that you could apply to life. I wonder how many martial-arts will ignore this sound advice for staying safe. Are you serious enough about the martial arts that you'd change your lifestyle to incorporate this martial principle?

Important Martial Principle When You Are Driving

I have two friends who look at me, when they talk -- while they are driving and I am in the passenger seat. They also look away from the road to notice beautiful females, sporty cars, and other distractions.

I also have friends and relatives who exhibit unsafe driving practices -- they are the "quick-motion" drivers, and the cellphone drivers (handheld phones in cars). Does all of this seem minor? Are you wondering how all of this pertains to over training and martial-arts principles?

Let's go back to the looking away from the road while driving...

Dangerous "Un-Martial-Arts-Like" Driving Behavior

This behavior especially bothers me, when they are approaching a red light. The cars in front of them are stopped or are slowing down. Do my friends slow down as they approach the brake lights in front of them?

No, not at all.

Do they at least keep their eyes on the car stopped or slowing in front of them?

Not a chance.

In fact they look away from the road. It's as if they ... "just checked the car in front, so they can look away, because nothing out of the ordinary could possibly happen that would cause the

car in front of them to suddenly hit the brakes and stop short." (Wishful thinking on their part.) Anyway, I was pondering all of this the last time I was in the car with a friend, as I grabbed the hand-grip above the passenger window inside the car, to brace myself in case we crashed.

I suddenly had an "Aha! Moment." A true epiphany.

Bruce Lee Martial Arts Principle

The reason that their cavalier driving makes me so uncomfortable is that I was taught in martial arts "never to take my eyes of the opponent." (Credit to Bruce Lee.)

In my mind, the car in front of me is like my opponent.

It's sheer folly to look away.

Note: Remember, I tend to avoid 'spinning' kicks and hits for the very same reason.

I want to keep my eyes on my opponent at all times....

And I want my friends to keep their eyes on the car in front of them, too.

Martial Arts Over Training

Now, imagine if you always reinforce the principle of keeping your eyes on your opponent. Every time you are behind the wheel, you make it a point to practice internalizing this principle. You'll over train the idea by imprinting it so often, and so blatantly on your brain.

You'll always remember to focus on your opponent. (And you might even stay alive while driving.) At the very least, you will be spending your driving time considering martial principles, rather than yapping on the cell phone, and possibly (if you have a hand held phone) endangering the rest of us.

Now, are there other martial principles you could ponder while driving, riding a bike, or walking? If you are looking to be prepared, just in case, then ...

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Keith Pascal is a martial-arts writer and has taught martial arts for 25 years.

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Discovering the Three Levels of Martial Arts Secrets

All students want to know the secrets of the martial arts. There's got to be martial arts secrets behind all those blocks and strikes, right? Well, it may be tough for some people to handle, but this article is going to point you in the direction of those hidden gems that only the mightiest of the martial arts masters know.

One out of a thousand people who begin a study of the martial arts get a black belt. This is a sad commentary, and does not speak highly of the various styles, and especially of their teachers. So only one in a thousand people have gone to the top of their art and found the truth of the various taekwondo secrets and karate secrets.

Out of the thousand people who reach black belt, only one can be considered a real black belt. A real black belt (one in a million) is one who has 'matured,' which is the actual meaning of the word 'Dan,' which word signifies the levels of black belt. To mature means to give up the desire to fight, to stop being foolish, to take responsibility for what one does, and this is the indication that somebody actually understands the first level of mystery in the various types of martial arts.

Now, the story goes strange, for out of the people who learn the external arts to this high level, only one out of a thousand will study another art to the point of understanding that arts mysteries! This is the next stage of the martial arts mysteries: wudan kung fu secrets and aikido secrets. That's one in a billion who will actually pursue their dream to the point of understanding both the hard and the soft sides of the martial arts!

Now, of those billion people, only one in a thousand--that's right, one in a trillion--will finally understand the truth of the fighting disciplines. This means overcoming the slant and taint of school and system and such and actually perceiving the true physics inherent in the martial arts. The actual physics are described by such laws as 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, but they develop into 'For every action there is a source point.'

Interestingly, one would assume that Wudan based arts, or Aikido, or that ilk, would teach second level physics. Unfortunately, though one does see isolated incidents of individual achievement, the arts themselves are biased and slanted. Just as a person who thinks he is the only one... isn't, so do arts which hold themselves up as the only one... are not.

Interestingly, and here is the crux of the problem, of the few people who do become capable, and who do manifest the second level of physics, none understand it. They teach through mysticism, you see, and do not offer concrete science for explaining what they are doing and why. For there to be a true art there must be a science, a system backed up by a method which works every time, and which leads one through and to solid manifestation of the second level of physics.

So one in a thousand actual learns an art, and one in a million actually becomes an artist, and one in a billion actually can do something which is mystical, which means they can do something which follows certain rules, but they have no idea what the rules are. And only one in a trillion has penetrated through to the third level of martial arts secrets. And if you want the secrets, study one art until you understand it, complement it with a second art until you understand it, then find the person who understands the science behind what you are doing, that is the only and true way to find out those fabulous martial arts secrets.

There really is a science which encompasses all martial disciplines, you can find it at Monster Martial Arts. Get a free ebook while you're at Monster Martial Arts. 2