In the last post, I discussed some of the physical benefits of the martial arts and how they can improve your long term health and vitality. Now, I want to tell you about a few of the mental and spiritual changes that practicing the martial arts can help you realize. Before starting however, I need to clarify one thing. While many modern scientists would argue that the mind and “spirit” are one and the same, you will find that they also suggest that spiritual practices are good for your physical and mental health. Yes, even brilliant scientists have a tendency to contradict themselves sometimes! Anyway, this blog is written from the perspective that our bodies, minds, and spirits are not separate entities that exist on completely different planes. Rather, we are put together in three parts that all come together to create a whole being. That said, let’s look at some of the less visible benefits of martial arts training:
1. Focus:
In most technologically advanced societies today, it is almost impossible to focus on just one thing for more than five minutes. There is always some distraction from a phone, TV, radio, or other device that pulls our attention away from whatever we are trying to accomplish. In fact, our brains have become so used to jumping between tasks, that we can be easily bored, and leave tasks unfinished. Martial arts training temporarily sets us apart from the busy world we live in. It requires us (for safety and other reasons) to focus completely on the task at hand. In doing so, the practice re-trains our brains to be capable of focusing for long periods of time in order to achieve a goal or complete a task. Many young children who struggle with ADD or ADHD find martial arts to be a great tool in training themselves to overcome or at the very least assist in coping with their disorders.
2. Centering:
Our spirits were not intended to be constantly fluttering between diverse, intense emotions and complete stagnation. We operate most effectively and peacefully when we are in tune with our creator and with the world around us. Martial arts training provides focus and internal discipline necessary to bring our spirits to a “centered” place. If you have ever been around someone who exudes peace, confidence, and humility all at the same time, you want to be near them. That person is likely centered spiritually. They have learned their place in the world, and they are confident in their future beyond this world. Their ability to discipline their thoughts and emotions is derived from spiritual fortitude. While physical training isn’t the only thing required to achieve a centered spirit, martial arts training does provide a wonderful atmosphere for developing spiritual strength.
3. Indomitable spirit:
This term is one of the basic tenets of Taekwondo, but you will find it mirrored in the creeds of many other martial arts styles. When the storms of life hit us, we have two basic choices: 1. Allow the hurt or fear of the situation to wilt our spirit and darken our existence, or 2. Stand tall in the face of our difficulties and bring light and encouragement to those around us during the storm. Some people are born with tendencies toward the first, and some toward the second. Martial arts training under a good instructor can help everyone to become better at facing the storms of life. By constantly placing a person in difficult situations in class (i.e. getting choked or punched by that really big guy), and by showing the student how to overcome those situations, the instructor can help the student to learn that he/she can overcome almost anything! The dojang is like a microcosm of the storms of life. In it, each person has difficulties they have to endure and overcome. The closer you get to black belt, the more you have to struggle to pass each examination. A black belt test can be one of the most grueling experiences of a civilian’s life. After having pushed through and received the honor of that rank, the student can then look back on the experience when they face hard times and say “If I made it through that, I can make it through this!”.
4. Mental Agility
Almost everyone I know has had their lives affected in some way by the results of mental aging. Each person seems to know someone who has struggled with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or just plain senility. No one wants to think too much about the fact that they will someday be subject to the degradation of their mental capacity. Science has come a long way in understanding and creating solutions to the mental disorders of old age, but so many people forget that the best way to prevent your brain from dying is to exercise it regularly. Albert Einstein is credited with saying “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” Most doctors would agree with this statement, and most would say that people of all ages need to find something that causes their brain to create new neural pathways regularly in order to promote brain health later in life. Because of the multi-dimensional learning required for martial arts training, it is ideal for helping people prevent the early onset of some mental aging disorders.
So you see, Martial arts doesn’t just affect your body, it actually has the ability to improve your mental and spiritual health on a number of different levels. Whether you just need to lose a few pounds or desire to increase the length and quality of your life, martial arts training has something to offer you. If you are already involved in the martial arts, begin to look for ways that your practice can improve other parts of your existence. Martial arts isn’t just for the dojang, it is for your whole life!