Here is the third annual Totally Awesome Gift Guide–a collection of gift ideas that go beyond the mundane.

These gifts are curated based on: my personal review (i.e., after using the item, I found it to be totally awesome), or I just really, really want the item myself (i.e., it is totally awesome, period).

So, here are some totally awesome gifts for totally awesome people (like you!). I’ve grouped them into three categories: . . . → Read More: Totally Awesome Gift Guide 2011]]>

Here is the third annual Totally Awesome Gift Guide–a collection of gift ideas that go beyond the mundane.

These gifts are curated based on: my personal review (i.e., after using the item, I found it to be totally awesome), or I just really, really want the item myself (i.e., it is totally awesome, period).

So, here are some totally awesome gifts for totally awesome people (like you!). I’ve grouped them into three categories: Fitness, Electronics, and Books.

FITNESS

1.) DemonBells

Truth be told, these are the kettlebells I covet.

Kettlebells are one of the best ways I’ve found to get in shape, get strong, and ramp up the cardio capacity. This one piece of iron will replace a gym’s worth of fancy expensive equipment.

If you are not quite bold enough for demonbells, then I’d recommend you buy your kettlebell from Dragondoor. Their kettlebells may be a little more expensive, but the Dragondoor kettlebells are the gold standard. For example, I’ve used other brands of kettlebells that just shred your hands because of their poor-quality finish.

Here’s a quick guide I made on how to get started with kettlebells.

If you can learn to use the kettlebell appropriately, then you have a lifetime of fitness gains and health ahead of you.

2.) Chin Up Bar, Pull Up Bar

Whether you do chinups (palms facing you) or pullups (palms facing away from you), a chin up or pull up bar can be one of your most important pieces of exercise equipment.

Not everyone has the space or ability to install a permanent pullup bar, so one that quickly installs over a door frame is a really good alternative.

Here’s a review I did for one pullup bar, plus a list of other popular chinup bars, plus a few pullup routines to get you started.

3.) Klean Kanteen

Looking for something inexpensive, useful, and healthy? I really get a lot of use out of my Klean Kanteen. It is made of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, which is free of BPA and other toxins, and doesn’t retain or impart flavors. It keeps cold liquids cold, hot liquids hot, and you don’t have to worry about toxic metals leaching into what you drink.

4.) MIR Weighted Vest

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of bodyweight exercises and I use a weighted vest to increase the resistance in order to help build more strength. This MIR Weighted Vest is the one I use.

MIR sells many different kinds of weighted vests in a variety of weights. The one I bought, however, does not come with weights already inside it, but has strong velcro pockets in which you can put your own weights. This makes the weight vest much more flexible and customizable, since I can vary the weights in it, increasing the weights as my strength levels suggest. You can also use the pockets to hold your wallet and car keys in case you want to go for a run in your weight vest.

The weight is well distributed across my shoulders and the vest securely straps around my chest. In addition to using the vest for pullups, I’ve also used it for short sprints, pushups, and squats. I even sometimes use it when taking my dog for a walk, just to get a little workout from even a mundane activity.

I don’t know how long the sale will last, but as I type this, the vest is 50% off…

ELECTRONICS

1.) Amazon Kindle Reader

If you like to read, then it is likely you’ll enjoy an ereader. Never heard of it? Don’t know what an ebook or an ereader is? Don’t know your Kindle from your Kendall? What’s this Kindle Fire everyone’s talking about? Here’s a quick guide I put together, explaining what are ereaders, ebooks, and Kindles.

Here’s an overview of the Kindle ereaders now available.

And here’s an unboxing video I made of the Amazon Kindle Fire.

2.) IronKey USB Drive, 4GB

These days we all know how important it is to keep our files, data, and passwords safe. The IronKey USB Drive, 4GB, is specifically designed with safety and security in mind, including hardware encryption. Numerous security features are built-in to the drive and its case is stainless-steel and waterproof. There’s even a self-destruct mechanism in the event someone steals your drive and tries to guess your password. Keep your data safe with IronKey.

3.) Soundmatters foxLv2 portable speaker

After another brand’s external speaker fizzled after just using it for a few months, I stumbled onto the Soundmatters foxLv2 portable speaker and have been in listening heaven since. Also, here’s my review of the Soundmatters speaker, including a video demo I made.

BOOKS

1.) Audible subscription

Audible is a company that makes audio books, so you can catch up on your reading when on the go. For example, pop in a book you’ve been meaning to read and listen to it while commuting, walking the dog, or working out. I’ve been a member for several years now, ever since Audible saved my sanity.

Audible is now offering 3, 6 or 12 month gift memberships, or you can even give individual titles. Perfect for the book-lover in your life.

2.) Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill

In Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill, when aging rocker Judas Coyne buys a “ghost” advertised on the Internet, his life is turned upside down when he gets more than he bargained for. This is a book of horror, but also redemption. It is touching, moving, lyric, and will make you wonder who is waiting outside your bedroom door. Great debut novel by Hill.

3.) Five Slices of Death, by Kendall Giles

Yes, this is a collection of some of my haunting stories I put together, plus a cherry pie recipe! I think you’ll really like it. Here is more about the collection and where to buy it.

ENJOY!

So, that’s it for this year’s list of gift items–I hope you’ve been able to find at least something of interest. Consider shopping for yourself or someone else using this link to Amazon.com.

Related Posts:

• Great Gift Ideas 2010
• What is a Kindle?
• 12 Great Gift Ideas for 2009
• Exercise while on travel: chin-up / pull-up bar
• Amazon Kindle Fire Unboxing

Find out how about the Slave Leia costume dilemma, meet Thor’s daughter–the fittest woman in the world, learn some life hacks, see why thermostats might soon be cool, and hear an inspiring cover of John Lennon’s Imagine!

Five quick links, including women’s self-defense footage, healthy recipes, NaNoWriMo tips, a beta version of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, and 10 free online classes to level-up your life.

Weekend reading links for 23 September 2011, including: sushi etiquette, cultural insights from 5 million books, Bartitsu demonstration, and great science discoveries.

Here are some links to help get you through the week, including: a Star Wars Asciimation, 50 most influential books, videos of martial arts throwing techniques, book 1 of The Secrets of Jujutsu, and one-word writing prompts.

There are books and DVDs for learning martial arts available online, but your best way to learn a martial art is from a martial arts instructor, so be sure to ask around or search martial arts online forums for places to train if your initial searches for schools near you come up empty.

Also, my suggestion would be to stick with one martial art for a while before you . . . → Read More: How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts]]>

The Next Step is Yours

There are books and DVDs for learning martial arts available online, but your best way to learn a martial art is from a martial arts instructor, so be sure to ask around or search martial arts online forums for places to train if your initial searches for schools near you come up empty.

Also, my suggestion would be to stick with one martial art for a while before you start on a second martial art. Once you have the basics of the first martial art under your belt, then learning the second martial art will be easier, much like learning a second foreign language is easier once you’ve learned your first. Each person has at most two hands and two feet, so there are only so many effective ways to kick and punch. Thus, there are commonalities across the martial arts, so learning your first martial art will teach you many core concepts that will transfer to your second.

Consider starting a journal of your experience through the martial arts. Getting to black belt can take a while, but over the course of your training you will change as a person, in addition to gaining new skills. I suspect that having a record of your thoughts and observations will be invaluable to you when you want to see the progress you’ve made during your journey. Also, jotting down things you hear during training from your instructor, like fighting tips and names of techniques, will help you remember them. Who knows, maybe one day you will be able to turn your journal into a book, like the two memoirs I included below in the More Resources section.

Finally, once you’ve decided on a martial art and have found a place to train, well, now you need to stick with it! Only then can you reap the benefits discussed in part one of this article series.

More Resources

There are many good martial arts book and movie resources available, but here I just wanted to pick out a few that might be helpful to someone just getting started with martial arts.

American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China: Matthew Polly, a 98 pound college student at Princeton, leaves his sheltered university life and heads to China to learn kung fu at a Shaolin Temple. Along the way, he learns kung fu and has many adventures as a fish out of water in a foreign land and culture. But more importantly, we watch as Polly becomes transformed while training in a school and way of life that most of us could not imagine.

The Warrior Within : The Philosophies of Bruce Lee: An inspiring collection of many of Bruce Lee’s philosophical ideas on martial arts, training, and life. Maybe these thoughts will motivate you to start martial arts training.

Angry White Pyjamas: A Scrawny Oxford Poet Takes Lessons From The Tokyo Riot Police: Robert Twigger, a British teacher of English as a foreign language to female high school students, decides to test himself by taking a year-long martial arts training course normally reserved for the Tokyo riot police. Along the way, we see his observations on Japanese culture and we see him try to persevere through a physically and mentally abusive course.

Fight Quest: A compilation of episodes from the Discovery Channel following two guys as they are challenged to learn fighting techniques from many different martial arts styles I mentioned in part two of this article series. Here’s your chance to see what some of these martial arts are really about!

History Channel: Human Weapon – The Complete Season 1: Like Fight Quest, this is a compilation of episodes from season 1 of a series on the History Channel. The episodes follow two guys as they are challenged to learn fighting techniques from many different martial arts styles I mentioned in part two of this article series. At the end of each episode they fight with the master of the art they just trained in. Here’s your chance to see what some of these martial arts are really about!

That’s It!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series on how to get started in the martial arts.

Have fun, and train hard!

This is part 4 of a four-part series on how to get started in martial arts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing a Place to Train
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts

Feedback

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please consider shopping for yourself using this link to Amazon.com. Thanks!

For those who’ve done martial arts before, what did I miss? Any comments? For those considering martial arts training, what else would you like to know? Any suggestions? Please, send feedback my way— I’d love to hear from you.

Related Posts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing Where to Train
• How to Get Started in Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• Preview of new documentary: “Bartitsu: the Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings

Now that you have some sense of the different martial arts styles and which ones interest you, the next decision is selecting a training location. Whether you choose a sport art or a historical martial art, the key is to find an instructor and dojo/salle/school with integrity, experience, skill, and good instruction. Some dojos/salles/schools or instructors will claim that their method is ”the most authentic” or “the most effective”. Since there is no “most . . . → Read More: How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing Where to Train]]>

Choosing Where to Train

Now that you have some sense of the different martial arts styles and which ones interest you, the next decision is selecting a training location. Whether you choose a sport art or a historical martial art, the key is to find an instructor and dojo/salle/school with integrity, experience, skill, and good instruction. Some dojos/salles/schools or instructors will claim that their method is ”the most authentic” or “the most effective”. Since there is no “most effective” or “most authentic” martial arts style, I would avoid paying attention to such marketing hype. Instead, focus your attention on which schools have effective instructors who are good at teaching the techniques for the style of martial art you are interested in learning. In the end, it is up to you, the martial arts student, to determine the true value of the instruction you receive.

Make a List of Candidate Schools

These days, finding nearby martial arts schools is very easy. Your first goal is to make a list of candidate schools in your area that teach the martial art you are interested in. As a first pass at generating this list of schools, simply go to your favorite internet search engine, e.g. Google, and enter a search term like “martial arts” followed by the name of your city, and you should get a good list of schools to start from. Some of these schools might teach the art you want, while others do not. To find out, go to the school’s website and look for information there on the styles they train in.

You can also try other search term combinations, such as substituting the name of your art instead of “martial arts” in the above example.

Note that if a school’s website it out-of-date or poorly constructed, don’t be put off too much. Right now you are just trying to compile a list of candidate schools–you’ll narrow down your list in the next step. Martial arts instructors are not necessarily technical people and the quality of the website is not necessarily a good indicator of their teaching ability.

Depending on the size of your city and the popularity of your martial art in that area, you may or may not have a lot of schools to choose from. But go to the websites of the schools you’ve found and take a look to see what they have to say. While a good school may have no website at all, or may have limited content on their webpages, many schools do have professional websites with good content. So, take a little time to see what the website says about training philosophy, martial arts styles taught, schedules, instructors, prices, and location.

Visit Each School on Your List

Once you have compiled your list, the second step is to visit each school on your list of candidate schools. Martial arts training requires a lot of personal interactions with the teacher and with other students, so it is critical to visit the school, speak with the instructors, and interact with the other students. Once there, you can see the quality of the training location and facilities, and you can get a feel for the personality of the instructor. You should also ask to watch a class, so that you can see the intructor and students in an actual training atmosphere. Some schools may allow you to participate in a free class, so you should definitely take advantage of that option if possible. That way, before you sign a contract to train at the facility, you will be able to assess whether or not you will enjoy training there.

Here are some points to think about or to ask when you visit a school:

• “How long has the school been in business?” The length of time a school has been in business is one indicator of the success of a school. A new school is not necessarily one to avoid–they may be hungry for new students. But ask around within your community to try to determine the reputation of the school. Unfortunately, some schools seem out just to earn money at the expense of quality instruction. These types of schools earn the reputation of being a “McDojo”, so watch out for them.
• “How many instructors teach at the school?” Meet them and talk to them. A good school has a head instructor who is in-shape and knows his art, plus there will likely be several more junior instructors who are actively teaching and actively training. 100 students and 1 instructor is a bad student-to-teacher ratio.
• “Can you watch a class?” If the answer is no, go somewhere else. Not being able to even see a class before signing up for lessons is one indicator of a McDojo (see above).
• Once you watch the class, “How do the students treat each other and the instructor?” You need to be comfortable with their interactions and be able to imagine yourself participating with them.
• “Can you take a free lesson?” If not, consider going somewhere else.
• If you take the lesson, “How much attention did you receive?” “Did you enjoy the training?” You will likely be spending a lot of money and time at your school, so make sure you enjoy it and are learning something.
• “What do you need to wear to lessons?” Be sure you understand what type of uniform or type of clothing is required to train there, before you start training.
• “What equipment or other items do you need to purchase?” Again, it is good to know what expenses there will be, beyond your training dues.
• “How much will training cost?” Rates range considerably based on location, instructor, and the art. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can commit monetarily to six months of whatever they charge before you start training. Some schools have a per-month plan, some a six-month plan, some a year-long contract, and some a per-workout fee.
• “Are the students expected to compete in tournaments?” Some schools pressure their students to compete in martial arts tournaments. If you do not want to compete, then such expectations are good to know upfront.
• “How long does it generally take to achieve black belt?” Different schools and arts have different progression speeds through the level ranks. If getting to black belt rank is your goal, then you should know upfront about how long it takes the average student to get there. Of course this depends on the student going to class!
• “How much are testing fees?” Most schools are organized into colored belts or sashes or levels to track your progress in learning the material. To advance from one level to the next most often requires a performance test where you are evaluated on the material. How much are the testing fees? Some schools charge a flat fee, no matter the level, while other schools charge more the higher the level of the test.

Evaluate the Information You have Gathered

Now, after you have visited the schools on your list and have compiled the information from asking the above questions, you should have enough information to make a decision on where to train. Generally one school, based on the information you have compiled, will rise above the others. If two schools seem equally good places to train, then ask yourself which school you could see yourself attending for three years? You should want to go to the school you select, since going to class is the whole point signing up for martial arts lessons and you don’t want any reason to keep you from going. So if one of the two good schools is closer, or maybe you are friends with someone at the school, or maybe there is some reason you may be happier at one school than the other, then that school is probably the better choice, since it suggests you will be more likely to attend for the long term.

Other Places to Train

What do you do if there are no schools of interest in your city? Expand your search to nearby cities using the above procedure and consider traveling to train. Also, consider searching nearby universities, your local YMCA, or other gymnasiums. Sometimes these places will offer martial arts courses you can enroll in.

Another option: look for martial arts clubs that may be in your area. Not all martial arts are taught in big gyms and schools. Martial arts clubs are loosely organized collections of martial artists who gather together to train for the love of the art, and the membership fees may be much less than with a large martial arts school. Sometimes these clubs meet to train in local parks or at the nearby university.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Deciding which martial art interests you most and where you want to train can be fun, since you can do a lot of research online, visit different schools, read interesting books about the various styles, and watch lots of martial arts movies or even martial arts demonstrations that might take place at nearby festivals. In part 4 of this series I list several resources that you may find useful in your research, along with some final thoughts.

This is part 3 of a four-part series on how to get started in martial arts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing a Place to Train
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts

Feedback

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please consider shopping for yourself using this link to Amazon.com. Thanks!

For those who’ve done martial arts before, what did I miss? For those considering martial arts training, what else would you like to know? Please, send feedback my way— I’d love to hear from you.

Related Posts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts
• How to Get Started in Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• Preview of new documentary: “Bartitsu: the Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings

The previous part of this series discussed why you might want to consider martial arts training. In this part, we investigate the differences between various martial arts, and how to select one for yourself.

The history of martial arts goes back thousands of years. It is very difficult to say that a particular martial art came from a particular country, since the different martial . . . → Read More: How to Get Started in Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art]]>

Choosing a Martial Art

The previous part of this series discussed why you might want to consider martial arts training. In this part, we investigate the differences between various martial arts, and how to select one for yourself.

A Little Martial Arts History

The history of martial arts goes back thousands of years. It is very difficult to say that a particular martial art came from a particular country, since the different martial arts styles and schools have borrowed techniques and teachings as people moved from place to place across the globe. However, some martial arts are commonly thought of as “Eastern” martial arts, while other martial arts are commonly thought of as “Western” martial arts.

There is also a line of martial arts that some might refer to as ”traditional” martial arts. These martial arts were often the ones developed centuries ago to teach warriors how to fight on the battlefield—with weapons and in unarmed combat. Over the centuries, as countries entered into peacetime eras, these traditional arts were sometimes outlawed, sometimes changed, sometimes taken underground. New arts were created which became more sportlike and emphasized less the lethal techniques and more the techniques one would use to score a point during a duel or competition. In some cases, the martial art was distilled into canonical or meditative forms (such as iaido, the art of drawing the Japanese sword by a solo practitioner, cutting through the air, and placing the sword back into its scabbard).

In the Eastern martial arts, for example, kenjutsu is the classical Japanese art of swordsmanship—fighting and training techniques to use with a real sword. The modern sport version is kendo—fighting and training with bamboo swords to score points against the opponent.

The Western martial arts also have this Sport/Traditional split. Olympic Fencing is the sport version of some of the historical Western martial arts. In Olympic fencing, lightweight swords are used in competitions, whereas in historical Western martial arts, a broader collection of weapons and techniques are taught, such as two-handed sword or sword and shield.

Thus, the traditional arts emphasize training and techniques as taught centuries ago for use on the battlefield, unlike the modern sport arts, which are more designed for the competition arena.

There are also some martial arts that are solely geared for lethal self-defense techniques, like for military or police situations. Finally, some martial arts have been molded into forms that are very stylistic, almost dance-like, while others focus on training with ancient weapons that are demonstrated in exhibitions.

A Few of the Many Different Martial Arts

But with all these caveats, just so you can get an idea of the wide variety of martial arts available, here’s a quick, rough, brief, non-comprehensive categorization and sampling of some martial arts and styles. I’ve tried to include representative links to the different arts so that you can get some idea what each style is about.

• Western: Bartitsu, Western Martial Arts, Fencing, Wrestling, Boxing, Archery, Systema, Savate
• Eastern: Karate, Aikido, Kempo, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Kenjutsu, Tai Chi, Shindo Muso Ryu
• Modern: Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Gracie Jujutsu, Jeet June Do
• Sport: Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Archery, Savate, Karate, Kendo, Fencing, Sambo
• Traditional: Shindo Muso Ryu, Tai Chi, Kung Fu
• Self Defense: Krav Maga, Systema, Military Combatives
• Fitness, Acrobatic, Exhibition: Cardio Kickboxing, Modern Wushu

As you can see from just this sampling (there are many more styles available—I just chose a few), there are many arts to choose from and each has a long history, tradition, and emphasis.

Consider Your Body Characteristics and What You are Interested In

But personal interests aside, depending on your body characteristics (long legs, stocky body, quick moves, powerful strikes, or quick reflexes), you may find some martial arts styles “more suited” to your body than others. For example, boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is a relatively “small” boxer, but has the wrist diameter of a much larger person, so his punches are much stronger and more devestating—he punches above his weight class. So, consider your body characteristics in deciding what art you want to train in. If you have long legs (i.e., have good reach), you may find one of the kicking arts, like Muay Thai or Tae Kwon Do to be enjoyable. If you are a bit stockier (i.e., have more balance), you may be very effective at throwing and grappling arts like Judo and Jujutsu. If you have fast hands and feet, perhaps you might like kung fu styles. If you have more power, you may enjoy a striking art like karate or Muay Thai. Coordinated with lightning-fast reflexes? Try fencing. Finally, you may want to match the martial art you study to your personality. Some arts are more direct and aggressive, whereas other arts are more indirect and defensive.

Women

Martial arts training is especially good for women! Not only will martial arts training get you in shape, but you will learn situational self-awareness, self-defense, and alertness skills that may save your life.

Which arts are better suited for women? Though there are women practicing all styles of martial arts, some women may find arts that de-emphasize strength-against-strength techniques to be more accessible, like Aikido, Wing Chun, or Jujutsu. However, do not feel you need to limit yourself to just those arts because you are a woman. My wife, for example, has a black belt in Taekwondo.

Here are a few links specifically for women in the martial arts:

• Female Martial Artists
• Women in Martial Arts Facebook Group
• National Women’s Martial Arts Federation

Interests

Note, however, that personal effort and interests in general trump body characteristics and gender, so in the end, pick an art that you find enjoyable and are truly interested in. You may not be able to narrow your list of styles that you want to train in down to just one. You may want to learn Kung Fu AND Fencing. Or you may want to learn Muay Thai AND Jujutsu. In that case, which art you train in may be determined by which art is offered in your area. So next in the series is how to choose where to train in your martial art.

This is part 2 of a four-part series on how to get started in martial arts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing a Place to Train
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts

Feedback

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please consider shopping for yourself using this link to Amazon.com. Thanks!

For those who’ve done martial arts before, what did I miss? For those considering martial arts training, what else would you like to know? Please, send feedback my way— I’d love to hear from you.

Related Posts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing Where to Train
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• Preview of new documentary: “Bartitsu: the Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings

How many of you have watched a Bruce Lee movie, or perhaps you’ve seen the movie “Kill Bill”, and thought, “Man, I’d love to take martial arts training and learn to move like they do!”? Or maybe you’ve noticed that martial artists are generally in shape? Or maybe you’d like your kid to get off the couch and into a structured activity? Or maybe you’ve decided to learn some self-defense techniques? In this guide . . . → Read More: How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts]]>

How many of you have watched a Bruce Lee movie, or perhaps you’ve seen the movie “Kill Bill”, and thought, “Man, I’d love to take martial arts training and learn to move like they do!”? Or maybe you’ve noticed that martial artists are generally in shape? Or maybe you’d like your kid to get off the couch and into a structured activity? Or maybe you’ve decided to learn some self-defense techniques? In this guide I will help people who might want to get started in the martial arts. Getting started is not at all mystical or scary, but there are a few things you might consider to help you on your way, and the purpose of this guide is to get you started in the right direction. I’ll cover the benefits of martial arts training, how to choose a martial art you are interested in learning, and how to find a place to train.

What is a Martial Art?

What exactly are martial arts? We’ve all seen Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris do their thing on the movie screen. Was their awesomeness just movie magic? Or, was there a system of techniques behind all that flailing, kicking, and punching? Joseph Svinth provides thorough discussions and definitions in “What are the Martial Arts?”, but essentially martial arts are codified systems of physical conditioning, combat, and self defense.

Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Adults

There are many benefits from practicing a martial art. Some enjoy the physical exercise and challenge of honing the body into shape or mastering a complex set of moves. Others enjoy the mental rewards from learning routines and learning to anticipate what an opponent is going to do. There are also “spiritual” rewards, as practicing martial arts can help calm you down and give you confidence as you go out into the world.

Many people today are uncentered in their lives – are out of shape, stressed out, and/or lack a sense of where they fit within the universe. While certainly not a universal remedy, many find martial arts training helpful in achieving this balance between the physical, the mental, and the spiritual.

Under proper instruction and within the proper environment, for adults martial arts training can help fulfill the following needs:

1. self-defense training
2. a physical workout
3. improved fitness and weight loss
4. improved dexterity and motor skills
5. mental calmness, self-confidence, and inner peace
6. a greater understanding of one’s inner self, capabilities, and position within the universe

Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Children

Scientific studies on the effects of martial arts on children, here, here, and here, suggest that martial arts provide many positive benefits, from reducing bullying, reducing aggression, improving self-esteem, improving confidence, and reducing violence. From a visit to one of today’s high schools, complete with guards, metal detectors, and even clear backpacks, it is clear that current school policies are heading in the wrong direction. Perhaps martial arts training could be a part of the solution, or at least responsible parents could consider martial arts training as a step toward “world-proofing” their child.

In general, martial arts lead to self-improvement and can provide a great framework for kids–it can teach them discipline, fitness, and structure, habits definitely needed to counteract alarming childhood obesity trends. And with 50% of all adults projected to be obese by 2030, martial arts can help the entire family get off the couch, get in shape, and learn interesting skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Decisions

Okay, so now you’re hooked on the idea of training in martial arts. There are two main decisions you will have to make in order to get started, assuming of course that you are medically able, have the money, and have the time to train: 1.) which art, and 2.) where to train. These will be covered in the next two parts to this series, followed by some final thoughts.

This is part 1 of a four-part series on how to get started in martial arts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 1: Benefits of Martial Arts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing a Place to Train
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts

Feedback

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please consider shopping for yourself using this link to Amazon.com. Thanks!

For those who’ve done martial arts before, what did I miss? Any comments? For those considering martial arts training, what else would you like to know? Any suggestions? Please, send feedback my way— I’d love to hear from you.

Related Posts:

• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing Where to Train
• How to Get Started in Martial Arts, Part 2: Choosing a Martial Art
• Preview of new documentary: “Bartitsu: the Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings

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Related Posts:

• Preview of new documentary: “Bartitsu: the Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”
• New Podcast Series – Episode 1 – Beginnings
• Tuesday Links for 20 September 2011: writing prompts, jujutsu, nanowrimo, and more
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 4: Final Thoughts
• How to Get Started in the Martial Arts, Part 3: Choosing Where to Train