Five Ways the Martial Arts Increase Self-Confidence
It is very common for a person to feel insecure from time to time, especially during periods of extreme stress or when significant life changes are taking place. However, what is neither common—nor healthy—is for a person to always feel insecure or suffer from low self-esteem.
Martial arts or self-defense training is an important way to increase your confidence, emotionally, mentally and physically. Ask anyone who practices the martial arts and they are sure to tell you that this is true. What they might not be able to express is exactly how the martial arts helped to improve their feelings of self-worth. They just know they feel better about themselves.
If you are contemplating taking up the martial arts in an effort to better yourself and improve your self-confidence, you may be looking for some specific reasons why the martial arts will provide you with a boost of confidence. What follows are some of the most convincing ones:
1. It decreases vulnerability.
Knowing you can protect yourself in any situation makes you feel stronger and more self-reliant. Martial arts training does more than teaching you how to spar in a studio. It gives you the tools to protect yourself in any real-life situation.
2. It fosters a sense of achievement.
The first day you walk into a martial arts studio you are likely to feel that you will never be as good as the people who have been training for months or years. Once you learn and grow in your practice, however, the feeling that you can achieve anything you set your mind to will be overwhelmingly positive.
3. It promotes a healthy body image.
If you practice the martial arts faithfully, your body will become stronger and fitter. And when you feel strong and look good, you can’t help but feel better about yourself.
4. It promotes a sense of camaraderie.
When you have low self-esteem, chances are you want to isolate yourself from others. Martial arts are taught in group settings and you will come to see your fellow students as a support system. Having people from different backgrounds and walks of life that there for you will allow you to feel part of a community.
5. It eliminates performance anxiety.
Competition can be scary because you fear to fail. Most martial artists find themselves competing against others but also know that each person’s journey is their own. This knowledge makes competition less about who wins. Instead, you learn from each experience and understand the importance of believing in yourself and your skills.
The martial arts helps to develop a sense of confidence and worth, unlike any other sport or activity. The key is to give it all. When you do, you will be amazed at how it can change your outlook on life and yourself.
At JadeDragon Kung-Fu, you’re not only practicing martial art but also learning how to awaken your inner dragon.