| True natural martial arts movement may be | | | | up with "hard science and facts". |
| different than most people think or even know | | | | Does this mean that we should say it isn't "real" |
| about. For hundreds of years martial arts were | | | | or "true" simply because we cannot test and |
| used not only as a means of self-defense but also | | | | document the mental and psychological benefits |
| to rejuvenate the body with forms and | | | | of the fighting arts like we can with physiology |
| movements. | | | | and anatomy, blood-levels, heart-rate, lung |
| Martial arts for health is about the various health | | | | capacity, mobility, strength and so on. I for one |
| benefits you may encounter from doing one of | | | | think we should be aware that these |
| the many fighting arts or taking up activities | | | | "non-physical" benefits are real for those who |
| normally associated with the arts. Training in the | | | | experience them! But at the same time, let us not |
| martial arts and fighting sports does give you | | | | forget that they also are more subjective by |
| potential benefits - physical as well as mental. | | | | nature. |
| Some aspects of martial arts for health are easier | | | | Practicing martial arts will do you good. Martial arts |
| to verify than others. Anything that happens on a | | | | for health are about the whole person, not "just" |
| physical level is easier to test and document. On | | | | the physical body! You can have a try and you will |
| the other hand, psychological and mental | | | | see the good result after a period of practice. |
| phenomenon is much harder to evaluate and back | | | | |