Australian Women’s Fitness magazine is this month (August 2013 issue) promoting martial arts to women.
They questioned women from a variety of martial arts including:
- Taekwondo
- Muay Thai
- Aikido
- Karate
- Kendo
- Krav Maga
You can read a little about my karate journey in the article. (Although, I need to clear up for those who know what this means – it was actually Wado Ryu karate I trained in when I was 8 years old, not Goju Ryu which I currently train in.)
I often recommend the martial arts as a form of physical and mental exercise for my patients. It’s great for anyone who doesn’t like mundane training in a gym, and for people who don’t excel at team sports, and also for people who need a push along with their exercise. It’s great for perfectionists and the busy minded, or those who need more focus, it brings out some fighting spirit in the timid and can pacify those on the agitated side.
It is also just damn good fun.
The martial arts (and they vary dramatically between styles – so try a few to find the right fit for you) offer cardiovascular, conditioning and flexibility training. Yes, you get fit. And training is adapted for your level, so it doesn’t matter how fit, flexible or strong you are when you start. You also get a workout for the mind – no room for dwelling on work problems while training!
So, if you are looking for a new exercise regime, social activity or hobby, why not try a martial art? But be careful, training is addictive!
Here‘s what my experience of karate training in Japan is like.
And here is my experience of the relationship between karate training and practicing acupuncture.
Do you already train in a martial art? What does it do for you?
For further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture). Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health at her Broadbeach clinic and is the Chinese Medicine Senior Lecturer at the Endeavour College of Natural Health Gold Coast campus.
