subject: Karate - Fun, Fitness And Discipline [print this page] For those who live in Northern Virginia, there are many great recreation facilities such as parks, attractions and activity centers to offer many various options for exercise and entertainment in Fairfax. Karate in particular, however, offers many benefits, especially for the kind of busy, upwardly mobile professionals that make up the bulk of the population in this area. Here are a few of these benefits.
Physical Development and Self-Defense
Often, the first reason people go into martial arts is for exercise and to be able to protect themselves. Unlike in the traditional studios in the olden days that were more militaristic and stringent, modern studios teach self-defense and provide the kind of exercise that leads to a healthier body, strength and endurance in a less rigid and rigorous way in order to fit the needs of their students. Fairfax karate studios employ lessons and methods developed to be more suitable a wide demographic without sacrificing the other benefits such as discipline and value-formation.
Discipline
Discipline is one of the keys to success for any busy professional - in fact, it is perhaps the number one requirement in getting ahead. Lucky for professionals in Fairfax, karate dojos in the area focus first on instilling discipline.
Like dojos elsewhere, Fairfax karate studios employ the same systematic training that brings out the values of respect, humility and discipline through time-honored traditional practises. Bowing to each other, calling the instructor Sensei (teacher) and conforming to rules and guidelines are among some of these.
Concentration and Focus
Concentration, another factor in personal and professional success that is often hard to develop, can be easily learned in a Fairfax karate school. Concentration skills are systematically developed through training drills and the practice of kata - a sequence of poses and movements that grow progressively more difficult, which aids in developing concentration and focus.
Fairfax karate studios provide direction, which helps in focusing on goals and making them attainable. Large goals (such as a black belt) are broken down into progressive steps and levels - a process of milestone marking that can be useful in sharpening focus, something applicable to personal and professional lives. In fact, martial arts have been so successful in developing concentration and focus that even doctors recommend them for people with A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) and A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder).
Self Confidence
Fairfax karate studios also help in developing confidence in a more effective way than ordinary recreational facilities. With the progressively complicated movements mastered and each level achieved, the student grows more confident in his or her abilities. Feeling good about the achievements and learning to trust one's abilities leads to great confidence. This in turn allows one to be comfortable expanding and pushing limits, leading to more growth in confidence.
