It's hard to deny that those who learn martial arts develop many skills and strong character traits needed to take the practice seriously. From improved confidence to self-discipline and respect, martial arts teaches are so much more than just physical.
Courage is a difficult behavior to master. Let's take a step back and examine what courage means. Courage, or bravery, refers to the act of doing something even though it is frightening or "out of your comfort zone."
Deeds accomplished through courage are not just "showing off," but are those that fuel personal growth or have a noble purpose. Performing competitive diving in front of an audience for the first time despite your stage fright would also be brave.
For some, bravery goes hand-in-hand with confidence. The ability to do courageous things may be greatly hindered when one lacks in self-confidence. Martial arts is a great way to not only improve your courage but your self-confidence.
In martial arts, gaining courage and confidence starts from the very beginning. The first class, for many, is often exhilarating and exciting while simultaneously being terrifying. You're walking into a room full of strangers to learn how to do something you may have zero skill in or knowledge about.
While the first time you come to a martial arts class may have been the biggest leap in building your courage, over time, martial arts will continue to help you strengthen your courage, confidence and ability to handle fearful situations.
In every class, you are faced with the idea of taking on an opponent, of learning new skills and techniques, some of which you may fail at initially. However, the idea is that even if you fail at first, you try again, you change your methods, you improve, and you eventually succeed. Martial arts teaches you that perseverance and having the courage to try, even when it's hard, is not only possible but incredibly rewarding!
Over time, we see that martial arts builds courage in students of all ages and from all backgrounds. This courage can be applied to much more than practicing a sport, it can be used to take on the obstacles of everyday life and give you the confidence you need to confront challenging situations. With martial arts, you learn not to fear the idea of taking chances but to relish in it – and this confidence and courage is something that can change the course of a life for the better!