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The martial arts are unique in their ability to develop the three essential aspects of humanity; the physical, the mental and the spiritual. The benefits of traditional martial arts training are manifold and diverse, and affect the participant in a complex and interconnected manner. The analogy of the tripod, whereby thestrength of the structure is determined by the weakest leg, is applicable to the martial activity.

Simple physical conditioning occurs via strenuous anaerobic exercise. Solo and partner-oriented callisthenic-style strength exercises create improved muscle tone and lean body mass, essential to
the functioning of the immune system. Improved muscle motion facilitates the movement of lymph fluid through the circulation, thus assisting in the clearance of wastes and toxins. Additionally, bony structures of the axial and peripheral skeleton are reinforced via weight bearing, decreasing the chances of osteoporosis and pathological fracture in later life. Aerobic activity is enhanced by cardio-
respiratory training. Improved circulation also follows, as the heart’s efficiency as a pump is
increased and the force required to propel blood through the tissues is reduced. These decreases in
blood pressure diminish the likelihood of heart disease and stroke over time. Regarding the lungs, the
increased exercise tolerance is in part explained by increases in efficiency at oxygen extraction,
which reduces metabolic demands and thus generates less of the free radicals involved in aging.

Mental benefits include an increased sense of well being, in part due to endogenous morphines
produced in response to exercise. Psychological health is further assisted by stress reduction that
accompanies physical activity, via reductions in basal cortisol level over time. Improved sleep
patterns typically follow strenuous activity, also increasing psychological adjustment and resiliency.

Camaraderie in the dojo facilitates social bonding, essential in over all health. Additionally, confidence
is generated via a sense of ability to endure despite threat and situational pressure, and this autonomy easily transfers into other life endeavors outside of the martial setting.

Spiritual health is enhanced via the meditative nature of the training activity. Deep breathing activates parasympathetic centers in the brain stem and encourages exploration of non-physical realms. The repetitive method of physical training paradoxically frees the mind from distraction by encouraging concentration and sharpening the attention to exclude nonessential, competing stimuli. Interestingly, patterns of breathing encouraged in martial arts training parallel those used by Judeo-Christian Monks and Eastern Mystics to clarify the spirit and eliminate
more basal, negative feelings.

 

Thus, martial arts training provides an integrated,
comprehensive path to personal development, encouraging refinement in the physical, mental and spiritual features of man and woman. This sense of interconnectedness is represented by the suffix “Do”, “Kan” and “Ryu”, which roughly translate from the Japanese as “The Way”. In this sense, Karate-do represents then not simply an activity, but rather a way of life.