Martial Arts, and Other Sports for Adult's Fitness

Roper

Hey mods, don't move this to the MA forum please, I'm making a general fitness point.

Okay, so, this is something close to my heart obviously, but I thought I'd come on here and espouse the benifits of my chosen sport for general health and fitness. Why? Because as a lurker and occasional poster here, I've noticed one common thread among the threads. Whenever someone posts here as a newbie to the forum and world of, I suppose for the want of a better term, "adult fitness", they almost invariably have quit sport since school.

I'm using the term adult fitness- which, to be honest, sounds like a workout on a porn set- because of the multitude of options available to our children when it comes to new sports and activities, and the lack thereof when we grow up.

Now as a coach, I am fully aware of the obstacles which stand in an adult's way when they try to join a sports activity or club. Much of what goes on is extremely elitist, or expensive, or just plain inaccessible to someone who hasn't played since an early age.

Now obviously, your own good health and well being should be motivation enough to get out and walk, jog, run, gym it, swim or whatever. But the truth of the matter is that a lot of people just don't find that fun, and once the enjoyment is lacking, the interest wanes, and the old habits begin to creep in. The motivational benifit of having something to strive for in an activity gives you that impetus to get off the couch, get into the gym, get out for that run, lift that last set.

Martial Arts, or combat sports (my preference) are a multi faceted, accessible way to get fit and maintain that fitness once you're there. There is something out there for literally everyone, from the softer forms of thai chi and kung fu to the hardcore fitness of Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts. Now I'm not here to espouse the benifits of one versus the other, (go visit the martial arts forum for much debate on that very topic!) but merely to point out that learning and playing something new could be the fitness boost you need, and in my opinion, martial arts is good because:

1) there are many levels in which a newcomer can slot in
2) While there's an obvious social benifit (I met my wife doing Taekwondo!!) it is essentially an individual activity, with next to no equipment required
3) While physical demands vary across each style, broadly speaking you will gain flexibility, lose weight, gain strength...
4) You'll learn new stuff! Everyone loves stuff!

Now I'm promoting martial arts here but if anyone has any other sports they feel are as accessible to an adult maybe they can follow up on this. I'd love to see more adults involved in sport.

Money Shot

I think you make a good point here.

A lot more people should consider an actual sport rather than 'going to the gym' for a sustained lifestyle change to improve their fitness and health. Martial arts burns a lot of calories and involves a lot of muscless that would normally not be used, not to mention the flexibility benefits.
When you involve yourself in a sport you are far more likely to keep it going as you enjoy it and have an interest in it.

Most people who want to get fit generally just join an expensive gym as the first step. I'm sure we all know people who drive 2/3 miles to work slowly, come home, get the bag ready, and drive another twenty minutes to the gym to walk on a threadmill for 40 minutes. If they walked to/from work it would be far more sustainable and beneficial health, time and finance wise.

A lot of people get fed up with the gym and not seeing results, so the programme goes by the wayside, it's different with sport. It might even give you a reason to get to the gym.

People should walk more and take up sports such as martial arts, swimming, football, basketball, tennis, cycling, squash etc. but alas, most people will still drive straight to the gym. I think a lot of this is down to a lot of people don't seem to bothered about how healthy they are, but are much more concerned with how they look.

aoa321

Roper,

Good post and you've made some interesting points. I agree with practially all of it and I would add that I find sports more enjoyable as I get older. I don't have the pressure of "failing" or not making teams. I'm only interested in my performance, and my enjoyment, and I don't have to compare my performance with anybody else's unless I choose to.

Combat sports are a great option, but I would suggest that the combat sports community should do more to welcome and accommodate new adult members, in my opinion you should stress the sports and fitness elements of the training. I have studied martial arts in the distant past and the thought of having to learn and state the tenets of TaeKwonDo at the start of a class and all the bowing and mock Eastern philosophy really puts me off - just my opinion, it may be part of the attraction for others.

I would love to start judo (I'm 38) and would really enjoy the sport element but to be honest I'd feel like a prat going up to a club and asking can I join. And the thought of having to practice throws with a 7 year old just doesn't do it for me !! I'm planning on waiting for a couple of years, when my 4 year old is big enough I'll bring him along to the judo club and then casually mention that I might as well join in the classes while I'm waiting !!!

Away from combat sports I'd love to see more opportunites for trying different sports in general. I went back to road-running 2 years ago and that's a great sport to get involved in, you just go along, give it a lash and everybody is really welcoming. Another sport that I enjoyed is tag rugby, I love the team element of that sport. These are 2 examples of sports that have thrown thier doors wide open to novice adult participation and the take up is huge - I personally believe it's because as well as the competitive element adults are looking for different things from sports, there should be a social aspect, a health aspect and most of all it should be enjoyable.

I know I'm never going to the Olympics and a lot of sports organisations are not interested in me, and that's my loss cause I'd still love to try some of the sports now that I never had an opportunity to try in school ... such as judo !!

Roper

Hey,

Yeah I know what you mean about clubs not exactly advertising themselves well. My club for example has no bowing or scraping or stuff to recite, but you'd be surprised at how many people would think thats what we do.

Tag Rugby is a great example of an inclusive sport btw.