Martial arts have changed my life

[robaday]

In ways that therapy never could have....

 

I'm 32, have a left arm which was severely injured years ago and was told I would never be able to do contact sport again. I have been timid most of my life, sensitive and shy. And with that of course have always suffered from a lack of confidence. Years back I also experienced depression pretty severely.

 

Im the last guy you would expect in an MMA gym. A "wuss" as my detractors used to call me in school.

 

8 months ago my best friend, a former fighter lost his father and sunk into deep depression. I made a dare where I said, if you go back to the mma gym, I will come with you. He couldnt believe it, me!!

 

So we went. 8 months later I go six times a week, train every day apart from sundays when i do weights and shadow box. Im looking to have my first fight in 3 months time (very very low amateur level but still!). Wanted to write this because I wish someone had told me this stuff years back when I paid a small fortune and messed my mind up on anti depressants and various other things. These are the ways in which it has changed me:

 

Confidence: Overcoming my biggest fear (looking like an idiot in a boxing gym) has done remarkable things for my confidence. I walk with a swagger am more outgoing than I used to be and my body looks great.

 

Clarity of thought: The main benefit I have experienced from this has not been the physical benefits. Its the overwhelming sense of calm I feel afterward but also, when Im in there I am completely at one with myself and living in the moment. For someone who suffered from anxiety and OCD this has been completely remarkable

 

Intelligence: compared to a lot of solo sports like running, weights etc, I feel Im learning a new skill set, one that if push came to shove could save my life (I work in a high pressure frontline field in crisis environments). Theres a lot more to it than just hitting people, there is a whole philosophy associated with it, i,e how for instance muay thai was developed

 

Respect for others: Contrary to what others say about mma and boxing, you treat others you are sparring with the utmost respect, as well as other fighters as you know what they have gone through to get where they are. I am much much less likely to get in a fight outside the gym now than I used to be prior to doing this. Why? Because I can control my emotions much much better (because Im calmer)

 

Physical: I have always been very thin. And while I am still slim and probably havent put on weight, my shoulders are broader, I have a six pack, my thighs are rock solid and my flexibility is way better than ever. In terms of fitness, Ive gone from only being able to do one class a week to being able to do two a day - my unaerobic capability has shot up, while when I do run I run faster long distances than ever before (when I used to run regularly)

 

Diet: due to going regularly Ive had to change my diet: much more vitamins, more protein, and Im eating more for the first time

 

Less alcohol and drugs: I love thai boxing and boxing so much I wont go out the night before certain classes because Id rather go to something where ill learn something new that benefits me. I rarely drink or party anymore

 

Friends: linked to the above. While my gym might not be representative of all mma gyms, Ive found the trainers are way more helpful than other mainstream gyms, they care about your progression, they are fighters themselves so know a great deal about how to develop you. And Ive found the clients much friendlier too - we push each other on, teach each other how to improve and have a good time

 

Finally, my only regret is not doing this when I was younger, which is why Im writing it, it has changed my life in so so many ways I cant overstate it. If I can do it than anyone can!!!

[Potz4prez]

I've actually always wanted to do this, for all those reasons you stated... but have been constantly injured since I was about 20. I have very unstable joints.... :/

[ThaWholigan]

Good stuff. Desperately want to take up a martial art also, but never able to afford it. Will change that this year .

 

I've got my heart set on a class near me that do JKD, Muay Thai, and later FMA and Silat.

[GoreSP]

First of, I would like to say I am glad you found something that makes you so happy. I wish more people had that chance...

 

There are a lot of disciplines that have this effect on people. For me it was Crossfit.

Also, Roller Derby does that for a lot of people…as a matter of fact, Bonnie D Stroir once said : «Most seem to find roller derby in transitional periods…we rion our bodies to save our souls and somehow that makes perfect sense»

 

My point is that everyone has this one thing that will have the same effect as Martial Arts for you, Crossfit for me, Roller Derby for others…