Practicing martial arts is a great way to stay in shape and learn how to defend yourself. However, not all martial arts have practical applications in a real-world situation; among those that can be used in real life, aikido is considered the most effective. But is that the only reason many practitioners vouch for it?
Practitioners of aikido actually consider it a path to better mental strength and self-development in addition to physical fitness. The name of the martial art even hints at the harmony that students strive towards. But can this discipline really be as holistic as both teacher and student say it can be? Here are a few of its benefits that prove this to be true.
Physical Benefits
No matter how old you are, you can expect to see certain physical benefits when you start learning aikido. Students have reported improved posture, better reaction and coordination, more flexibility and balance, and improved strength, to name a few. Older practitioners have also experienced pain relief, lower blood pressure, and improved cardiovascular health.
On top of the benefits above, many of those who practice aikido have talked about having a more confident yet relaxed presence, along with better awareness of one’s body and one’s surroundings.
Mental Benefits
One of the things students of aikido learn is to resolve conflicts as calmly as possible. Instead of worrying about what to do next, students of aikido are more apt to assess the situation, think of potential outcomes, and start working towards the outcome that’s beneficial for all those involved.
This means that, on top of better awareness of oneself and one’s environment, practitioners will eventually gain better mental health. They also develop an improved ability to focus, self-discipline, and healthier responses to potentially stressful situations.
Spiritual and Emotional Benefits
Students of aikido eventually develop an intuitive understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them, and so start to see everyday life in a different way. When you’re able to focus better and look at different situations calmly, you eventually start to develop better perceptiveness and clarity. Then you’ll see that each moment is filled with potential and meaning, thus leading to a better quality of life that you can fully enjoy.
As you can see, aikido can be not just a fun and interesting way to keep fit and become better at defending yourself, but it’s a holistic method of self-development. By training the body and mind, and gaining better awareness and confidence, students of aikido cultivate and develop an inner strength that helps them embrace anything and everything that life brings them. This makes true growth and learning possible, giving practitioners both vision and abilities to achieve goals they set for themselves.
All of these qualities make aikido one of the best corporate training courses you and your colleagues can consider. If you have more questions, or you’re looking for somewhere to train that’s close to you, you can visit this page for more information.
