Health Benefits

Health Benefits

Karate literally means "empty hand." This style utilizes the whole body and its ability to twist and turn as self defense.

For example, techniques may vary from punches to elbow strikes to kicks with the feet, shins and knees. Karate can be performed as art, sport or self-defense.

Benefits of karate include: fitness, flexibility, mobility, well-being, concentration and self-control, confidence, and stress reduction.

Karate offers extraordinary fitness & health benefits to people in their 40's and 50's;

     It's not just for fighting: new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that people in their 40's and 50's who regularly practice martial arts demonstrate astounding levels of physical fitness in comparison to people the same age who don't exercise at all. The study subjects who practiced martial arts had 12% less body fat, were able to do twice as many sit-ups, had enhanced flexibility and leg strength, demonstrated a stronger immune system and showed greatly improved balance.

     It's not surprising, of course: martial arts have long been known to confer tremendous anti-aging health benefits to their followers. Throughout Asia, it's not uncommon to see large groups of elderly (people in their 60's, 70's and 80's) practicing at sunrise in the community parks. Despite their age, these people have better aerobic conditioning, balance, strength, flexibility and coordination than many typical Americans in their 30's who are already suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and cancer. People who practice simply don't experience those diseases with anywhere near the frequency. As a result, they live longer, healthier, happier lives.