Aikido Westchester: Martial Arts Training for Health/Fitness - Aikido vs. Other Martial Arts?
One may look to martial arts training to improve one’s general health or even to address specific concerns in addition to medical intervention. All martial arts do offer health benefits first in that martial arts training is a form of exercise, and exercise is beneficial to the body. In this sense, many people look to martial arts training as an alternative to a health club or fitness center.
In particular, Aikido training tends to be aerobic in nature, although the exercise flow can be intermittent at times. Practice tends to begin slowly as one learns the individual techniques. After some time and proficiency, one begins to pick up the pace to achieve the desired level of exertion, depending in part upon one’s partner’s abilities. In addition to aerobic exercise, conditioning may be employed to increase strength in the legs and arms. As a general rule, however, one begins where they are and increases the intensity of practice at a pace they desire and are equipped to handle. In Aikido we do not force people to exceed their own capacity at all. In fact, the discipline of the art requires us to know our own capacities well and only operate within our abilities to exercise safely.
In addition to simple exercise, martial arts in general and Aikido specifically teach one to respond vigorously while in a relaxed state of mind. In this manner, only the part of the body that absolutely needs to be employed is active, and excess tension is not present. While the medical establishment probably has not performed studies to determine the health benefits of this form of exercise versus ones employing excessive tension, chances are the benefits are significant.
As for specific health concerns, Tai Chi as a martial art is well known for the ability to heal the body using chi and the meridians of Chinese Medicine. While Aikido does translate as the path of harmony with ki (Chinese: chi) and so similar benefits are available with this martial art, yet the emphasis in training is more for the self defense aspects. For specific health concerns using Tai Chi, we recommend contacting Tai Chi master Kwong at 914-512- 4996.
Scarsdale Aikido Aikido Westchester Cty 4 Gray Rock Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583 914-648-0492 or Contact Us
Aikido Westchester: Martial Arts Training in Westchester County NY