MMA is known as the world’s fastest-growing sport, owing to its presence for a long time. If you have never tried martial arts, you may not be acquainted with the benefits associated with it.
MMA is not just limited to physical benefits, such as helping you get back in shape and losing weight. It has various mental benefits too.
In this article, we will discuss the mental and physical health benefits of MMA. So, if you need some motivation to start today, read on!
Mental Health Benefits of MMA
It’s undeniable that MMA has numerous mental health benefits, let’s look at the major mental health benefits of practicing MMA.
MMA Improves Confidence
In recent times, MMA has become a popular weight loss alternative to traditional exercise. Since it results in a desired physical transformation, MMA helps improve overall confidence and self-esteem.
As per Liam from Fighterculture.com, martial art has a significant but little positive effect on well-being.
In addition, training at the gym can be an excellent way to meet others and socialize. When you build a social circle, especially with people having similar interests, you feel better about yourself and start socializing better.
By working out together, you enhance your interpersonal skills, and gain the confidence to test your techniques and movements against one another in sessions. This equips you with real-life self-defense skills while empowering you with the confidence to take up challenges in life.
MMA Keeps a Positive Mindset
Having a positive mindset, keeping aside negativity, is the ultimate goal for many. Fortunately, martial art helps instill positive psychology. The physical demands of MMA require its practitioners to have a healthy mental state to maximize movements and execute different techniques.
Achieving a healthy state of mind helps to increase focus and control emotions. This balance is vital for delimiting stress and dealing with the difficulties of change. A positive mindset allows managing such changes better that may otherwise go beyond control.
Plus, MMA is cathartic and often accompanied by the release of dopamine, which helps to regulate mood. Through it you enjoy a great workout and you feel positive doing it.
Besides, staying in the gym with friends and working on your skills together can be a great way to keep yourself occupied and indulge in positive activities.
In addition, martial arts’ training is linked to mental toughness. MMA professionals have a higher mental toughness score when compared to amateurs and semi-professionals.
MMA Improves Focus and Concentration
MMA is beyond self-defense, it helps you to be in tune with your body. This improves focus and concentration.
MMA requires you to be very observant towards your opponent and focus on how you can use their techniques and movements to your advantage. Such skills are helpful throughout your life, helping to improve concentration.
The benefits that lead to improved focus and concentration can also provide mental clarity, reduce distress, and leave you calm and relaxed.
MMA Relieves Stress
One of the many benefits of MMA is relieving stress. According to an article published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, exercise and physical activity can prevent and even delay the onset of mental disorders.
While it is unclear how martial arts alleviate emotional distress, boost in confidence and social connectedness can be plausible reasons behind it. No matter what the reason is, the benefits are obvious to see.
Martial arts reduces pain distress associated with chronic health conditions. Another reason to get started with MMA today!
Also, certain martial arts require intense cardio and focus. Practicing it will allow you to forget daily worries as you’ll only focus on your techniques and movements. This physical activity will help release tension, both in the mind and body.
Physical Health Benefits of MMA
The physical health benefits of MMA are not unknown. Let’s find out about them in detail.
MMA Improves Cardiovascular Health
Perhaps the most significant advantage of martial art is improved cardiovascular health. Physicians generally recommend doing 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3-5 days a week. Martial arts helps you do the same.
Whether you are practicing at home or taking a martial art class, you can easily do 20 minutes of cardio.
Cardio exercise gets your blood pumping, resulting in improved heart health. Consequently, there’s a lower risk of stroke and heart disease.
Regular physical activity is effective in the prevention of various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and depression.
MMA Enhances Overall Strength
One of the numerous benefits that you will notice during MMA training is improved strength. You won’t feel that strength only during weightlifting, but in your daily life too.
MMA is known to improve various structural muscles that become weak because of prolonged sitting and making some activities easier than before.
While other sports activities focus on one set of muscles like shoulders for swimming and lower body for soccer, MMA is a complete body workout. Still wondering how MMA improves overall strength? This is because martial arts are specially designed to involve most of the muscles.
Punching makes the arms strong, while kicking helps the legs to develop the same strength. The nature of MMA improves core muscles, as well as the muscles that aren’t regularly worked out. Check out Fighterculture’s list for the best punching dummy bags.
Practicing martial arts improves the level of strength and fitness in children and adolescents.
MMA Promotes Weight Loss and Fitness
Martial art is the perfect option for those looking to lose weight. When it comes to burning calories, there is no comparison between traditional exercise and MMA.
As per Human Kinetics Journal, acute weight loss is greater in MMA athletes as compared to BJJ and judo athletes.
While running on a treadmill can help you burn 600 calories in 60 minutes at a medium pace, MMA will help burn 700-900 calories at the same time. Martial arts training combined with a healthy diet will make you reach your fitness goals quickly.
Bottom Line
Martial arts can definitely help you with health and fitness. Along with a full-body workout that enhances endurance, strength, your focus and concentration is also improved. Besides, you get a chance to burn additional calories.
Most importantly, reaching your fitness goals helps to increase confidence and improves your personality. If you haven’t joined MMA yet, now is the time to get some motivation and start. Believe us, you’ll be glad that you did!
