Category: Benefits of Martial Arts

Did you know that over 30% of children and adolescents in the US are overweight or obese? Fewer than a quarter of children get the recommended amount of physical activity a day: 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise. A child who is regularly physically active will be more likely to carry that habits into adulthood. On the flip […]

Why Do Women Need to Learn Self-Defense? Most Women consider self-defense an optional skillset that tend to be on the bottom of the list (if at all) of things to learn.  It’s like someone learning to shoot a gun, in case of war or a shoot-out. The probability doesn’t justify the effort – right? Not […]

Looking for a fun and rewarding activity that can strengthen family bonds? Look no further than martial arts training! Beyond the punches and kicks, martial arts offer a unique opportunity for families to come together and grow closer. Whether you’re a parent looking to bond with your children or a sibling looking to connect with […]

Here at Martial Arts of West End, our curriculum is based in Tae Kwon Do. However, our self-defense is based in Hapkido. As a lesser known form of martial arts this article aims to teach you a little more of what our self-defense technique truly is. Hapkido is a Korean martial art practiced the world […]

Founded upon forging an unbreakable connection between one’s mind and body, it’s no coincidence that movies about martial arts almost always feature a revered older master whose skills exceed that of their younger students: to excel at this sport, life experience is paramount. And though forms like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) definitely require a young body […]

Schedules and Routines are important in a child’s life in order for them to learn consistency and become more independent as they get older. Routines allow them to learn new things with the opportunity to improve and do it better as they get bigger. Familiar activities can also provide comfort for both adults and children […]

Martial arts training is both a physical and mental journey. Those who begin training undergo a transformation within the body and the mind. Training’s effects on mental acuity, in particular, is significant. Many who take up martial arts training experience improvement in all physiological aspects. This is also a major reason parents are enrolling their […]

Martial arts could be an antidote to bullying in schools, with a new study showing it improves students’ resilience and self-confidence. Research conducted by Macquarie University has found children who participate in self-defense programs are better equipped to deal with aggressive behavior, prompting calls for the sport to be introduced into schools. Children who participated […]

“You fight like a girl.” “You can do ‘girl push-ups’ if you have to.” “Here’s extra padding for your sparring gear.” “Are you sure you’re strong enough? We can find a smaller board for you.” These comments are nothing new to most cis-female martial artists. Even if they are not directly meant to be degrading in nature, […]

  Exercise is crucial to maintaining your health and wellbeing, but it may be even more important in aging and senior adults. While there are concerns surrounding seniors exercising, the health benefits of an active lifestyle far outweigh the risks. It’s true that seniors may take longer to heal and recover from injuries, but moderate […]

Coped up inside and glued to the screens, its no surprise that children are less active in the summer. A recent study among children 6 to 9 years of age showed that physical activity dropped by 53% during the summer months. Moreover, time spent in sedentary activities (e.g., screen time) increases. According to the national […]

Am I having a near mid-life crisis? Is that what this is? Is this the equivalent of (*gulp!) buying a Harley or red sports car and dating a hot blonde? All of this and more (MUCH more) is what went on in my busy brain when I decided to take up martial arts in my […]

On any other day of the year, would you hand your child matches or a flaming candle to play with? Probably, a hard no. You work so hard all year long to keep your child safe…. Don’t let the 4th of July mess with your common sense. Lighting fireworks in the backyard or nearby field might […]

A parent’s first instinct about activities that include kicking, punching, breaking things and yelling is probably that they aren’t really the best things for their child. Martial arts is different systems and practices, many of which originated in Asia, including boxing, karate, taekwondo, muay thai and capoeira. And while kicking, punching, breaking things and yelling […]

The kids are out of school, the sun is shining, and the pool is sparkling. Summer is a great time for family, fun, and physical activity. Unfortunately, it can also be a high time for injuries. Before you head out for some fun in the sun, here are four tips to keep your kids safe: […]

In today’s world there are few things young people need more than hope. Hope for their futures, Expectations of finding happiness and success isn’t as common today as it was in the past. The most important factor in developing self esteem and self confidence is parental guidance and support. That doesn’t mean give them whatever […]

One of my friends asked “Why do you pay so much money for your kids to do Tae Kwon do?” Well I have a confession to make, I don’t pay for my kids Tae Kwon do. Personally, I couldn’t care less about Taekwondo. So if I am not paying for Taekwondo what am I paying […]

We all make the excuses: “I don’t have enough time and I’m tired.” However, we always have time to binge episodes upon episodes of TV and scroll for hours on Tik Tok & Instagram. 30 minutes a day, that all we need to stop us from a slew of health issues. In a New York […]

When working toward a goal its important to realize what got us to that point. Whether it was the hard work of our family, our friends or even ourselves it’s wise to sit and reflect on how those opportunities came to be presented to us. In this story you will see the reflection of a […]

Trying new things can be intimidating. Especially, as you get older in life. You may feel like you can’t do certain things cause your not as physically capable. Well we are here to tell you its never too late to try! In this testimonial you’ll see what a later-in-life beginner student has to say about […]

Electronics. You know, iPhones, Tablets, Video Games, and more. It’s not uncommon to find parents who are really against the whole “iPhone” generation thing. We see it everywhere – iPads, tablets, computers, phones – everywhere we go there’s another kid with their face buried in a screen. But, is it a problem? I don’t know. […]

Every kid needs exercise and time to play, but kids who learn and think differently can have a hard time finding sports that fit. them well.  Unlike most sports, Martial Arts is focused around an individual’s personal growth, rather than comparison to others. This makes Martial Arts a great outlet for children in general. Particularly […]

Bullying is all too real. Did you know that 25% of public schools report that bullying among kids happens on a daily or weekly basis? And that 1 in 5 high school students report being bullied in the past year? The good news is that because bullying has made national headlines, schools and communities (and […]

1. Aerobic Activity Aerobic activity should make up most of your child’s 60 or more minutes of physical activity each day. This can include either moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or vigorous-intensity activity, such as running. Be sure to include vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on at least 3 days per week. 2. Muscle Strengthening […]

  Attention deficit disorder is a very common occurrence among children. For those who are hyperactive it’s always best to get involved with sports, as they offer many benefits including physical exercise, development of social skills and development of self worth. However not all sports are equal. To give you a glimpse at how many […]

Michelle Yeoh is a Malysian actress most known for her roles in several martial arts film. In 1984 she worked with actor and martial arts star Jackie Chan in a commercial which later launched her career in acting. A year later she began starring in several Hong Kong action films and utilized her dance background to perform her own stunts and […]

Many people see this symbol found in Martial Arts, The Black Belt, as if it means the person is great at their art but the truth goes much deeper in meaning. One does not attain / earn a black belt without much hard work, sacrifice, discipline and dedication to their craft however, once it is […]

  Panipak Wongpattanakit is a three time winning Olympic medalist. She has won a Youth Olympic gold in (2014) and both a bronze (2016) & gold medal(2019) in the Taekwondo flyweight event. She made history in 2019 with her win.   It was Thailand’s only gold medal at the Games and she had become the […]

In honor of Women’s History Month, we have decided to highlight some influential women in Martial Arts beginning with Cynthia Rothrock. Cynthia Rothrock is an American martial artist and actress in martial art flims. Rothrock holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high-level competitor in martial arts before becoming […]

  The success in taekwondo would be in reach if the trainee respects a few rules and train correctly, not everyone attending taekwondo classes would be good at it or master its techniques, there are many mistakes that students commit without even paying attention or without knowing them.   Here are few tips of what […]

It drove my mother crazy when I went barefoot as a kid. Still does – because I’m in socked feet in the fall and winter and barefoot the rest of the time!   I can’t stand the confinement of shoes and I’ve long been an advocate for children to go without them. As I wrote […]

The Positive Effects of Martial Arts for a Child in School Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that […]

The Positive Effects of Martial Arts for a Child in School Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that […]

Martial Arts: The Effective After School Program A parent’s work schedule never really syncs up perfectly with his/her child’s school schedule. As school lets out for the day, parents are usually wondering what options are in place for them to place their children in until they are out of work. Plus, they want to be […]

Stranger Danger “Don’t talk to strangers” used to be the cure all to protect your child, but there are two sides to this.  If you child wants to make friends or is lost…they need to talk to a stranger. Instead of creating an encompassing rule of “Don’t talk to strangers”.  Teach your children to learn who is […]

Martial arts offers brain-boosting benefits for all ages, research finds As well as increasing physical fitness and mental health, martial arts can boost brain cognition too We are all aware that exercise generally has many benefits, such as improving physical fitness and strength. But what do we know about the effects of specific types of […]

Martial Arts Is More Than Just A Physical Workout   When you think of martial arts, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is self-defense.  Yes, martial arts is great for the body, but also for the mind.  There are undeniable benefits from hitting the gym everyday, but the monotony of the […]

How Martial Arts can improve discipline in Children and Adults Discipline. This word means many things to different people. Whether it’s procrastinating, cheating on a diet, or just being an unruly kid, lack of discipline can be a detriment on your life. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the ways that better discipline can […]

How Martial Arts Conquers Bullying With Confidence Anti-bully campaigns are becoming more and more prominent with every passing year, as parents become more attuned to the difficulties children face when they head off to school or out to play. While many parents think that there’s little a child can do to avoid being bullied if […]

Does focus escape you? Do you have a difficult time sitting down and concentrating on one task, before the thought of the next creeps in? Are you constantly multi-tasking? Is it a struggle to complete a task? If you can answer yes to any, or all, of these questions, practicing martial arts can help, as […]

Parents who make fitness an integral part of their daily lives tend to be happier, healthier and do better in school.  Make your kids sweat with a few of the following activities! 1. Aerobic Activity Aerobic activity should make up most of your child’s 60 or more minutes of physical activity each day. This can […]

Avoid a full power kick: Most Taekwondo kicks are known for their effectiveness and most of them require bending and extending the knee or a twisting motion. The kicks should be performed carefully, and amount of power delivered should be based according to the purposes of your training; if you seek to improve or correct […]

How do you beat performance anxiety when competing at athletic events, or in life? I don’t have perfect answers, I do know in the martial arts world, nothing compares to performing in front of judges. Anxiety, alert. DING. DING. DING. Yes, they are judging YOU. Being judged by your peers remains part of our judicial […]

When we talk about a good martial artist having high ethics, or displaying ethical behavior, what do we mean? Ethics can be described as a high level of socially conscious behavior which embodies the spirit of martial arts. It involves the ability of a martial artist to incorporate their body and mind, not just in […]

Want more gratitude and fun to come your way in the new year? Feel like you never do enough with your weekends and time off? Why not try writing a list of 100 things to do in 2020? Making your life better can come in many shapes and forms, but in the end, it is […]

Tis the season! The holiday season is a time when people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crimes. People are often in a rush buying gifts, decorating their homes, visiting friends or traveling. There is a big increase in the number of people that are out and about shopping at the […]

Martial arts offers brain-boosting benefits for all ages, research finds As well as increasing physical fitness and mental health, martial arts can boost brain cognition as well. We are all aware that exercise generally has many benefits, such as improving physical fitness and strength.  What do we know about the effects of specific types of […]

For many of us, the reason we take adult martial arts classes is to prepare ourselves for situations in which we have to defend ourselves physically. We train for hours on theories, applications, strategies and tactics. We learn a thousand ways to counter every possible attack, we practice blocking, trapping, grappling, striking, and throwing. We […]

Bullying has become an epidemic in recent years. Yes, there have always been bullies, and yes, those bullies have always caused serious and lasting damage to their victims; however, bullying in the 21st century has changed – and not for the better. According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, one in four students has reported […]

The success in Taekwondo is not only physical but mental, knowing you know the techniques mentally is as important as knowing it physically. Here are few tips to help you:   Train regularly two to three times per week  The student should make Taekwondo  a priority in the week’s plan to train regularly.   Practice […]

Saying “No” to friends can be hard. Here’s how to make it easier.    As kids get older, peer pressure can get in the way of how well they do in school. Why? By the time they turn seven, children start caring more and more about what other kids think of them — and less […]

Think of yourself less.   To be interesting you need to be interested in others.   C.S. Lewis said “Don’t think less of yourself as a person, but think of yourself less, focusing more on the betterment of yourself for the sake of those around you, rather than for your own ego.   Move beyond […]

It is true that we should not use age as an excuse nor an obstacle that stops our tae kwon do practice, but we should not ignore its  effects our activities. Age does not only weaken the physical performance but also affects the self confidence, which means that you do not feel comfortable and ready […]

Martial arts offers brain-boosting benefits for all ages, research finds As well as increasing physical fitness and mental health, martial arts can boost brain cognition too We are all aware that exercise generally has many benefits, such as improving physical fitness and strength. But what do we know about the effects of specific types of […]

FROM A PARENT✨ One of my friends asked “Why do you pay so much money for your kids to do Tae Kwon do?” Well I have a confession to make, I don’t pay for my kids Tae Kwon do. Personally, I couldn’t care less about Taekwon-do. So if I am not paying for Taekwon-do what […]