Clarkson Valley, MO Martial Arts

Martial Arts. Are you seeking to something to supplement your daily life in Clarkson Valley, MO – something that is good for you and will leave you better equipped to cope with stress and endow you with positive qualities? Join Gracie Barra, the world’s top martial arts team, for top quality coaching, unbreakable interpersonal relationships, and countless improvements to your physical and mental health which come from practicing martial arts.

Enroll at Gracie Barra now and discover how Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts can change your life. Contact us online, give us a call at 636-544-3655, or check out our programs to learn more.

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Types of Martial Arts

Each martial art is unique, but martial arts as a general term refers to a collection of different types systems of combat and defense training used to defend against threats and defeat opponents. Each unique martial arts discipline is governed by a different focus and style.

Martial arts fall into one of the following categories:

Striking or Stand-up Styles
- Boxing
- Karate
- Kickboxing
- Muay Thai
Grappling
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Sambo
- Wrestling
Throwing/Takedown Styles
- Aikido
- Judo
Weapons Based Styles
- Kendo
- laido
Low Impact Styles
- Tai Chi
- Chi Gong

At Gracie Barra, we teach our Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts students a special approach that incorporates principles of several martial arts from different styles. We are best known for our Brazilian jiu jitsu teachings, but our programs also highlight techniques used and taught in other martial arts including muay thai, judo, and kickboxing. Martial arts at Gracie Barra is a comprehensive program where you will master Brazilian jiu jitsu and other martial arts skills.

Physical Benefits of Martial Arts

Martial arts is both an art and a sport. It targets not only physical fitness, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Martial arts in Clarkson Valley, MO is a path that leads to personal growth and wellness. The benefits of practicing martial arts like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes Gracie Barra is known for are many and powerful.

1. Cardiovascular Health

Heart health is extraordinarily important, as we all know. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet less than 20% of adults engage in the recommended amount of aerobic exercise. Through the training and warm up routines in martial arts naturally elevate the heart rate and fortifies heart health.

2. Muscle Tone

Martial arts helps build strength and muscle tone throughout the body, including hard-to-target muscles that aren’t targetted by more conventional workouts like weight lifting and running. Through warm ups and training drills as well as sparring involving punching and kicking motions, with a variety of grappling and groundwork moves practiced in Brazilian jiu jitsu, builds muscle mass.

3. Weight Loss

The human body is able to burn calories and burn fat more efficiently, even at rest, when it has a higher muscle mass. Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts helps you drop weight and stay at a healthy weight by improving general physical health and increasing physical activity.

4. Reflexes

Martial arts challenges its practioners to heighten their reflexes. Sparring in practice and fighting in competition are excellent practice for improving reflexes. In martial arts, reflexes are vital to besting your opponent, from dodging, blocking, or maneuvering to counter-attack. Repetitive practice of certain combinations over time builds quick reflexes and shaves down reaction times.

5. Flexibility and Mobility

The unique moves and motions that are involved in martial arts like Brazilian jiu jitsu pushes you to be more flexible. It’s always important to stretch before engaging in any physical activity, and the stretches and warm up routine at the beginning of every Gracie Barra martial arts class helps improve flexibility and allows your body to move smoother, quicker, and easier. Flexibility inherently improves posture, reduces the risk of injury, and reduces tension.

6. Strength

In order to defeat your opponent using martial arts, whether you are in practice, a tournament, or a real-life self-defense situation, a certain level of strength is required. While it is nothing without the technique, skill, and experience of a practiced martial arts practitioner, strength in the ingredient that enhances these technical abilities in martial arts like BJJ. Conditioning in practice and sparring at full-strength with others of the same level build muscle and strength that make you even more successful in your martial arts of choice.

7. Balance and Coordination

Stability is vital in martial arts, as is coordination. The moves taught in Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts involve a coordinated effort in moving or keeping stationary different parts of the body in complex ways. Students first practice each part of the move slowing over and over, and eventually are able to do them reflexively. Over time and through the improvement of other qualities like strength and flexibility, you will soon master the moves and improve your overall balance and coordination.

8. Blood Pressure

Through regular physical activity, increased heart health, and improved physical state that begin to take place through the practice of martial arts, you will enjoy a lower heart rate and reduced blood pressure.

Other Benefits of Martial Arts

1. Stress Relief

Martial arts is like other physical activities in that it helps with stress. Physical activity releases endorphins, as well as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin and mitigates the negative effects of stress on the body. Plus, when you spend time around others who share your goals and encourage you to be better, you may feel stress less severely – a unique benefit of martial arts.

2. More Energy

When you engage in regular workouts, such as attending weekly classes at Gracie Barra, you are left with more energy. This comes from the increased blood flow and cardiovascular health, which allows oxygen to circulate through your body more easily. After martial arts or other activities, you are also able to sleep better, allowing you to be more refreshed when you wake up.

3. Peace and Balance

There is no dispute about the way martial arts teaches the skills of internal peace and tranquility. Martial arts is a form of a meditation or mindfulness exercise, pushing your mind to be in the present. You become aware and in control of your body and breathing. This translates to other areas of your life and you become more able to stay calm and centered in your life.

4. Discipline

Discipline and self-control are not just for kids anymore. Many adults who are involved in Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts have found improvements in matters of discipline such as the difficulty of quitting a bad habit. While stopping smoking, drinking, drug use, or other addictions should be done under the watch of a medical professional, efforts can be supplemented by a dedication to martial arts.

5. Confidence and Humility

Whatever your level of confidence in yourself, it will grow to a healthier state as you move through your martial arts practice. Activities like belt ceremonies and tournaments encourage the shy and self-doubting to step out of their comfort zones. Those who are prone to being driven by ego are, in martial arts, asked to bare themselves honestly in front of others. The martial arts learning and competing process builds confidence and humility simultaneously: humility in encountering unfamiliar and challenging tasks, and confidence when we are able to acheive them.

6. Mental Health

Because of all of the physical benefits of martial arts, and the stress relief and peace it teaches, mental wellness is a natural result of practicing martial arts. On top of all the internal skills and qualities that precede better mental health, in practicing martial arts you are immersed in a community of people who identify with your struggles, support you on your journey, and are going through similar journeys themselves.

7. Motivation

Signing up for structured martial arts classes can have an huge impact. Committing to attending your martial arts gym regularly for weekly scheduled classes keeps you moving and working towards your goals and keeps you motivated to focus on your priorities both inside of and beyond your martial arts life.

8. Relationships

You will form relationships through your Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts classes and competitions that are unique and powerful. Between you and your coaches is a bond of mutual respect. Between the people you learn and struggle with, you will have a camaraderie and understanding of each other in a way that you can’t find in other types of interpersonal relationships. In Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts, the challenges you face and overcome form long-lasting, quality friendships.

The sum of many invaluable benefits, martial arts has a powerful effect on your mental and emotional health. Each of the listed benefits has its own indirect positive effects on your life. When you join the martial arts community with Gracie Barra, you may very well see measurable changes in your life such as healthier familial and romantic relationships, advances in your career, and a new bank of positive memories on which to look back. Martial arts is something that can be enjoyed by all ages, so you can potentially enjoy the ongoing benefits of martial arts for the rest of your life.

Martial Arts Near Clarkson Valley, MO | Gracie Barra

If you are motivated to make a major positive change in your life, looking for a hobby, or would like to add more physical activity in your lifestyle, Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts are perfect for you. Gracie Barra brings a unique Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts experience that emphasizes critical skills and values from various martial arts, including Brazilian jiu jitsu, muay thai, kickboxing, judo, and more. For every age, every schedule, and every level of experience, Gracia Barra is the Clarkson Valley, MO martial arts gym for you.

Don’t deny yourself the world of martial arts and its astounding benefits any longer. Try your first class for free to get a taste! Reach us online or call us at 636-544-3655 to learn more or to sign up for your first martial arts class today.

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