Maryland Heights, MO Martial Arts
Martial Arts. Are you seeking to something to supplement your daily life in Maryland Heights, MO – something that is good for you and will leave you better equipped to cope with stress and make you physically and mentally healthier? Join Gracie Barra, the number one martial arts team in the world, for top quality coaching, unbreakable friendships, and numerous improvements to your physical and mental health which come from practicing martial arts.
Enroll at Gracie Barra right away. Join us to uncover a brand new way of life taught through Maryland Heights, MO martial arts. Contact us online, give us a call at 636-544-3655, or check out our programs to learn more.
Types of Martial Arts
Every 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 has 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 Maryland Heights, MO martial arts students a convergence of 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 is a holistic approach to wellness and strength of the mind, body, and spirit. If you are looking for a way to get healthier and grow as an individual, Maryland Heights, MO martial arts is a gateway to self-improvement. The benefits of practicing martial arts like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes Gracie Barra is known for are numerous and powerful.
1. Cardiovascular Health
It’s common knowledge that heart health is a huge factor in overall well-being. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet less than 20% of adults meet the recommended amount of aerobic exercise. Through the training and warm up routines in martial arts naturally drive up the heart rate and fortifies heart health.
2. Muscle Tone
Martial arts is an excellent way to build strength and muscle tone throughout the body, including hard-to-target muscles that aren’t addressed by other traditional 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. Maryland Heights, MO martial arts helps you drop weight and stay at a healthy weight by improving general physical health and increasing physical activity.
4. Reflexes
In martial arts, individuals are challenged to heighten their reflexes. Sparring in practice and fighting in competition improve reflexes over time. In martial arts, reflexes are vital to besting your opponent, from dodging, blocking, or maneuvering to counter-attack. Repetition 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. Other benefits of flexibility are improved posture, reduced risk of injury, and less tension.
6. Strength
In martial arts practice, tournaments, and in real-life self-defense situations, strength is necessary for defeating your opponent. While strength alone is not sufficient against an opponent who is proficient in martial arts like BJJ, proper form and knowledge of technique are enhanced by overall bodily strength. Repetition of movements 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
A stable physical foundation is essential in martial arts, and so is coordination. To learn martial arts, you are tasked with mastering coordinated techniques that require moving and holding still isolated parts of the body simulatiously. Learning the moves slowly and practicing them repetitively will make them become natural to you. 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 the repetition of physical movements, increased heart health, and improved physical state that occur through the practice of martial arts, you will naturally experience a lower heart rate and reduced blood pressure.
Other Benefits of Martial Arts
1. Stress Relief
As with any other form of exercise, martial arts helps with stress. Physical activity releases endorphins, as well as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin and reduces the negative effects of stress on the body. Plus, being surrounded by like-minded, determined people supporting and pushing you to be better is calming and encouraging – 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 efficiently. 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
Inner peace and tranquility are undeniable skills taught by martial arts. Martial arts can be seen as a meditation or mindfulness exercise, where your mind is focused and 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 Maryland Heights, MO martial arts have found that martial arts helps them in matters of discipline such as the difficulty of quitting a bad habit. Though it is not a miracle cure (quitting smoking, drinking, or drug use should be done under the supervision of a physician), efforts can be supplemented by a dedication to martial arts.
5. Confidence and Humility
Martial arts helps people of all backgrounds and confidence levels move to a healthier place with their self-confidence. 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. Learning and mastering new skills and competing against others 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 byproduct of practicing martial arts. On top of all the individual skills and qualities that precede better mental health, in practicing martial arts you are exposed to intimate interactions with other individuals 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. The regularly scheduled commitment of going to your martial arts gym regularly for weekly scheduled classes keeps you moving and working towards your goals and helps motivate you to focus on your priorities both inside of and beyond your martial arts life.
8. Relationships
Maryland Heights, MO martial arts classes and competitions are a special way to form uniquely powerful relationships with others. Between you and your coaches is a bond of mutual respect. For your fellow martial artists you learn and practice with, you will develop a camaraderie and understanding of each other in a way that you can’t find in other types of interpersonal relationships. In Maryland Heights, 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 Maryland Heights, MO | Gracie Barra
Whether you are ready to make a major positive change in your life, looking for a hobby, or would like to incorporate more physical activity in your lifestyle, Maryland Heights, MO martial arts are perfect for you. Gracie Barra is a unique Maryland Heights, MO martial arts experience that emphasizes critical skills and values from a variety of martial arts diciplines, including Brazilian jiu jitsu, muay thai, kickboxing, judo, and more. For every age, every schedule, and every level of experience, Gracia Barra is the Maryland Heights, 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.
