Wildwood, MO Martial Arts

Martial Arts. Are you seeking to something to add to your daily life in Wildwood, MO – something that is good for you and will leave you better equipped to work through the tough things and make you physically and mentally healthier? Join Gracie Barra, the number one martial arts team in the world, for top quality instruction, inextinguishable interpersonal relationships, and numerous physical and mental wellness enhancements which take place when practicing martial arts.

Enroll at Gracie Barra right away and discover how Wildwood, 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 has a distinct 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

What we teach at Gracie Barra to our Wildwood, MO martial arts students is 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, Wildwood, MO martial arts is a gateway to self-improvement. The advantages of practicing martial arts like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes Gracie Barra is known for are many 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 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 in other traditional workouts like weight lifting and running. Participants build muscle mass by regular warm ups and training drills, and by engaging in the punching and kicking motions in sparring and practicing.

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. With overall increased fitness and physical activity by practicing Wildwood, MO martial arts, it is easier to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight.

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. Repetitive practice of certain combinations over time makes you quicker, improving reflexes and shaving 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. Stretches are an important part of 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 equal partners build muscle and strength that make you even more successful in your martial arts of choice.

7. Balance and Coordination

Stability is critial 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. 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 cardiovascular strength, 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 reduces 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

With a regular workout schedule, like attending weekly classes at Gracie Barra, you are left with more energy. This is due to 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, where your mind is focused and present. This quality puts you 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 skills only children need to practice. Many adults who practice Wildwood, MO martial arts have found improvements 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. For those who are shy or uncomfortable in front of others, belt ceremonies and tournaments encourage them to step out of their comfort zones. For people who are generally outspoken or ego-driven, martial arts asks them 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

With the numerous physical health effects and the stress relief and peace it teaches, mental wellness is a natural byproduct of practicing martial arts. In addition to all the internal skills and qualities that precede better mental health, in practicing martial arts you are exposed to intimate interactions with other 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. The regularly scheduled commitment of going to your martial arts gym regularly for weekly class 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 Wildwood, MO martial arts classes and competitions that are unique and powerful. Between you and your coaches is a bond of mutual respect. For your fellow martial artists you learn and practice with, you will have a camaraderie and understanding of each other in a way that you don’t generally find in other types of interpersonal relationships. In Wildwood, MO martial arts, you challenge and get to know each other and foster 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 Wildwood, MO | Gracie Barra

Whether you are ready to change your life, in search of a hobby, or need to add more physical activity in your lifestyle, Wildwood, MO martial arts are perfect for you. Gracie Barra brings a unique Wildwood, MO martial arts experience that emphasizes important 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 Wildwood, MO martial arts gym for you.

Don’t wait any longer to discover the astonishing, very real world that is opened up by the practice of martial arts. 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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