The world can be a very dangerous place for women. They are exposed to violent crimes like domestic violence, or sexual assaults on a daily basis, and they can also be victims of less gender-specific attacks, such as robbery or burglary. The facts that in the U.S. an average of three women are killed every day by their partner and that more than 600 women are raped every day, should be reasons enough to raise concern and call for action. However, self-defense shouldn’t be the only reason why women turn to martial art sports. These activities are also great for achieving physical fitness and boosting self-confidence. With those benefits in mind, here are some martial arts that are just perfect for ladies.
Tae Kwon Do
Martial art of Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea, and it is one of the most popular martial arts in the world. It is frequently practiced at large tournaments, and even in the Olympics. The term is translated as “the way of kicking and punching”. This style has many great self-defense techniques, but also a number of other benefits for women. It enhances one’s self-esteem because it works not only on physical strength, but also on improving mental powers. Tae Kwon Do teaches fundamental skills (kicking, punching, blocking, striking and board breaking) and thus improves physical coordination, balance, flexibility and mental acumen. Besides, this discipline will increase your energy, lead to better health and fitness, and all together to a better and happier life.
Krav Maga
Not as famous as the previous mention, Krav Maga (Hebrew, contact combat) is an Israeli martial art which is actually the official self-defense style of the Israeli Defense Force. It teaches you to deal with both armed and unarmed attacks. This makes it an ideal self-defense discipline for women, preparing them for every possible real-life situation. Just as Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga has benefits that go way beyond self-defense. Since this discipline basically turns your body into a weapon, it forges and fortifies that weapon to the point where it makes it fit and effective. Krav Maga training systems combine cardio and intense workout intervals, teaching you not only to defend yourself, but also conditioning your body to endure a lot of pressure and be prepared for every challenge.
Jeet Kune Do
This art is most famous for its creator – Bruce Lee, which should speak enough about its efficiency. Lee wanted to create the most effective martial art discipline that combines various styles and techniques and blends them into one system. Did he make it? Pretty much. Jeet Kune Do teaches you to deal with attacks by using your hands and any weapon available. One of the examples of Jeet Kune Do defense hits is striking the attacker in the eyes with your fingers. Precisely because it combines various techniques, it is also great for toning your arms, upper body and legs, and increasing your fitness and aerobic capacity. The coordination that it requires for exercising with two weapons (often of different sizes) leads to increased focus and manual dexterity.
Make this year the year you will do something great for your body and self-esteem. Sure, gym membership is great, but these martial arts will bring you much more benefits and equip you for various real-life situations. Start practicing one of them today. Take it from the creator of the last mentioned discipline: “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”