A prime facet of Karate training is that it is to be used for self- defense. Generally we think of being attacked on the street and we have to fight to protect ourselves and/or a loved one. But Karate could (and should) be also used to “fight” a condition…

 Keep in mind the first of the five directions put forth directly by Kanbun Sensei:

“ The purpose of karate training is to build and nourish a strong physique.”

I enjoy listening to the debate about training fitness in class as opposed to only focusing on the technical side. Obesity is on the rise; all you have to do is visit a local mall or restaurant to to see it is a REAL problem. So why not include serious fitness in classes?

Doesn’t self-defense include staying healthy? According to Kanbun Sensei it did.

Using Karate as a means to fight obesity makes perfect sense, from both a physical and psychological point of view. Obesity is more than just a state of the body, it represents a state of mind – which needs to be changed.

 “The purpose of karate training is to develop the mental, spiritual, and human characteristics.” (direction #2)

Karate, like most other forms of the defensive arts; can provide a total body workout when a student is safely pushed to their limits in class. Almost every muscle is repeatedly tensed and relaxed. On top of that, the physical exertion provides a good aerobic workout which contributes to speeding up bodily processes in general.

Consider this: power movements rely on the stomach muscles for control. When you launch a kick, your stomach muscles have to control your balance. When you launch a strike, your whole upper body becomes part of the movement, relying on the stomach for control. This unusual demand on the stomach muscles is a perfect tool to burn stomach fat, and for toning the abs.

The issue of obesity is an increasing concern in the case of children. Quite simply put, children are becoming less and less physically active. In the age of X-box and Wii; our youth have literally become “couch potatoes”.

We know that obese children frequently suffer from a lack of self esteem(1) . The fact that they may be ridiculed if they attempt to take up sports does not help much. However in Karate, all newcomers regardless of their physique tend to struggle somewhat at the start. The movements and postures are unusual, and being ‘fit’ does not offer a great advantage. This results in a situation where the obese person can fit in much easier – he/she will have time to “grow into it”. Sure, it will probably take some extra effort, but amongst other beginners in a class, the difference in capabilities will not seem so huge (pardon the pun).

Here is a young man (21) who lost a third of his body weight by taking up Karate: weight loss through martial arts

Of course, there are a host of other benefits to practicing Karate; most of us joined for the same reason – to learn to defend ourselves. Obesity is a serious problem as standards of living goes up and we have more time to do ‘nothing’. Karate can be a great tool to use to help people fight obesity and to learn practical defense. The question is are you going to help your students out or keep the mindset that the Karate dojo is not a place to be concerned with weight control and fitness?

Citation:

Childhood obesity and self-esteem. Pediatrics [serial online]. 2000; 105: e15
RS Strauss http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/105/1/e15