The Matter of Martial Arts

Guest post by Adeline Rowley, Chiropractic Assistant at McCann Family Chiropractic

I stared at her.  
​“Noooo, mom - ugh - you can’t be serious.”  

As I sat in the top bunk, above my sister’s bed, this was my response to my mother informing us that we’d be joining a local kung fu school.  Oh, how I dreaded learning martial arts!  

​The truth is...I ended up loving it, and eventually started teaching there, where I had the privilege of seeing the power of martial arts.  Though many people perceive martial arts to be all about “punching, kicking, and yelling,” the art actually addresses much more, reaching nearly all areas of life.  ​

A young Adeline practices right in MFC's office in a martial arts anywhere challenge!

Young Adeline practices diligently as she starts to master the stances of Kung Fu!

Physical Benefits of Martial Arts
As you may have guessed, martial arts, like many other athletic-style activities, increase one’s FLEXIBILITY and STRENGTH.  Oftentimes, you can see improvement in flexibility within weeks - just by watching how high the student is kicking!  On top of that, there are many stances and workouts that are a part of most classes.  One school even requires students to do 100 pushups, situps, and squats before they earn their black belt!  That takes a lot of training and commitment. 

But the physical benefits don’t stop there!  Possibly the most important skill both learned and utilized in martial arts is...BALANCE.  Without it, stances crumble, kicks don’t land on target, and techniques remain sloppy.  

You don’t need to worry about losing agility in the martial arts, that’s for sure!

Lastly, in the same vein as balance, is body control.  It’s time to learn a new word: PROPRIOCEPTION!  The Oxford dictionary defines this as the, “perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body.”  Over the months and years, martial arts training absolutely supports this learned skill - I’ve seen it happen many times!

     Proprioception is the normal nerve signal of your body communicating with your brain.  An
     increase in proprioception reduces pain signals.  Have you ever wondered why you intuitively
     shake your hand after touching something hot or rub the spot of a bump right after it happens? 
     It’s all about proprioception!

Personal and Mental Benefits
These are typically even more pronounced than the physical ones.  

Fun fact: The #1 reason why parents enroll their children in some form of martial art is because they desire for them to learn DISCIPLINE.  That’s probably why I was enrolled.  :P

Of course, it doesn’t stop there.  COMMITMENT, as I briefly mentioned earlier, is non-negotiable in the martial arts realm if you hope to make it past the first belt.  But...once you find that commitment, and run with it, your confidence skyrockets!  I’ve seen so many kiddos come out of their shells because they felt good about what they were capable of doing - even if it took weeks for them to get there!  

Some martial art schools focus on CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, as well.  Where I had the privilege of teaching, Kung Fu Northwest, we had daily interactive chats with each class about a different word each month.  Some of these words are composure, leadership, and kindness.  When the parents got involved with reinforcing these skills at home, the stories and feedback were amazing!

Martial Arts on the rocks of Deception Pass. Adeline has progressed far in her martial arts career!

What age should I be when I start a martial arts program?
Whatever age you are right now!  Honestly.  I’ve seen both three year olds and fifty year olds on the training floor.  Of course, they were working on vastly different things, but they were both improving in their own way.  

Martial arts isn’t like playing on a soccer team where you have to reach a standard.  Instead, you find what you want to learn and what you are capable of doing, and you just keep moving forward.  Tai Chi is a slower, but quite balance-intense, art that may suit people who prefer to move more peacefully.  

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Two of Dr. Matt and Monica’s children, Timmy and Sammy, got to train in Stanwood at a school that teaches a mix of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Arnis.  The McCann boys practice karate and have come a long way in one year’s time.  Timmy most enjoys doing partner drills and also says he likes that he can work out mentally and physically at the same time.  Sammy has gained confidence in the last year and loves doing his forms.  When testing for his red belt, his Sensei noted they had never seen someone with such a big smile throughout their whole test! ​

Sammy tests for his yellow belt.

Timmy and Sammy were so excited when they had earned their stripes for their first test!

Timmy tests for his orange belt.

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Of course, Dr. Matt likes to tell me that he probably fixed the spines of all those people I beat up (which never actually happened, I promise!). Truly, I respect the martial arts for their ability to address each person physically, mentally, and beyond.  It is no easy task, but it is so worth the dedication.  The confidence, the discipline, the focus, the fitness - things that many of us strive for - available all in one place.  

Note from Dr. Matt
I am so grateful that Adeline wrote this awesome blog for us.  Our boys have certainly enjoyed their martial arts training.  So many of the benefits that Adeline described tie in beautifully with chiropractic.  I loved that Adeline brought up proprioception, as that is a huge benefit of chiropractic care.  Perfecting martial arts requires a mind-body connection because you’re using your mind for discipline and your body for performance.  Chiropractic aims to help restore that mind-body connection. If we can help you on your journey to wellness, please call us today!

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Dr. Matt's Boys practice in Stanwood at the NW School of Martial Arts:
http://nwschoolofmartialarts.com/

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Adeline and her three siblings practice(d) in Marysville at Kung Fu Northwest:
​https://www.marysvillemartialarts.com/

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