Want to go?
WHAT: Brown Institute of Martial Arts
WHERE: 884 E Franklin St., Dayton
INFO: Website | Facebook | Call 937- 435-5500
Every year in January, millions of people flock to the gym in hopes of shedding unwanted pounds or become stronger. Typically, their workouts include free weights, elliptical machines and treadmills.
But if you're looking for a workout regimen that will teach you how to defend yourself, sharpen your mental focus and get you into killer physical shape, consider enrolling in martial arts/self-defense classes.
Sensei Jeff Brown, owner and master instructor of Brown Institute of Martial Arts, sat down with Dayton.com to share six reasons why you should consider taking martial arts and self-defense classes.
1. Self-preservation or self-protection
"Martial arts gives you physical knowledge, as well as mental knowledge, and the mental skills to protect yourself," Brown said. "So, if your life is in danger, or that of a loved one, your teammate, your friend, nation or tribe, you're in a position to protect yourself. We live in a very dangerous world."
2. Improve your state of mind
"When you train in martial arts, you develop mental focus, self-confidence and the clarity of mind and vision that you can't get from any other kind of workout," Brown said.
3. Develop your body
"When you do martial arts, you develop strength, stamina, flexibility and coordination. But to do so, you have to really concentrate, so develop that mind –body connection," Brown said.
It's a real mind-body exercise. So you develop your cardio, as opposed to being on the treadmill, like you're stuck on one of those hamster wheels. You're actually developing a wide-range of incredible cardiovascular strength and stamina.
4. Learn control and compliance techniques
"If you're in law enforcement, or you work in a hospital and you have a patient that didn't take their meds and is going psychotic on you…or you have a loved one that is inebriated, you can control them without necessarily hurting them," Brown said. "That's a very empowering skill set to have at your disposal, as well."
5. There are benefits for children, too
"Kids who have low self-esteem, or mental focus issues, or sometimes they are too aggressive…martial arts really helps them because they get that mind-body connection. It's a very disciplined, but fun, high-energy environment for them where they can develop themselves athletically and develop their mental focus."
6. You can learn all of this in a fun, safe, non-intimidating environment
"The majority of students that come here, they want to learn how to protect themselves and get in shape," Brown said. "They're really not interested in competition or other things. And that's totally ok with me. I'd say, probably, 90 percent of my students are not interested in competition. They want to train, get in the best shape of their lives and know how to protect themselves. We train in a very professional, safe environment. You're not going to get beat up, you're not going to get your arm broken. No one is going to slap you around or test you."
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