There’s no denying that any sort of physical activity can have a positive impact on your health. However, when considering a new exercise regimen, many people forget about martial arts. They shouldn’t, though! In addition to the physical aspects of the sport, martial arts is also good for the mind. Here are a few of the ways that beginning a martial arts program can be good for your health:

Physical benefits
When practicing martial arts, you definitely break a sweat. According to Fit Day, just an hour of moderate intensity martial arts can burn 500 calories. While this is certainly a plus for people who are looking to lose weight, some people may just want to tone up. Luckily, martial arts can also improve your muscle tone. This whole-body workout is certainly more exciting than lifting weights or running on a treadmill in a crowded gym.
By adding this fitness regimen to your routine, you’ll lower your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other conditions associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Since most karate classes don’t require constant activity, it can be a good form of exercise for kids who have asthma as they’ll have time to catch their breath between sparring matches.
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Mental benefits
Martial arts is more than just a physical sport. In fact, many practitioners would argue that the mental aspects are just as important. According to Inspiyr, martial arts teach you to focus closely on your body. This helps you tune out distractions, and eventually you’re able to take this skill out of the dojo and into the rest of your life.
Stress relief is also a huge benefit that comes with practicing martial arts. There are a few reasons a weekly dojo visit can relieve stress in your life. The concentration you learn in martial arts is a big factor. The better you are at focusing, the easier it will be for you to buckle down and get work done.  According to the American Psychological Association, over a third of Americans experience chronic stress in the workplace. While an inability to focus is likely not the only contributing factor, learned concentration can help you cope. Not to mention, getting the chance to physically release your pent-up stress can be incredibly therapeutic, thus lifting your spirits.

Becoming a great leader takes time, practice and a plethora of skills. However, you don't have to take classes in leadership to develop the traits and abilities most often associated with positions of authority. Martial arts can also teach such skills. Here are three traits all leaders should have that martial arts may help you learn:

1. Perseverance 
As with any position, leadership roles come with ups and downs. However, leaders may feel the impact of mistakes or challenges even more because they bear the burden of responsibility. But when the going gets tough, good leaders have to persevere, not only to maintain their role, but also to motivate and support their staff. Martial artists also require perseverance.
From mastering difficult moves to pushing on during a losing sparring match to just getting through a tough day of training, practitioners face all sorts of odds. The persistence and determination you learn from picking yourself up off a mat can be useful outside of the dojo as well.

2. Confidence
Because other people look to leaders for guidance, the individual in the spotlight should be confident. While that doesn't mean you have to be 100 percent certain all the time, it does mean that knowing why you've made certain decisions and that those are the right choices is beneficial.
Building confidence is a lifelong journey that's sure to have ups and downs. Actively working toward establishing positivity can improve your leadership capabilities. Martial arts helps you achieve fitness and physical-skills goals, which naturally contributes to confidence.
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3. Discipline
Discipline can cover many facets of life, from helping you handle delicate situations with care to managing your time and resources wisely. Martial arts encourage students to develop discipline by challenging you and having you follow specific codes of conduct.