At Shire Martial Arts our beginners program is based on Taekwondo, which is a unique activity because it is a hybrid of two thousand years of traditional Korean self defence and the latest in modern western sport science.

Martial Arts is both a scientific study and an artistic expression of the human body’s natural design so the whole body may be used to move in its most efficient manner. These moves are done within the context of self defence.

Some people have a misconception that Martial Arts is simply learning how to injure others and is suitable only for commandos and such like.

Nothing is further from the truth.

Martial Arts training consists of a balanced and structured workout that dramatically increases general fitness. It is ideal for becoming very fit, losing weight, toning up or for those who are really keen, to join the elite ranks at the Olympic games.

The World Taekwondo organisation (WT) estimates that there are over eighty five million practitioners of the art and sport of Taekwondo around the globe.

Martial Arts training is a unique activity
Martial Arts is popular in so many diverse countries because it contains no dogma that can clash with cultural or religious beliefs and training sessions are fun to do. A Martial Arts session is more than just a work out. It is in fact a class, because there is a constant flow of information from the instructor. A Martial Arts instructor not only patiently teaches students what to do, they also always emphasise the how and why of each lesson. A Martial Arts workout enables you to develop bounding energy and is also an excellent way to experience and learn about the benefits of meditation.

Martial Arts is not just for sporty or athletic types either. Everyone regardless of age, shape, size or ability can reap the many rewards that Martial Arts can offer. Within a couple of months every new student’s body becomes noticeably toned, lithe and stronger. Also, their flexibility increases by an amazing rate.

Martial Arts classes are designed so that each student works out at their own pace and so they only compete against themselves rather than with each other. This has the effect of removing any pressures about looking terrific or over indulging in ego driven impulses.

The other students in a Martial Arts class are very important because they become fitness partners and support crew. Each class is structured so students share the experience or journey together. Students can often form strong friendships.

Martial Arts training is an excellent way to meet healthy, honorable, positive, motivated and successful boys, girls, men and women. In many black belt schools such as Shire Martial Arts, whole families turn up to workout because Martial Arts training is structured on knowledge and fitness levels, not on age or gender.

Another great feature of a Martial Arts class is that students receive expert personalised training, which makes it easier for each individual to achieve their own realistic fitness and health goals one step at a time. Each Martial Arts training session is different, yet you can pick it up where you left off, anytime and anywhere in the world you may be.

I recently conducted a survey amongst thirty students who have been diligently training for three to nine months including boys and girls under ten years old, male and female teens, as well as twenty, thirty and forty something males and females, even a grandmother in her sixties, who without exception, all reported a dramatic improvement in the quality of their every day life and how they felt about themselves.

Demystifying aggression and fear
Most people initially start Martial Arts training because they have a desire to maintain and improve their physical capabilities, as well as to learn some self defence. However as new students discover, there are many more benefits.

Martial Arts students begin their learning by gradually applying themselves to the physical aspect of training such as by free sparring or board breaking (Gyokpa). The (doe) in Taekwondo is the mental, spiritual and esoteric side, the art.

A student begins to first appreciate the benefits of Martial Arts, soon after they initially confront these types of daunting physical challenges. For example, when a student sees a steady improvement in their ability to do something difficult, their self esteem improves dramatically.

By engaging in a ‘fight’ under controlled contact conditions (giving and receiving hits), each student gains knowledge, confidence and understanding, as well as practical skills based on utilising balance, determination, timing, focus, fitness and tactics to own and control their space in all circumstances.

The experience gained from this controlled combat can then be adopted and applied into everyday life. Also, the strength and fortitude required to achieve a black belt can be utilised outside of the training hall (Dojang) to develop and maintain the necessary mindset to achieve major personal and career goals.

 Setting goals: Its easy!

The symbol of the black belt is synonymous with Martial Arts and is part of a belt ranking and grading system that is used to measure a student’s progression. Belt testing is an effective and time proven way in learning how to set, pursue and carry out the huge challenge of achieving a black belt. A student achieves this goal in nine realistic and manageable increments. Each belt symbolises achievement of a further set of skills.

Each test lifts a student out of their comfort zone in some personal way, either as a physical challenge or mentally, with the prospect of being publicly judged. By utilising this ancient system, and by applying practice and perseverance, the Martial Arts testing process gradually becomes less daunting, even though the syllabus becomes increasingly more complicated and difficult. Consequently, other more trivial challenges in everyday life tend to pale into insignificance.

Become a leader

It is no coincidence that professionally most black belts seem to run businesses, hold key positions or are good at schoolwork. Martial Arts is also an excellent vehicle for leadership training because the training syllabus is designed so that students will grow into teachers.

After only a few months of regular training, each new student becomes significantly more confident, self reliant and capable of looking after themselves than they ever could before.

Martial Arts training also facilitates the realisation that most troublemakers only use theatrical tricks to make themselves seem fierce and scary as a way to manipulate people. Once a student grasps this, bullies and troublemakers can never again secure a hold over them.

There is also a very strong ethos in Martial Arts that ensures students know how to control this power. Each student makes a commitment to always treat others in the spirit of friendship and to never deliberately provoke other people in any way that will negatively affect their body, mind or spirit.

Goodbye to little upsets

This positive attitude adjustment soon makes a students self esteem and confidence grow and develop to a level where eventually it is possible for them to implicitly trust their own judgment and thoughts. This self trust allows students to shift their focus off the effects of their problems and onto ways to deal with them.

Many students say that Martial Arts training helps them feel as though they are moving onwards and upwards in life instead of stagnating or wallowing in it. The payoff for a student is when one day, they suddenly realise literally, that life’s upsets no longer affect them in the dramatic way they once used to.

Perhaps most importantly, Martial Arts is famous for being a particularly effective means of street self defence for men, women and kids. The Martial Arts moves include blocks, strikes, punches, kicks, holds and grabs. This physical training is augmented by the principles of charity, modesty, loyalty, patience and respect.

This physical and ethical combination makes Martial Arts a perfect system for personal development. Anyone, including you, can get access to these benefits and more by simply turning up at a Martial Arts class, preferably twice a week and participating to the best of your ability, and that’s it!

 A tool for life

Martial Arts training makes an excellent vehicle for people to develop and evolve into what they want and consequently need to be, to feel fulfilled.

Most people enjoy Martial Arts as a simple weekly workout. A few pursue Olympic dreams as athletes or coaches. Maybe you would like to do something to help kids, by teaching them useful life-skills. Maybe you have had a personal safety scare and you want to develop some self defence skills fast.

All this is possible with a Shire Martial Arts Training Program, the only question is, how far do you want to go?