Is Starting Martial Arts a Good New Year’s Resolution?
Is Starting Martial Arts a Good News Year’s Resolution?
YES!
And no, lol. The problem I have with most New Year's resolutions is that the majority of the time, it's a simple (and usually lofty) goal that doesn't provide any real change in your life. Now, I'm not saying goal setting and discipline are bad things. But how many times have we set a goal, met the goal, and then gone right back to the habits that were getting in our way in the first place? Or, we set this really big goal, and we start really motivated, and at the first bump in the road, we abandon it. I've been there. And I'm not judging you. The game is designed against us.
A brief backstory of how I got into Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because of a New Year's resolution, and quite accidentally. I was 23 years old, and I had left the homestead I grew up on, as one does, I was spending too many nights at the bar. I had discovered craft beer and was enjoying being in a place that had a nightlife for a change. The problem was, I wasn't doing anything to offset the alcohol and indulgences, and was starting to feel increasingly out of shape.
I'll never forget I went on a canoeing trip with a group of friends, and I was embarrassed to take my shirt off. I knew I needed to make some changes, I just wasn't sure how. So Summer turned to fall, and then winter, and I set myself a New Year's Resolution. I was going to get in shape. I downloaded a couch-to-5k running app and ACTUALLY did all 9 weeks. Downloading that app was probably the best thing I ever did for my fitness. It was my first time intentionally exercising and having something to tell me what to do, when to do it, and how long to do it; it was amazing. So the first 9 weeks of 2013 came and went, and for the first time in my life, I ran a mile without stopping! And then a 5k! I was elated. But I met the goal of running a 5k and then I lost my motivation. I had hit my goal, and instead of continuing in my routine, I just... stopped.
I tried yet again, and signed up at the local commercial gym with bright purple equipment, rows of cardio machines, and a whole lot of space with things that I didn't know how to use. And I went maybe 6 times in the next three months. Knowing I still wasn't happy in my body, I decided to try something that sounded more fun.
Still determined, I found a local MMA gym and showed up on what just happened to be a BJJ day. I thought I was ready, and boy was I wrong. In those days, it was a very iron-sharpens-iron environment. I threw up during the warm-ups and then had a girl HALF MY SIZE put me on my back and strangle me. And that was that. I signed up that day and now almost 12 years later, I co-own a gym. I did lose 50 pounds that first year of training, but that's nothing compared to what I gained. So while I think New Year's Resolutions should be focused more on implementing (or eliminating) habits and restructuring our behaviors to generate the desired outcome instead of outcome-based goals, I do think training in Martial Arts is a terrific way to accomplish real change in your life. Let's look at 7 reasons why joining a Martial Arts Gym is a great New Year's Resolution.
#1 Functional, full-body fitness.
There's not a muscle in your body that doesn't get activated while training. On top of that, Martial Arts teaches you how to engage your entire body to apply strength, when to explode, and when to slow down and squeeze. Oh, and did I mention it might just be the funnest form of cardio you'll do? Plus, talk about functional fitness! I can't think of anything more functional than learning potentially life saving skills.
#2 Mental Toughness.
This is a big one, and people can talk about it all day long, but until they truly experience it, they'll never really know what it is. Imagine trying to solve a Rubik's Cube while doing burpees and the clock is counting down. Now imagine the Rubik's Cube is 200 pounds and if you slow down or miss a step, the Rubik's Cube is going to submit you. It's something like that. The stress inoculation, the high-paced problem-solving, and the constant failing and having to start again because you just got submitted, but there's still 3 minutes in the round left will benefit you mentally in such a tremendous way.
#3 Work Through Past Trauma.
For many practitioners, being able to work through the chaos in a safe and controlled environment will allow them to reclaim their sense of control and self. By confronting the chaos in a controlled setting, some people will be able to influence the outcome, and start rewiring their brain, working through past experiences and setting a pathway of capability and success. And don’t take it from us, there’s a lot of research that suggests martial arts helps alleviate the severity of trauma responses.
#4 Self-Defense.
Let's face it, the world is a little crazy at times. While I pray that I or any of my students never need to defend themselves, training in Martial Arts, whether kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, regular and consistent training will prepare you for physical confrontations in the real world. And while I believe that you should be having a ton of fun while training, knowing that you can handle your business should something come up makes you walk just a little bit taller.
#5 Community
This might be my favorite reason to train in Martial Arts. Do you want to know why I hated going to the big commercial gym? I didn't know anyone! I was alone, and I had no support, and no clue what I was doing. Plus, I suddenly had this large, diverse friend group to hang out with several nights a week! There were people way ahead of me to encourage me, there were people I was racing neck and neck with to surpass (or keep up with, depending on the week), and eventually, there were new people who looked up to me.
#6 Structure
In school, when you didn't know what you didn't know, you had a teacher to guide you. And they did more than just teach you. They provided you with the information, and a way that compounded and progressed, they prepped you for the pressure of EOGs, and they provided an ebb and flow to the workload. In short, they cultivated a learning environment through structure. Martial Arts should be the same way. Any decent instructor is going to provide not just knowledge but practical applications, overarching concepts, and insights into timing, and facilitate free spaces for creativity and experimentation.
#7 Everyone can train in Martial Arts!
I've been in the sport for over 12 years, and I can't think of a kind of person I haven't encountered on the mats. We are proud to have a balanced gender ratio, an age range from 5-70, and folks of a wide range of experiences and identities. There is a place for you on the mats, if you're willing to sweat it out.
So there you go, my thoughts on New Year's Resolutions in general, how to set them, and 7 reasons why training in Martial Arts can help you not just reach your goals but surpass them.
Are you ready to make 2025 your year and start training with us at Underdog Martial Arts?
See you soon,
Coach Brian