INDUSTRY INSIGHT
KARATE
SPONSORED CONTENT
Karate Strong Women
When people think of karate, they typically picture a strong, athletic male. What many people do not realize is that karate can be an excellent activity for women, too. Training in karate helps women stay physically active, learn to defend themselves, and become more confident. Women gain many valuable life lessons from training in karate.
Physical activity is important for everyone, regardless of gender. Karate offers an enjoyable opportunity for women to stay in shape. Through karate, women can gain more physical strength. Increased flexibility, endurance, coordination, and agility are also positive effects of training in karate. Many women are also able to lose weight and improve body tone through karate. Women who take karate can stay healthy and feel good about their bodies.
Karate is, however, more than just an average exercise program; it teaches self-defense. In today’ s world, it is extremely important for a woman of any age to be able to defend herself. In karate, women learn many ways to defend themselves if someone would attack them or grab them. Learning to defend against an attacker armed with a knife or gun is also important. Karate can teach women to defend themselves from an array of potential attackers.
Karate also builds confidence. Knowing how to defend yourself increases self-confidence. Karate gives women an opportunity to set and achieve goals, which makes women feel confident and accomplished. This strong emphasis on confidence is important in every aspect of life.
There are many other positive things to learn from karate. Respect, discipline, and patience are emphasized through karate. For many people, karate serves as a catharsis from the stresses and frustrations of daily life. Karate also teaches the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Though karate may be a stereotypically male-dominated sport, there are plenty of women involved, too. Women will often find strong female role models in karate. There are many female black belts, masters, and instructors who serve as role models for other women. By watching other strong female martial artists, other women are able to emerge as karate role models as well.
There are many opportunities for women to work with— and often become friends with— other women in karate classes. Karate also offers opportunities for women to go to tournaments and compete against other women of the same age and rank. In karate, women will find many new female friends and role models.
Karate is perfect for a woman of any age. Because karate can be beneficial to anyone, many people make karate into a family activity.
It can be used as a fun bonding activity for siblings or parents and children.
There is not one specific, stereotypical type of person who can benefit from karate. Karate offers countless benefits for all. The physical benefits of karate— such as flexibility, strength, and coordination— are wonderful for everyone. The psychological benefits, such as selfrespect, confidence, and dedication, are equally important. Karate can be an enjoyable and beneficial recreation for everyone. The advantages of karate apply to all— young or old, man or woman.
Canon-Mac | Fall 2016 | icmags. com 25