Lets focus on that martial arts mind!

                    Okay, so my last blog was a lot about what teakwondo does for your body.  I am now going to explore what it does for your mind.   It is a great stress relief and anger management kind of sport.  It allows you to let go after a hard day of just about anything.  The sparring portion of it is great because it gives you the opportunity to just hit something.  I know that sometimes I have ones of those days where a good punch is about as good as a hot bath.   When http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin writes the stress can be relieved just by the fact that physical activity releases chemicals, called endorphins, into your body that make you feel good and like you have a second wind, it makes me think of how I feel when I take teakwondo.  I always seem to feel better afterwards.

                                                 I agree with http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=554844 's idea that teakwondo also helps your mind by working on focus and meditation/relaxation.  However it can be stressful when you are trying hard to memorize or remember something. As you do the forms( which means poomse in Korean), you have to develop a certain focus to do the right and really get in tune with the way your body works.  You also have to focus as you take class.  Your mind cannot stray and you have to perform crisply and smoothly.  As far as meditation goes, the master will sometimes have you sit in what is called body focus( Back straight, legs criss-crossed, arms straight and hands in fists resting on your knees, looking straight ahead not moving or talking) with your eyes closed and empty your mind.  It is a great way to develop a healthy way to unwind. 

               Another thing teakwondo does for your mind is teaches you great discipline. Engageing whathttp://bigwokkerssociety.blogspot.com/2008/08/whats-instructor-for.html  idea of how you cant always control a whole class I would like to say that discipline is a learned skill, not a snap of our fingers and you understand it for life kind of thing.  You are told to stand without moving, to not speak unless spoken too, and to obey all of your masters commands.  This sounds very harsh but it is very effective.  Especially with younger kids (4-about 8) or even adults who are so used to running things or multitasking.  You learn, as a young adult, how to control your emotions, how to respect and listen to authority, and just over all how to have fun and love physical activity. 
             I disagree with http://bigwokkerssociety.blogspot.com/2009/07/show-of-appreciation.html becouse sometimes it is the instructors fault.  I want to add that a few months ago I was ahving the same problem and it was because when I was there, the master never taught me anything new.  MY younger brother almost quit with me because we were so upset over it. 

                 So to wrap this up teakwondo is good for your mind.  It is a great stress relief and anger management sport, it works on focus and meditation/relaxation, and it improves and/or teaches you discipline.  Teakwondo is great and there are many reasons why you should try teakwondo. 

Anna