Martial Arts, Physical Ability ... and so much more!

I agree that physical ability is improved through martial arts training. I think that in this respect alone, martial arts is no different than other sports. For example, as 'Coach Carter' says to his bunch of rude and unfit basketball players 'before you can play, you need to be fit'. Only after 1000's of press-ups and running up and down the gym hall do they learn about co-ordination, team work, speed, etc. If we go beyond that however, the ecuation changes and becomes a bit more complex than flexibility + co-ordination + speed + stamina = martial arts (MAs). During the evidence review which I have carried out (with Ron Roberts) we have found evidence that goes back 30-40 years ago which suggests that MAs training contribute to the development of an entire arsenal of qualities, among them physical and mental health, control of mind and body and self-confidence. You can read more on this in my article which I posted last December (2010) and can be found here: Martial Arts and Mental Health.

Saying that, since I have written that article (2008) I have read, reasearched and learnt a lot more about what MAs can offer (and in my case Okinawan Karate). I have one thought in mind - that was very well expressed by Mike Clarke Sensei in one of his blog posts. It is somehting on the lines 'Karate does not build your character, it reveals it. It reveal who you are.' I am slowly growing into understanding how important Karate is when it comes to revealing one's character. MAs go so much further than just offering physical abilities.