Why Not?

In the About Page, there are several benefits that can be realized when one trains in Karate. Let's break these down.

Mind/Mental

• Memory Retention: Students are constantly learning new techniques, stances and Kata. Each one builds upon the next. Memorization is very important in order to progress.
• Confidence: As students learn, they are required to demonstrate what they have learned. By demonstrating in front of others, self confidence grows.
• Self-Control: Karate is a martial (physical combat) art where control is a must.
• Problem Solving: When students struggle, the instructors help them see where improvements can be made. When future issues arise, students can draw of past experience in order to sovle the problem.
• Adaptation: Everyone is different, what works for one student may not work as well for another. Adaptation helps students overcome.
• Critical Thinking: As students progress, they learn more and more. This store of knowledge helps students see how new techniques, stances and Kata will benefit them.

Spirit/Character

• Patience: No one becomes an expert overnight. Karate teaches patience through development.
• Respect: True Traditional Karate is taught using respect for each other.
• Integrity: Students learn how to be honest with themselves as well as others during training and competition.
• Humility: There is always someone better out there. Students who learn this concept can excel.
• Perseverance: It may take long training to succeed just once. But the next success may come easier.
• Discipline: Since Karate is a martial art, it is treated with utmost seriousness. Training is serious and well defined.

Body/Development

• Balance: The many aspects(basics, kata, sparring, self defense) in Karate require a strong base. As training progresses, balance improves allowing for the base to strengthen.
• Flexibility: As students train harder and longer, they become more flexible. This aids in injury prevention as well as strength improvement.
• Coordination: Most of the training in Karate requires that a student performs multiple techniques, movements and shifts simultaneously. Training the body for this enhances coordination.
• Reflexes: As training progresses, students develop what is know as "Muscle Memory". Combine this with mental memory retention and reflexes are developed and enhanced.
• Endurance: Karate training requires good cardio vascular development. The aerobic and anaerobic exercises in Karate develop this cardio which improves endurance.
• Self Defense: One of the primary goals of Karate is to learn how to defend oneself from attackers.

This list is certainly not comprehensive. Also, you can see how many of them meld with each other across the different categories.