Bradenton martial arts enthusiasts tout mental as well as body gains

Walkers, runners, swimmers, bikers and practitioners of other sports usually tout their top benefits as stamina, weight loss and muscle tone.

But when Bradenton’s Marshall Gier, 20, was asked to share what he felt was his No. 1 benefit from his exercise of choice, martial arts, a term that refers to various training regimes for combat, his answer was quite unexpected.

“It has made me a lot more understanding,” Gier said last week just before taking an adult class at Ancient Ways Martial Arts Academy.

“I’m a lot more patient,” Gier added. “I haven’t ever lashed out at anything since I have been here and it has given me composure more than anything.”

Understanding, anger control and composure are not things that are at or even near the top of most exercisers list of top benefits.

But Gier’s response is not unusual among those who practice martial arts, which began among ancient people who had to discover ways of protecting themselves in fighting and war, said Master Boon Brown of Ancient Ways Martial Arts Academy, 5566 Cortez Road, Bradenton.

Brown said that since martial arts students are taught from their first day that they are embarking upon something that is centuries old and is revered by those who practice it, in part due to its difficulty, they learn respect that translates to other aspects of their lives.

“Martial arts, and this is especially noticeable in kids, helps people walk with an air of self-confidence,” Brown said.

When asked if he was surprised by Gier’s statement, Master Jack Bostock of Bostock’s Martial Arts & Fitness, 7300 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton and 5268 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton, said “Not at all.”

“I’ve been here 22 years and most of the people who come to us start out coming with the idea that they will see increased flexibility, self-defense and strength and it turns out to be a complete turnaround,” Bostock said. “They end up mostly talking about the mental and spiritual aspects, which include peace of mind, self control and stress release.”

To explain, Bostock uses the example of golf, a game he enjoys

“I love golf, but after you learn to swing the benefit is all about scoring,” Bostock said. “Martial arts is a mind and body experience. Your focus is so intense on every movement that you are not just doing the movement, you have this presence. You are aware of your breathing. It engages both hemispheres of your brain, left brain, right brain, so you are not just working with your dominant side.”

On the mental side, Brown and Bostock agree that martial arts decreases stress, releases endorphins, is a constructive channel for anger and frustration and increases confidence and self-esteem.

The body changes along with mind

Besides the self-control that he highly values, Gier has seen physical benefits that are similar to what people achieve from other exercise activities.

“I am light on my feet and I have good health,” Gier said. “My mother and brother both have Crohn’s disease. But after doing martial arts, I am confident it would work out for me in the end if I ever got that.”

“The three areas of physical fitness are having good stamina, good strength and good flexibility,” Brown said of martial arts. “With martial arts, we definitely get our flexibility down.”

“It increases cardiovascular health, flexibility and core strength,” Bostock said. “For those trying to lose weight it’s a great metabolism booster. You can burn 600 to 700 calories in one of our classes.”

Brown and Bostock both say martial arts is a full-body exercise where nearly ever muscle group in the body is used, which adds up to improved reflexes, stamina, flexibility, tone, strength and balance.

Focus and calmness are also improved, Bostock added.

Morals and values, which can lead to students being less impulsive, are a byproduct of devoted practice, Brown said.

Testimonies

Eric and Sarah Van Zytveld have been coming to an adult class at Ancient Ways Martial Arts Academy for about a year. Their story may be typical of people who take on martial arts as adults.

“We had originally signed our son up for Wee Warriors two years ago and when they offered ‘Moms train for free in May’ last year, that’s when I started,” Sarah Van Zytveld said. “Then it was, ‘Fathers train for free in June,’ so that is kind of how Eric got started.”

Sarah Van Zytveld is an elementary school counselor in the Manatee County School District.

“I would have to say that I look forward to the classes because working in the schools can be very stressful,” Van Zytveld said. “Martial arts is a great stress reliever.”

“I have lost some weight,” Van Zytveld added. “I have toned. I have gained strength as well as flexibility. I did have back surgery probably 11 years ago so I wasn’t sure how much I could do, but it has reduced the need to go to chiropractors frequently, so I feel the stretches, especially, have helped me overall.”

“At this point I am still early in the journey,” said Eric Van Zytveld. “I am still watching how things go. It’s been good to see that as I have pushed myself I’ve been able to rise up and accomplish things I wasn’t able to get done in the last 30 years. But I’ve got a lot of journey to go.”

If any local student of martial arts could be an example of what the art form can do, it may be Jesse Davis, 71, who has been studying martial arts almost five years.

“I was pretty dilapidated when I got here and I am still pretty dilapidated,” the peppy Davis said just prior to an Ancient Ways Martial Arts adult class. “I have three stents in my heart artery. I am diabetic. I have foot neuropathy. I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I have four discs frozen together in my back. So, I am pretty much the same when I came in but doing what I can.”

“I am able to do this,” Davis added of martial arts. “If I walked in off the street in my condition I wouldn’t be able to do it. So, I keep going no matter how much it hurts and it does hurt.”

Information: Ancient Ways Martial Arts Academy, 941-756-0800 or awmaa.com; Bostock’s Martial Arts & Fitness, 941-749-5400 or bostocksmartialarts.com.

This story was originally published July 3, 2017 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Bradenton martial arts enthusiasts tout mental as well as body gains."