martial arts near Cottleville, MO

Martial Arts Cottleville, MO

Martial Arts Cottleville, MO. Are you seeking to something to add to your daily life in Cottleville, MO – something positive and beneficial that will help you cope with stress and make you physically and mentally healthier? Join Gracie Barra, the world’s top martial arts team, for top quality coaching, unbreakable interpersonal relationships, and numerous improvements to your physical and mental health which come from practicing martial arts.

Sign up at Gracie Barra right away. Join us to uncover a brand new way of life taught through Cottleville, MO martial arts. Contact us online, give us a call at 636-544-3655, or check out our programs to learn more.

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Types of Martial Arts

Every style of martial art is unique, but martial arts as a whole is the collective systems of combat and defense training used to defend against threats and defeat opponents. Each different style of martial arts is governed by a different focus and style.

Martial arts fall into one of the following categories:

  • Striking or Stand-up Styles
    • Boxing
    • Karate
    • Kickboxing
    • Muay Thai
  • Grappling
    • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
    • Sambo
    • Wrestling
  • Throwing/Takedown Styles
    • Aikido
    • Judo
  • Weapons Based Styles
    • Kendo
    • laido
  • Low Impact Styles
    • Tai Chi
    • Chi Gong

What we teach at Gracie Barra to our Cottleville, MO martial arts students is a convergence of principles of several martial arts from different styles. We primarily identify as a Brazilian jiu jitsu gym, but also borrow techniques used and taught in other martial arts including muay thai, judo, and kickboxing. Learn comprehensive martial arts skills and master Brazilian jiu jitsu by studying at Gracie Barra.

Physical Benefits of Martial Arts

Martial arts is both an art and a sport. It targets not only physical fitness, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Martial arts in Cottleville, MO is a path that leads to personal growth and wellness. The benefits of practicing martial arts like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes Gracie Barra is known for are many and powerful.

1. Cardiovascular Health

It’s common knowledge that heart health is a huge factor in overall well-being. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet less than 20% of adults meet the recommended amount of aerobic exercise. In martial arts, training and warm up routines naturally elevate the heart rate and is good for overall heart health.

2. Muscle Tone

Martial arts maximizes strength and muscle tone throughout the body, including hard-to-target muscles that aren’t addressed by other traditional methods of working out like weight lifting and running. Through warm ups and training drills as well as sparring involving punching and kicking motions, with a variety of grappling and groundwork moves practiced in Brazilian jiu jitsu, builds muscle mass.

3. Weight Loss

The human body is able to burn calories and burn fat more efficiently, even at rest, when it has a higher muscle mass. With overall increased fitness and physical activity by practicing Cottleville, MO martial arts, it is easier to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight.

4. Reflexes

In martial arts, individuals are challenged to hone their reflexes. Sparring in practice and fighting in competition are excellent practice for improving reflexes. In martial arts, reflexes are vital to besting your opponent, from dodging, blocking, or maneuvering to counter-attack. Repetition of certain combinations over time makes you quicker, improving reflexes and shaving down reaction times.

5. Flexibility and Mobility

Martial arts involves deep and extensive motions that require flexiblity. It’s always important to stretch before engaging in any physical activity, and the stretches and warm up routine at the beginning of every Gracie Barra martial arts class helps improve flexibility and allows your body to move smoother, quicker, and easier. Flexibility inherently improves posture, reduces the risk of injury, and reduces tension.

6. Strength

In martial arts practice, tournaments, and in real-life self-defense situations, strength is necessary for defeating your opponent. While it is nothing without the technique, skill, and experience of practice martial arts practitioner, strength in the ingredient that enhances these technical abilities in martial arts like BJJ. Conditioning in practice and full-strength sparring with others of the same level build muscle and strength that allow you to become even more successful in your martial arts of choice.

7. Balance and Coordination

A stable physical foundation is critial in martial arts, and so is coordination. The moves taught in Cottleville, MO martial arts involve a coordinated effort in moving or keeping stationary different parts of the body in complex ways. Students first practice each part of the move slowing over and over, and eventually are able to do them reflexively. As you improve in strength, flexibility, and other physical aspects, you will, too, improve in balance and coordination.

8. Blood Pressure

Through regular physical activity, increased heart health, and improved physical health that occur through the practice of martial arts, you will naturally experience a lower heart rate and reduced blood pressure.

Other Benefits of Martial Arts

1. Stress Relief

Martial arts is like other physical activities in that it helps with stress. Physical activity releases endorphins, as well as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin and mitigates the negative effects of stress on the body. Plus, being surrounded by like-minded, determined people supporting and pushing you to be better is calming and encouraging – a unique benefit of martial arts.

2. More Energy

When you engage in regular workouts, such as attending weekly classes at Gracie Barra, you naturally have more energy. This is due to the increased blood flow and cardiovascular health that circulates oxygen-rich blood through your body more easily. After martial arts or other activities, you are also able to sleep better, allowing you to be more refreshed when you wake up.

3. Peace and Balance

Inner peace and tranquility are undeniable skills taught by martial arts. Martial arts is a form of a meditation or mindfulness exercise, where your mind is focused and present. This quality puts you in control of your body and breathing. This translates to other areas of your life and you become more able to stay calm and centered in your life.

4. Discipline

Discipline and self-control are not just for kids anymore. Many adults who are involved in Cottleville, MO martial arts have found improvements in matters of discipline such as the difficulty of quitting a bad habit. While stopping smoking, drinking, drug use, or other addictions should be done under the watch of a medical professional, efforts can be supplemented by a dedication to martial arts.

5. Confidence and Humility

Martial arts helps people of all backgrounds and confidence levels move to a healthier place with their self-confidence. Activities like belt ceremonies and tournaments encourage the shy and self-doubting to step out of their comfort zones. For people who are generally outspoken or ego-driven, martial arts asks them to bare themselves honestly in front of others. Learning and mastering new skills and competing against others builds confidence and humility simultaneously: humility in encountering unfamiliar and challenging tasks, and confidence when we are able to acheive them.

6. Mental Health

With the numerous physical health effects and the stress relief and peace it teaches, mental wellness is a natural result of practicing martial arts. On top of all the internal skills and qualities that precede better mental health, in practicing martial arts you are exposed to intimate interactions with other individuals who identify with your struggles, support you on your journey, and are going through similar journeys themselves.

7. Motivation

Signing up for structured martial arts classes can have an huge impact. The regularly scheduled commitment of going to your martial arts gym regularly for weekly class gives you accountability, moves you towards your goals and keeps you motivated to focus on your priorities both inside of and beyond your martial arts life.

8. Relationships

You will form relationships through your Cottleville, MO martial arts classes and competitions that are unique and powerful. Between you and your coaches is a bond of mutual respect. For your fellow martial artists you learn and practice with, you will have a camaraderie and understanding of each other in a way that you can’t find in other types of interpersonal relationships. In Cottleville, MO martial arts, the challenges you face and overcome form long-lasting, quality friendships.

The sum of many invaluable benefits, martial arts is a powerful force on your mental and emotional health. Each of the listed benefits has its own indirect positive effects on your life. When you join the martial arts community with Gracie Barra, you may very well see measurable changes in your life such as healthier familial and romantic relationships, advances in your career, and a new bank of positive memories on which to look back. Martial arts is something that can be enjoyed by all ages, so you can potentially enjoy the ongoing benefits of martial arts for the rest of your life.

Martial Arts Near Cottleville, MO | Gracie Barra

If you are ready to change your life, looking for a hobby, or need to incorporate more physical activity in your lifestyle, Cottleville, MO martial arts are perfect for you. Gracie Barra brings a unique Cottleville, MO martial arts experience that emphasizes important skills and values from various martial arts, including Brazilian jiu jitsu, muay thai, kickboxing, judo, and more. For every age, every schedule, and every level of experience, Gracia Barra is the Cottleville, MO martial arts gym for you.

Don’t deny yourself the world of martial arts and its astounding benefits any longer. Try your first class for free to get a taste! Reach us online or call us at 636-544-3655 to learn more or to sign up for your first martial arts class today.

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