The Role of Martial Arts in Modern Times

Martial arts from different cultures have been around for centuries, but much of the influence of different arts is still relevant today. Traditional martial arts like Wing Chun Kung Fu and more modern styles like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are still widely practised in Australia and around the world.

As living standards have improved and people became safer and more secure, the original role of martial arts as a means of defence shifted to personal development and achievement. Today, the role of martial arts has diversified to meet different needs, from physical fitness to personal values, and education.

Martial arts for physical fitness

Martial arts is one of the most fun ways to get fit. Practising martial arts can be very physically demanding, especially for fast-paced styles like kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where you are constantly moving, striking and grappling. Martial sessions are a full body workout, cardio, muscle strength, flexibility and agility.

Apart from getting fit, students may also train in martial arts to lose weight. On average, a typical martial arts session burns over 650 calories, which is often more than you would burn in a 30-minute run.

Martial arts for self-defence

Self defence is still a necessity for many of us, even in today’s society. While it’s unlikely for most of us to encounter an assailant in our day to day lives, it’s still a risk for some. In 2022, the Personal Safety Survey by the Australia Bureau of Statistics found that 8 million Australians (41%) had experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.

This is why learning martial arts for self-defence is still important for personal safety. Our street-edge Krav Maga classes teach you how to defend yourself in emergencies or robberies. The focus of these classes is not to win the fight but to disable the opponent so you can escape or stay safe until help arrives. Having the skills to defend yourself in an unexpected fight can prevent serious injury or even death.

Martial arts for mental health

Martial arts allow many participants to release stress and find mental relief. According to the State of Play Report by Sport Australia, 21% of martial arts practitioners cited psychological or mental health therapy as the main motivation for taking up martial arts. Unsurprisingly, this reason was prevalent among middle-aged and older adults.

The focus and energy required in martial arts training allow participants to release built-up stress from work, home, or personal issues in a healthy and controlled way. At UMF Academy, we have a “leave it on the mat” approach that encourages participants to channel their stress during training and leave it on the mat, lightening the burden on their mental state.

Martial arts for values education

Values and character building are a huge part of education and personal growth, especially for younger individuals. Martial arts play a big role in promoting important life values in children, such as respect, discipline, self-control, and honesty.

UMF Academy has a tailored approach to martial arts for children that incorporates key character values alongside training. Unlike other martial arts schools, we use the industry’s #1 Character Development System, designed by leading child development specialist Dr. Robyn Silverman, to instil important values in children. We have a range of martial arts classes for kids for every age group between 4 and 14 years old.

Martial arts for a sense of community

One of the key distinguishing factors about martial arts is its focus on community. Martial arts participants form strong bonds with one another that commonly grow into lifelong friendships outside of the sport. During training, practitioners are encouraged to spur each other towards improving techniques and greater achievements.

This positive culture can only be created by trainers and mentors who have decades of experience in the industry and are passionate about empowering individuals of all ages.

As Townsville's leading martial arts academy, we are proud to be led by Sifu Pablo Cardenas, who specialises in Wing Chun Kung Fu training with a lineage back to Grand Master William Cheung, lifelong friend and mentor to Wing Chun legend Bruce Lee. UMF Academy has been serving the community of Townsville for over 20 years with martial arts classes for Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, and Krav Maga.