SBN Terri - WHAT IS IT ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS THAT KEEPS ME MOTIVATED?

I've certainly been evaluating what it is about martial arts training that keeps me going.  It's always putting a goal out in front of me....something more to learn, to master ... Often it's not  physical... it is the mental challenge, it is understanding the slight nuance of when to step back or position of a hand that makes all the difference.  But its much more than that.  

I signed my son, Erik, up for martial arts classes when he was 7 years old.  About a year later, I started taking classes too.  In 2005, he was a junior in high school and we tested for 3rd degree together.  Now that my son is an adult in the work world, he worked on a survey of martial arts benefits and came up with these results:

Percent of students who reported, recognized the following changes:

72% greater strength

59% greater endurance/stamina

36% better posture

71% more focus

38% speaking up for yourself

56% quicker reflexes

39% improved performance in work/school

53% polite greetings

59% better balance

46% more eye contact

57% improved motivation

60% more self-respect With these changes, the following consequences were also reported: 38% improved happiness  46% improved confidence  41% improved health 50% parents reported improved behavior of children Noteworthy Comments Made by Surey Participants: "I have better mental health" "I'm better at goal setting and have greater respect for difference of opinions" "I have less anxiety, less fear and more confidence." "I'm better at controlling my breathing" "My leadership skills have improved" "Our girls have knowledge of how to deal with a bully at school" "I have more awareness of the community and community needs" "My confidence is higher, stress levels are lower, and I'm happier in general" "Our son has had a much easier time making friends" "Wanting to do what has been taught and please the instructors is a huge motivator in our house" "My son is better at following directions" "I feel like I'm part of a team" These are all things I've observed over the years, in myself, my son, and our 360 Martial Arts students.  Why wouldn't I be motivated to keep going!!!?