What Are the Benefits of Karate?

Whether you took up karate as a kid to fend off schoolyard bullies or have turned to the martial art as an adult to keep in shape, this ancient discipline is loaded with benefits. As is the case with many active pastimes, karate provides benefits that can improve your physique and boost your mental well-being.

  1. Fat-Loss Benefits

    • Regardless of your reason for practicing karate, this martial art is an effective way to burn calories to help you lose weight or maintain a healthy body. Practicing karate burns calories quickly; according to Harvard Medical School, a 185-pound person who spends 30 minutes practicing karate will burn 444 calories. Activities such as karate can help you create the necessary daily calorie deficit to reduce your amount of body fat. MayoClinic.com notes you must burn 3,500 excess calories to lose a pound of fat.

    Other Physical Benefits

    • A karate workout provides a long list of varying physical benefits. Kreimer's Karate Institute notes practicing this martial art can improve your reflexes, coordination and flexibility to help you succeed not only in karate, but also in any physical endeavor. You'll also gain improved cardiovascular function and improve your muscle mass and endurance. Sabean Karate Academy reports committing to karate can ward off such serious medical conditions as high blood pressure and diabetes by elevating your heart rate and helping you maintain a healthy body.

    Mental Benefits

    • Martial arts such as karate are more than just a workout for your body; such disciplines also provide mental benefits and place an emphasis on mental strength. According to Kreimer's Karate Institute, mental benefits including improved concentration, better self-esteem and a boost to your confidence are common, as is developing a greater respect for those around you. Sabean Karate Academy notes people who practice karate often experience improved patience and commitment, which can translate positively into other areas of their life.

    Self-Defense

    • Even if you hope you won't ever have to use the skills you acquire in karate to defend yourself, being well-versed in this martial art can drastically improve your self-defense or the defense of others. Training in karate helps a student learn defensive techniques against punches and kicks, but also how to attack an opponent. Wado Kai Karate notes karate also teaches its students how to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid physical confrontation unless necessary.