Whilst it's common knowledge that taking martial arts classes can improve a person's physical health and fitness, many people don't realise that these classes can also enhance a person's mental well-being, too. Here are two ways that martial arts classes can do this.

They provide students with a way to relieve stress

Chronic stress can have many unpleasant effects and can take a big toll on a person's mental health. One of the reasons why martial arts classes can improve a person's mental well-being is that they can provide them with a way to regularly relieve stress. During a typical class, students might spend, for example, 15 minutes doing jab, uppercut and cross punch drills and might spend another 20 minutes engaging in sparring with a partner. This can give a stressed-out person the chance to release pent-up frustration in a friendly, safe environment where there are instructors who can encourage them to do this in a non-aggressive and controlled manner.

In addition to providing people with a safe outlet for any strong, challenging emotions they might be experiencing, the intense physical activity that is part and parcel of these classes can also allow them to relieve physical tension they may be holding onto in their bodies, as a result of being mentally overwhelmed by stress. For example, doing the aforementioned punch drills could help to loosen up the muscles in a person's shoulders; this is an area where a lot of people develop stress-related muscle tension.

They encourage people to be mindful and stay focused on the present moment

Another reason why taking martial arts classes can be beneficial for a person's mental well-being is that during these classes, students are encouraged by their instructors to be mindful and to remain focused on the present moment. For example, when sparring, each student must focus solely on the present moment in order to avoid being struck and to ensure they strike their sparring partner as much as possible.

Likewise, when practising various types of kicks, a student must be mindful of their balance, the angle of their legs and feet and the speed with which they turn or jump, as it's virtually impossible for a person to do complex kicks without falling over or hurting themselves if they're not concentrating. Being totally absorbed in the present moment can help a person to stop overthinking about the things that are making them sad or worried. This, in turn, can help them to feel mentally and emotionally better by the end of each class.