Bruin MMA

The military spends millions of dollars each year on mental health care and  research. Although advances in medications and talk therapies for disabling and chronic psychiatric  conditions are a sound investment, other less expensive and non-traditional alternatives can provide substantial relief. Recently, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)  has found an accepting home within the military ranks - understandable considering the highly competitive and aggressive nature  of the sport.  MMA  is successful in alleviating the emotional distress associated with combat,  including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression.  Some believe it is related to increases in self-worth, social connectedness, and a sense of meaning . Others attribute it to the opportunity to have an emotionally cathartic experience through physical means. Regardless of why it works, the potential for helping countless people is real. On the other side of the spe...

Robert Moore, a psychologist and theologian, emphasized that for men the warrior spirit was “hard wired.” Our hunter-gatherer ancestors were warriors. As warriors they were required to defend themselves, their family, and their tribe in order to survive. This was crucial for the succession of family to carry on. While most of us in the Western world no longer traverse the plains of Africa, the primitive responses of our hunter-gatherer counterparts have not left us. The problem today is that most people have lost the ability to express their fight-or-flight response in appropriate ways. Martial arts are an excellent conduit for the positive expression of the warrior archetype. Martial arts are an opportunity to create a tribe of warriors who are once again able to be reunited, metaphorically expressing "the hunt" through public displays of courage, tenacity, and grit. Through the symbolic enactment of the martial process, people are able to sublimate their destructive energ...

A two-for-one cardio and strength workout, boxing targets the entire body, says Jessica Matthews, an exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. She says, " In addition to boosting strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, boxing improves a number of skill-related parameters of fitness, including balance, coordination, reactivity, and agility." Fine-tuning coordination probably is not high on your list of gym goals right now, but it should be. Coordination helps you perform better in any workout and strengthens the mind-body connection, boosting your body awareness so you can tune in to how you are feeling physically. While most exercise routines do not do much in this department, hand-eye coordination is key for boxing. Punching a heavy bag or sparring requires focused movements and amazing recall, challenging your muscles and your mind. Perhaps the ultimate interval training  workout,  boxing is both an aerobic and anaerobic workout.  B oxing rounds alt...

Socrates once said, "I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler." Wise words considering being fleet of foot is how a wrestler starts his day. One of the most beneficial lessons a wrestler will learn is that this sport requires an insane work ethic. Waking up before the sun rises for early morning runs, fasting to meet a desired weight, sacrificing a social life in order to train and compete - these are only a few of a wrestler’s duties. Wrestling, in particular, is thought to require more individual commitment than most other sports due to the nature of the training and competing itself. More enduringly than any other sport, wrestling teaches self-control and pride. In addition, wrestling is an individual sport and the athlete experiences both failure and success as an individual.  Every wrestler will lose at least once in their career and this teaches them to always be respectful and remain humble. As a result, the wrestler endur...

In today’s hectic world, people sometimes forget about satisfying their personal needs. We all have jobs, families, and hobbies to keep us occupied, but what if I told you that there is one sport, one art in which you can find real fulfillment in body, mind and spirit? Muay Thai, the ancient art of self-defense from Thailand, has been gaining prominence in America recently as both a sport and  as an activity that allows ordinary people to achieve levels of fitness and inner peace previously thought unimaginable. The following are the main reasons anyone can use Kickboxing to improve their lives: Self-discipline. Beyond obvious physical skills like kicking, punching, and defending, Muay Thai offers you a whole new way of life, anchored by self-discipline. Arguably, self-discipline is the number one benefit to be gained from Kickboxing, because it is transferable to other aspects of your life. Mental toughness. Mental training is often overlooked by beginners, but it is vital f...

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) offers many unique experiences which trigger rich, subtle, and fulfilling psychological changes in its students, changes which promote positive transformation, and keep people coming back to the mats. It is the constant physical contact in BJJ which I think is one of the most influential factors driving the experience. Such contact triggers the release of neurochemicals in our brain and hormones throughout our body, which make us more aware, focused, and connected. Oxytocin is one hormone often called the “empathy” hormone, which is released in the body during such physical contact. It is likely one reason why friendships develop so quickly and deeply amongst BJJ students. But, this close physical contact occurs in the context of intense interpersonal competition, in a stylized struggle for survival, and a struggle for physical dominance. The nature of competition and survival triggers other intense psychological and physiological changes. In such situations...

Mixed martial arts are not just about getting stronger or losing weight; training can also help improve your mind. Here are some of the mental benefits associated with martial arts training: Teaches great morals and values:  Martial arts wisdom has it that after years of consistent practice, one becomes less impulsive and aggressive towards others. Gaining new skills, being part of a team, and improving focus can all lead to increased confidence. This reminds students of the right attitude, frame of mind, and virtues to strive for inside and outside the gym. Improved reflexes:  Research has found that by participating in martial arts, you not only improve your reflexes while performing the activity, but actually experience faster reaction times during all activities of your life. Faster reflexes are important in areas where you need to react quickly to your environment, for instance driving. Focus and stillness:  A true martial artist learns to meditate and sit...

Training in mixed martial arts can do more than just help you learn to defend yourself; it can help you reach fitness goals by offering these physical benefits: Total body workout:   Martial arts are a high-aerobic workout that uses every muscle group in the body. Classes use calisthenics and other body-weight exercises as a warm-up. Consequently, your stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance, and strength will all improve. Healthy lifestyle:  Due to the total-body nature of a martial arts workout, tons of calories are burned during every class. However, you will also find that your natural eating signals become better regulated, so food cravings will disappear and you will eat less as a result. Improved cardiovascular health:  Research has found that the only  real  way  to improve the status of the cardiovascular system is by participating in activities that stress the heart. Martial arts require constant movement which is great for your cardiovas...

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport  that allows striking  and grappling,  both standing and on the ground, using techniques from other combat sports. More precisely, MMA is the amalgamation of Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Greco-Roman Wrestling. The combination of these martial arts is the most holistic and effective form of self-defense. In 1993, the Gracie family brought  Vale Tudo (no-holds-barred fighting)  developed in Brazil from the 1920s, to the United States by founding the Ultimate Fighting Championship ( UFC) MMA company.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the early 1990s, when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Royce Gracie  won the first, second, and fourth  single-elimination  tournaments in the UFC. Royce fought against much larger opponents who were practicing boxing, wrestling, karate,  and taekwondo.  It has since become a s...

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