[Explained] 8 Best Martial Arts For Relaxation

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Martial arts isn’t just about fighting, but about harnessing your natural physical strength and innate goodness of character.

Martial arts can also greatly support balance, relaxation, and inner peace.

If you’re looking for a martial art for relaxation, then you’ll find this article interesting.

In this article, I will be listing and explaining the 8 best martial arts for relaxation.

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8 Best Martial Arts For Relaxation

Here are the 8 best martial arts for relaxation, in no specific order.

1. Taekwondo
2. Aikido
3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
4. Judo
5. Kung Fu
6. Tai Chi
7. Kyudo
8. Wing Chung

Let’s take a look at these 8 martial arts in more detail.

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Taekwondo

Taekwondo was founded by Choi Hong Hi in the 1940s.

The translation for Taekwondo is “the art or way of.”

It was developed during and after the Second World War.

Why Is Taekwondo Good For Relaxation?

Taekwondo teaches you to have control over your breathíng, which helps to reduce stress.

Correct breathing can lead to increased calmness and relaxation.

To control your breathing you have to do breath counting which is a form of meditation.

Taekwondo offers exactly mind-body connection and development. You’ll experience the benefit of a short, guided meditation in Taekwondo. This works wonders to center the mind before starting, helping you release any baggage accumulated through the day. 

Taekwondo focuses on a lot of stretching, which relieves the tension in your body, and helps relax your muscles, joints, and ligaments.

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Aikido

Aikido originated in the 14th century in Japan.

Aikido is a martial art and self-defense system that resembles the fighting methods Jujitsu and Judo in its use of twisting and throwing techniques.

Its aim is turning an attacker’s strength and momentum against himself.

Aikido is about using your attacker’s momentum against them.

Twist and throw moves are the main movements used.

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Why Is Aikido Good For Relaxation?

Aikido trains the mind and spirit, not only the physical body.

Training the mind and spirit to be calm and focused will automatically make you feel relaxed.

The movements in Aikido promote better blood circulation through the body, which allows more oxygen into your muscles and brain.

During training, you will be more relaxed and clear-minded.

Aikido teaches you to remain calm amidst the chaos and adversity that’s going on around you.

You will be told while training Aikido to find your inner center, the dantian.

The dantian is located below the belly button.

It helps us to be balanced in our emotional responses and to remain calm and centered at our core.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also known as BJJ dates back to the 1920s.

It’s derived from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Kodokan Judo.

The Gracie family and others, later on, changed Jiu-Jitsu into their own martial art BJJ.

It consists of ground fighting, which includes grappling and submission attempts.

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Why Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Good For Relaxation?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a relatively slow-moving martial art.  

BJJ is also known as “a soft and pliable method.”

You get taught to remain calm in certain situations and to clear your mind from all chaos.

You will be more relaxed and focused after training in BJJ because of its physical and mental benefits.

BJJ has a range of physical and mental benefits like:

1. Getting fit
2. Increasing flexibility
3. Reduces stress
4. Helps with blood pressure

BJJ also teaches you open communication. This gives you the chance of engaging with a very diverse group of people.

Breathing and relaxation drills are important and are implemented in your training.

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Judo

Judo originated in Japan. It’s a very old martial art dating back to 1882 and it was created by Kano Jigoro Shihanand.

The word Judo translates to “gentle way.”

Judo is based on throwing techniques (nage-waza) and groundwork (ne-waza).

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Why Is Judo Good For Relaxation?

Ju in Judo means gentleness, softness, yielding, or liability .

All of those qualities are associated with a relaxed state of mind, which you need when training.

Whether it’s at work or the Judo club, relaxing is the key to dealing with difficult situations.

Judo teaches you to have a positive attitude towards stress, change, and risk, which makes it easier to relax.

You get taught to face your fears rather than letting your fears control you.

Judo helps you to not hide your vulnerabilities and weaknesses, but to learn to recognize them and turn them into strengths.

Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art dating back to 1920’s and 1930’s.

It was used for self-defense, hunting techniques, and military training.

In the 1950s, it became a full-contact sport.

The word Kung Fu directly translates to “martial technique.”

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Why Is Kung Fu Good For Relaxation?

Meditation is an important component of basic training in Kung fu.

The form of meditation can be used to develop focus and mental clarity.

There are many benefits to learning Kung Fu, including stress relief and greater mental focus.

Kung Fu breathing techniques help slow the heart rate and allow more oxygen to the brain.

Kung Fu will help you realize that your problems will seldom overwhelm you.

This helps in making you feel relaxed and as good as new.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that dates back over 700 years, some say even up to 1500 years.

The principles of Tai Chi are based on the ancient Chinese philosophy which believes that there is a natural balance in all things, and that we should live in harmony with nature.

Today, there are many different styles of tai chi. Most of which are beneficial to the physical, mental and spiritual well being of practitioners.

Tai Chi uses a combination of gentle moves also referred to as “Shadow Boxing.”

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Why Is Tai Chi Good For Relaxation?

Tai Chi is a graceful form of exercise and is used for stress reduction.

It’s performed in a slow, gentle and flowing movements. Often described as meditation in motion, Tai Chi promotes serenity through these movements.

Deep breathing is a very important part of Tai Chi, it helps you to calm the mind and body.

There are many benefits to Tai Chi:

1. Enhances the quality of sleep
2. Enhances the immune system
3. Helps lower blood pressure
4. Decreases stress, anxiety, and depression
5. Improves joint pain
6. Improves symptoms of congestive heart failure
7. Improves overall well-being

In Tai Chi, you do a lot of stretching to ensure that your muscles are relaxed before and after sessions.

These benefits are all good for relaxing and maintaining a healthy well-being.

Kyudo

 Kyudo is a Japanese martial art of archery.

 It was founded by Henmi Kiyomitsu in the 12th century.

 Kyudo means “The Way of the Bow”.

The bow was used for hunting, war, court ceremonies, games, and contests of skill.

Kyudo is practiced by thousands of people worldwide.

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Why Is Kyudo Good For Relaxation?

Kyudo is a non-aggressive martial art.

You get taught to slow down your breathing and avoid thinking about stressful things.

It’s a way to clear the mind and instil calm, almost like a form of meditation.

Clearing the mind and learning to stay calm in different situations helps you to relax.

There are many benefits to Kyudo that help you to be a better person physically and mentally.

The benefits of Kyudo:

1. Muscle Strengthening
2. Increases Heart Health
3. Stress Relief
4. Hand-Eye Coordination
5. Increases Depth Of Focus

Learning to reflect on your actions is an important aspect of Kyudo.

It enables you to consider the best, most effective, and most helpful way to act in any given situation.

Wing Chun

Wing Chung originated in Southern china and dates back many years ago.

It was developed as a form of self-defense.

Wing Chung is all about controlling your opponent in close-range combat.

It’s trained in a soft and relaxed way.

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Why Is Wing Chung Good For Relaxation?

Wing Chung will help you to learn how to truly relax the muscles in your body. 

Relaxing increases your flexibility and makes you more agile.

Wing Chung focuses on cultivating energy through mental focus and deep physical relaxation.

Mind-body co-operation is an important aspect of Wing Chung.

Wing Chung’s emphasis is based on mental calmness, balance, correct posture, and mindful relaxation.

It enhances immune function and lowers blood pressure.

There are many other medically valuable physiological changes.

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Conclusion

Everyone’s taste will be different when choosing a martial art.

In this article, I have hopefully made it a bit easier for you to make a decision on which martial art to choose for relaxation.

In my opinion, Tai Chi and Kung Fu are the best.

Choose your martial art and start training today, and remember to always enjoy it and have fun.