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When it comes to learning martial arts, people assume it's an easy thing. The average consumer drives by a variety of teaching options on their way to work and never thinks twice about it. However, there comes a time in everyone's life when they are tested as to whether or not they know what to do to defend themselves from untimely doom. Most recently, national media covered a story of a young woman that was on a bike ride, and on her way was attacked by a couple of thugs. She could've been another statistic or victim, but instead she fought back with her knowledge of Wing Chun and knocked the guys out, held them until authorities came, and saved her own life. The incident is far from random, as we live in a world full of violence, and it's only a matter of time before you will have to face odds that are greater than you would like to admit. Before you panic, consider that there is something you can do, and the following 3 reasons to learn martial arts now will assist you in understanding that principal.

First and foremost, by learning any form of training method, you will inherently be moving your body in ways that you probably aren't used to at first. The first day of your learning will be full of new experiences, and will set you up for healthy living. Many people also know this as exercise, and that is one way to sustain proper weight and manage living for a long time. Most plans of learning how to defend yourself also tie into healthy living, and while they are not a "forceful" diet of any type, it goes hand in hand with the many tenants of martial arts and beyond.

The second reason you will want to learn, aside from weight loss, is for self-defense. As stated in the first paragraph, you will come into a time where you will need to defend either yourself or your family, and you need to be prepared. You do not need to have a weapon, or know how to elaborately plan a full-scale attack, but you should know how to disarm an assailant, and physically harm them enough to let the proper authorities come in and assist you. Remember, your goal is not to learn deadly arts, but rather enough to make sure that you are alive and not seriously injured.

The third reason you should start learning martial arts is because it can help alleviate a lot of ailments. For instance, if you're bored and depressed, you will snap out of it after a few lessons and you will regain a self-confidence that might otherwise be lost. You can also rest assured that by maintaining a good workout regimen in light of training, you will be healthy and therefore less prone to certain diseases. Do not confuse or exchange this with other healthy living options, but rather, see it as a reason to get out of a funk and get over some illnesses that only exercise can help.

The above 3 reasons should get you motivated to the point of at least looking for a way to learn. You can learn via videos, books, magazines, or even a dojo if you live near one.