Persuasive Speech, Research Paper Example

Persuasive Speech

Learning a martial art is much more useful than knowing what is happening in the latest kung fu movie.  Martial arts capture much more than that, leading to the artistic, self-defense, and health-related aspects of pursuing some type of martial art.  These aspects resemble just a few ways to get involved in a particular martial art, which can lead to a lifetime full of education of the mind and body.

Artistic Qualities

There is a reason that martial arts has the word “art” in it, and that is something that adherents of any number of martial arts have realized in their study of them.  However, there are many aspects that can be linked to this artistic nature of martial arts.  Virtuous action, beauty, and other elements come together to form the artistic qualities inherent in martial arts.

The nature of Chinese martial arts is one example of this.  Many martial arts that occur in Chinese culture are inextricably linked to values such as discipline, humility, respect, and restraint (Reid and Croucher).  Martial arts becomes integrated to virtuous action and thought.  After all, even the most out-of-touch individual has seen this portrayed in badly-done kung fu films.

In these realizations martial arts becomes very close to that of art itself.  This is a view held by Bruce Lee, perhaps the most well-known martial artist in the 20^th century.  Lee held that martial arts involves emotional communication and expression, as the individual learns more about his or her own body and mind.

Just how does one find these elements of an art?  When we consider what it takes to learn a martial art, these become much more evident.  In order for one to study martial arts, a certain level of dedication, commitment, and self-control must be found.  One cannot simply learn a few moves and be ready to take these skills to the street.

This brings us to another aspect of the intrinsic qualities of martial arts.  Learning a martial art is not about learning how to fight, unless one takes the sporting view of some martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, though even this is for practice and competition.  This is perfectly expressed in Jet Li’s Fearless, a movie where a young boy wishes to follow in his father’s footsteps, a martial artist.  Yet after following this path he realizes that there is no point to fighting, and that a true martial artist learns how to fight so that he doesn’t have to do so.

Martial arts embodies a certain artistic quality.  It is found in various aspects, such as self-discipline and inherent in the legacy of some aesthetically pleasing arts, like those that have been passed down from the Shaolin temple.  While media displays martial arts as tantamount to some badly portrayed Japanese koan, there is a definite set of artistic characteristics that penetrate a number of martial arts, and in the process of learning one.

Self-Defense

Notions of self-defense characterize one of the more popular reasons for wanting to learn a martial art.  Most people fear not being able to protect oneself.  Those in dangerous areas, or even those who have been watching too much Law and Order, naturally want to be able to defend oneself if it becomes necessary.  Learning a martial art satisfies this purpose quite well.

Martial arts simply satisfies one’s need to learn a martial art.  There are a number of effective martial arts that allow one to defend oneself in a variety of situations.  Arguably, even those martial arts that are accustomed to a sports-like atmosphere, such as boxing or Tae Kwon Do, are effective in basic self-defense situations.

At any rate, this is certainly a popular reason for learning a martial art.  It fulfills a natural desire to want to be able to protect one and others from danger.  Even those that want to purely learn self-defense from a class of this name will inevitable learn some form of a martial art.

Fitness Aspects

Learning a martial art also allows one to realize the health-related benefits of such an endeavor.  Martial arts certainly range in activity level, although arguably all are positive for one’s health.  Martial arts can also form a distinct, or complete, set of one’s exercise schedule or regimen.

Allow us to take the heavy bag for example.  The heavy bag is often overlooked as a distinct part of strength training (Enamait), as it can be used for resistance with any number of strikes.  When we link this to the ability to use it for any number of martial arts, we find the fitness benefits for martial arts, which extends towards strength training.

Conditioning is no different.  All martial arts allow the individual to find cardiovascular benefits.  Practicing strikes, combinations, and other techniques promote the cardiovascular elements of martial arts, which can form a segment or all of one’s cardio-based training.  The two aspects can be combined, with respect to conditioning and strength training.  Anyone who has done a few sets of strikes 50 to 100 times definitely realizes this, as resistance and endurance promote both aspects.

Over a long period of time, the fitness-related benefits of learning a martial art stand out greatly.  Most of you have seen this, where individuals who appear to be grandparents are practicing Tai Chi, which is quite impressive.  The benefits of learning a martial art can certainly be realized over the course of one’s life, and represent a great way to battle a number of conditions.  Other health considerations, such as simply increasing flexibility and bone density, are advantageous to one’s health.

Conclusion

Learning a martial art can add a great deal to your life.  Whether it is for health, self-defense, or artistically-based purposes, choosing one can be a rewarding experience.  Of course, we cannot forget the value of knowing what the context is for the characters in Kung Fu Panda, where the animals represent styles in forms of kung fu.

Intrinsically martial arts allow you to grow in any number of areas.  Confidence, self-discipline, and other concepts can be realized.  These are also very effective in children as well.  Apart from this line of advantages, there is a certain aesthetic quality to learning a martial art.  One realizes the inherent beauty of a martial art, as many are attributed to a history, culture, philosophy, or simply the harmony of its techniques.

Extrinsically there is little left to be desired.  Martial arts remain a powerful exercise, able to be applied to cardiovascular conditioning and strength training.  These benefits are also certainly realized over the long term if one stays committed to his or her martial art of choice.

Overall the benefits to learning a martial art cannot be ignored.  Learning a martial art embodies the physical and spiritual aspects of the process.  Other supplementary aspects cannot be ignored, as merely becoming engrossed in learning about the history of some martial arts can represent a reason in itself.  Take some consideration into learning a martial art to realize some of these valuable advantages.

Works Cited

Enamait, Ross. “Intensifying the Heavy Bag.” BodyBuilding.com. N.D. Web. Retrieved July 29, 2010.

Lee, Bruce. Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Valencia, CA: Ohara Publications, 1975.

Reid, Howard, and Croucher, Michael. The Way of the Warrior – The Paradox of the Martial Arts. New York: Overlook Press, 1983.