If you’ve ever considered joining a martial arts class, you might be intrigued to know there is far more to this workout than meets the eye. It’s a complex field that can change a person’s perception and physical fitness. The team at Iron Dragon Fitness & Self Defense, based in Middletown, NY, is here to share several misconceptions about the subject that are quite common.

3 Martial Arts Misconceptions

1. It Inspires Violence

On the contrary, learning martial arts does not instantly steer you in a violent direction. The goal of learning this fine art is actually to become more defensive in your movements. It’s about learning how to respond to another person’s attack, not being an aggressor or instigating the first move. That’s critical to understanding the basic nature of martial arts at its core. It’s about strength, survival, and courage.

2. It Changes You

Learning any new sport has the ability to change a person. It can affect their fitness levels for the better, build muscle, and increase endurance. It can also reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, learning martial arts can’t alter the true nature of a person—who they are deep down inside. It’s your unique personality that makes you you, after all, and nothing learned will change those traits that set you apart from the rest. What it can do is alter how you cope with and handle life changes and experiences.

3. It Is Limited

Many people are first exposed to the worlds of karate and the basic concept of self-defense classes through movies or television. As such, it may seem all the moves are simple or limited to one or two basic steps. The truth is the concept of martial arts is deep and complex. It’s a multifaceted world that takes time to perfect—and even then, perfection is not the goal. It’s simply to master the sport as best as possible and be open to learning.

If you’re curious about learning martial arts, get in touch with the skilled instructors at Iron Dragon Fitness & Self Defense to learn more about their courses. Visit their website for more information on their karate classes, or call (845) 342-3413.