......::::::::::Women in Martial Arts::::::::::......

In 2006 Martial Arts found me in the form of Shotokan Karate and over the next two years changed my life in some very unexpected ways. At the time I was not in what most would call "great physical shape". I was about 40 pounds overweight, and no longer exercising on a regular basis. I blamed this lack in physical activity on an earlier knee surgery. It was pretty good excuse. I no longer had cartilage in my left knee which made climbing stairs extremely painful. My Knee was also prone to swelling and most exercising exacerbated the problem. Up to this point, I had tried bike riding, Pilates, and plain old walking. All had mixed results, but none proved effective enough to build muscle and burn fat the way I wanted to, until Martial Arts.

I began classes with a bit of apprehension, after watching my boys take class for several weeks. I remember thinking, "This is pretty cool stuff! I want to try it, but can I handle it?" Turns out I could. The first class was the most difficult, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but the instructor was great. Sensei explained everything from beginning to end. By the end of that first 60 minutes I was sure of two things, I really was out of shape, and Shotokan Karate was just the thing to help me reach my goal.

I wish I could tell you that  I magically lost all those pounds without changing my diet.  I did have to make a lot of changes in the way I thought about food that year. Somehow it just didn't seem as difficult as it had been in the past. With my Karate workouts, came more energy and a better attitude towards myself and my body. I was finally achieving a level of physical fitness I had not had in years. So I kept on pushing, learning, and advancing. For me the Shotokan Karate program with it's combination of strength building, cardio and toning have enabled me to develop my mind body & spirit, in a way that no other sport or fitness program can. If you have never taken martial arts, it's difficult to explain the true feeling of self confidence that can be experienced. I hear it over and over again, from both women and men in our program. However; woman are quick to point out they feel empowered because of their new level of physical fitness and the knowledge they are able to defend themselves.

My newest martial arts obsession is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Jiu Jitsu is a combination of ground fighting and grappling seen often in the UFC. Again this is style I wouldn’t have pictured myself trying. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it from the very first class. BJJ relies as much on technique as it does on strength, so it is a great style for someone small like me. I recently participated in a seminar with Royce Gracie, one of those legends in Jiu Jitsu I had always heard about. It was a very motivating experience.
 
Martial arts had helped me become a much healthier and happier woman that year, and while I did lose those 40 pounds the changes didn't stop there. With each new belt rank came a feeling of accomplishment and self-respect that was new to me. 
 
It was my personal success in martial arts that inspired me to open Sochin Martial Arts, here in port saint lucie.
   
I know from personal experience, that if more women will take the first step, they will quickly see why I am so passionate about martial arts. With nothing to ,lose and everything to gain, I encourage you to give martial arts a try and see what changes it has in store for you. Hope to see you on the mat!