The various disciplines of martial arts have been practiced for thousands of years.
For many who grew up in the 1990s, martial arts were synonymous with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Power Rangers. For some, practicing martial arts is simply a hobby or sport, but for these Harding students, it’s a lifestyle.
Freshman Richard Love-land said he has been doing Shotokan karate for eight years and has recently earned his second black belt of the 10 offered by the discipline. Loveland said utilizing balance and control are keys to achieving success in the sport of karate.
“Karate as a whole tries to be very balanced compared to other martial arts,” Loveland said. “There’s a balance between the amount of certain techniques we use like kicks versus hand techniques. We try to strike a balance in our footwork, the way we move on the dojo floor. So it’s a lot about balance and a lot about control.”
Loveland said the desire to learn self-defense initially drove him to practice the sport, but the appreciation he has gained for the art of karate is what kept his interest in the sport throughout the years.
Loveland said he practices karate while he is home from Harding, and he hopes to broaden his knowledge by learning and practicing martial arts other than karate.
Loveland said he believes martial arts are a valuable and rewarding practice for others to consider taking up. However, he said he encourages those who enter the sport to recognize the “art” aspect of martial arts.
“If you’re considering going into martial arts just to learn how to fight, then I would suggest maybe going about it in a different way, because it is an art,” Loveland said. “And as a form of art, I think it deserves more consideration than just a way to learn how to beat people up.”
Senior Jeremy Cohen said he has been participating in martial arts since he was 5 years old, studying Tae Kwon Do predominately. Cohen said he has been training and sparring at Downtown Church of Christ in classes lead by Impact 360, a martial arts-based mentoring organization.
Cohen said the practice of martial arts is a lifestyle with lofty physical demands.
“Physically, it’s a tough sport,” Cohen said. “It’s challenging to just stand up and exercise for that long. The biggest thing is pursuing perfect technique, which is impossible to reach. And there are constantly new techniques to learn.”
Both Loveland and Cohen said the payoff is worth the cost for those who want to give any form of martial arts a shot.
“It’s hard to explain how much of a benefit martial arts has been,” Cohen said. “It has helped to highlight all my personal strengths and improve some of my shortcomings. The discipline and mental toughness that I’ve gained has been huge for me.”
Loveland said he encourages others to try martial arts.
“I would highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking to improve their balance, coordination and physical and mental toughness,” Loveland said.
