Fists, Focus, and Failure: Why Everyone Needs Martial Arts in Their Life
By Mind & Muscle Academy. Newsletter nº32 ; 18/04/2025.
I’ve always believed that life’s greatest lessons don’t just come from books or classrooms - they come from the moments that test you. The ones where your heart’s pounding, your body’s shaking, and you have to decide: give up, or keep going?
That’s what martial arts gave me.
Not just the ability to throw a decent punch, but the mindset to handle pressure, the focus to stay grounded, and the resilience to bounce back when everything falls apart.
This week, we’re diving into the power of martial arts - not as a sport, but as a life training system. Whether you’ve trained before or you’ve never set foot on a mat, this one’s for you.
What’s in this week’s newsletter:
Why Martial Arts?
The Science Behind the Strength
What Each Style Teaches You
My Story: The Day I Forgot Everything
The Bigger Picture
Why Martial Arts?
Let’s be honest - when people hear “martial arts,” most just think of fight scenes, breaking boards, or fancy kicks in movies. But if you’ve ever stepped into a dojo, you know it’s so much more than that.
Martial arts shape your character. They teach you how to lose, how to learn, how to lead, and how to carry yourself even when you’re exhausted, frustrated, or scared. They demand that you respect others, discipline yourself, and keep showing up even when you feel like quitting.
And here’s the twist: the longer you train, the less it becomes about fighting others - and the more it becomes about mastering yourself.
The Science Behind the Strength
This isn’t just motivational fluff - it’s backed by real research. A Journal of Education and Educational Research study found that martial arts training significantly improves emotional control, self-discipline, and focus in teenagers.1
Participants became better at regulating emotions, concentrating under pressure, and setting long-term goals. In other words, martial arts actually rewired their brains to become mentally tougher.
Imagine walking into an exam room, an interview, or a high-stress situation already trained to breathe, focus, and stay calm. That’s what martial arts gives you - not just the kicks and punches, but the inner stillness in chaos.
What Each Style Teaches You
Different martial arts, different lessons.
But the core values? They’re universal.
Karate
This one’s close to my heart. Karate is about control. You learn precision, discipline, and timing. Every kata (form) is a test of memory, flow, and confidence. You bow before entering the dojo - not out of habit, but to remind yourself this is a place of respect and growth.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
If you ever want to learn humility fast, BJJ is the place. You spend most of your time grappling, often from a disadvantage. You learn to stay calm when things don’t go your way - on the mat and in life. Adapt or lose. Simple.
Taekwondo
This style is goal-driven. You chase belts, train for speed, and push your limits - literally reaching higher with every kick. It teaches you how to set targets, track progress, and not stop until you get there.
Muay Thai
Brutal? Yes. Beautiful? Also yes. Muay Thai is about mental and physical toughness. You learn how to strike with power, take hits, and keep going. No panic. No drama. Just grit.
My Story: The Day I Forgot Everything
There was this one time - at a karate competition, the crowd silent, judges staring. I stepped up to perform my kata, a routine I had practised for weeks. And halfway through…
Blank.
Total blackout. Every move vanished from my head. I stood there frozen, heart racing, mind screaming.
I didn’t run off (running off is always a bad idea). Here, I had to stay composed, breathe and try to continue the best I could. But to me, I was just standing there, panicking, for what seemed like hours… I made the error of looking around and consequently lost my focus.
So I took even more time and another deep breath, to mentally reproduce the kata (succession of moves), to get to the point where I was.
And suddenly, it clicked, I remembered that I had to turn around and then jump.
I didn’t win first place that day, but I came out of that competition with the ability to recover from failure and instances of doubt. That moment has stayed with me longer than any trophy.
Why? Because it taught me how to stay composed, face embarrassment, and rise again. That’s what martial arts is about.
The Bigger Picture
We all want to be stronger, more focused, more resilient. But most people never train those skills directly. They hope life will toughen them up along the way. Martial arts doesn’t leave that to chance.
It deliberately puts you in discomfort.
It forces you to slow your breathing, fix your posture, listen to feedback.
It builds patience, focus, respect - and yes, confidence too.
And when life throws real punches, like stress, rejection, or failure, you’ll already know how to move, stand your ground, and rise after hitting the mat.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be the strongest, the fastest, or the most flexible. You just need to be willing to learn. Willing to grow. Willing to keep showing up when it gets hard.
Whether it’s karate, BJJ, Muay Thai, or even boxing, martial arts will change you from the inside out. It will teach you to think clearly, act with purpose, and walk through life with quiet, grounded strength.
Until next time,
Train your body. Strengthen your mind.
We’re not just building athletes here - we’re building warriors.
Stay tuned for more tips, stories, and advice in our upcoming newsletters, and feel free to check out last week’s edition!
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As always, I’m open to new ideas or suggestions you may have, so feel free to leave a comment, and ask any questions! I’d be glad to help!
Thank you all for joining me today, and I wish you a pleasant rest of your day.
Quote of the Day:
Best regards,
Ruben
Founder, Mind & Muscle Academy
Zhang, Honglei. “Efficacy of Martial Arts in Higher Education Affecting Students’ Psychosocial Behavior and Academic Performance.” Journal of Education and Educational Research, vol. 9, no. 1, June 2024, pp. 155–59, https://doi.org/10.54097/mxxk4807.
I practiced Taekwondo for 8 years, and I definitely agree, the discipline I gained helped me in every area of my life!
Awesome read! I loved the anecdote about your composure at the competition! ✅✅✅✅✅🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡