The Benefits of Martial arts - Need help writing a paper

[mossman]

I'm writing a paper on the benefits of martial arts, but my problem is someone else has to be able to argue that martial arts are harmful and don't provide benefits. What do you guys think? I'm planning on going into detail (15 page paper) on the psychological, psychosocial and physical benefits. Has anyone here ever writen such a paper? If so what sources do you have to share? Thanks guys.

[mossman]

Great.

[David Jamieson]

psychological benefits-

-an improved sense of self and instilled confidence through working at regulation of the body and mind as a single unit.

-awareness of the body and it's function/malfunction in a more tuned sense.

-a stronger will to go on when you think you would otherwise be out of gas.

physical benefits -

- structural alignment
- strength
- fitness
- a better ability to defend oneself

[shaolinboxer]

I read a study while doing similar research (if you have access, I found it in ERIC...a database available at most universities) about judo training and agression that suggested martial arts INCREASE aggressive behavior, contrary to the usual line that it calms people down. His conclusion was that "confidence" is actually "aggression", and that in some people increased aggression can be a good thing, in others it leads to destructive behavior.

It was in a peer reviewed journal....