Why Former Athletes Often Fall in Love With Martial Arts
I've noticed something about people who used to play sports.
Sometimes they don't actually miss exercising.
They miss being an athlete.
There's a difference.
You can tell a former rugby player, wrestler, football player or basketball player to go run on a treadmill.
They might do it.
But it doesn't necessarily replace what they lost when they stopped competing.
Athletes are used to having something to prepare for.
There's a team.
There's strategy.
There's somebody across from you trying to beat you.
There's pressure.
There's a skill you're trying to improve.
And there's a reason to push when you're tired.
Martial arts gives you a lot of that back.
That's one reason I think jiu-jitsu, grappling and martial arts can be such a great fit for former athletes.
You aren't just exercising.
You're playing a game.
You're solving problems.
You're competing with another person.
And suddenly you're a beginner again.
I actually love that part.
You might have been an incredible wrestler twenty years ago.
You might have been one of the best rugby players on your team.
But now you're learning something new.
That beginner feeling can be humbling, but it can also be exciting.
There's another mountain to climb.
And unlike a traditional season, martial arts can become something you continue doing for years.
You're getting your workout.
You're improving your conditioning.
But you're also constantly developing a skill.
For adults who tell me the gym has become boring, that's usually the part that's missing.
They don't need another workout.
They need something to train for.
If you used to be an athlete and you've felt like something has been missing since you stopped competing, martial arts might scratch that itch again.
CRANK Martial Arts isn't only for people who already know how to fight.
It can also be the next chapter for somebody who simply misses being an athlete.