The rise of women’s MMA in recent years has been nothing less than unprecedented. As little as 10 years ago, the concept of women’s MMA was hardly taken seriously. Now, female fighters are being praised as some of the most talented and hardworking athletes in the world. As a result, more and more women are taking a shine to MMA and martial arts in general.
For example, Canadian women’s mixed martial arts has grown so much in popularity due to organizations such as Pallas Athena Women’s Fighting Championship, that it is on course to becoming one of the premiere women’s fighting leagues in all of North America.
So if you’ve been pondering MMA and are interested in trying it for yourself, keep reading. Because we will be exploring 5 surprising ways MMA and combat sports have empowered women across Canada.
1. MORE CONFIDENCE
One of the major benefits of Canadian women’s MMA is the confidence you’ll develop. As a woman, sometimes it’s hard to feel safe and secure. You don’t always feel comfortable talking to certain people, being in certain situations, etc. However, after training in MMA, you’ll be amazed at the transformation that will take place.
You’ll feel more confident being able to defend yourself should the situation call for it. The muscles in your body will tighten, strengthen, and become more flexible. You’ll slim down and become more slender due to the intense workouts, etc.
All of these components will come together and make you a more confident and self-assured woman.
2. LEARN SELF-DEFENSE
Let’s face it, the world isn’t full of unicorns and rainbows. There are bad people out there who – if given the chance – will do bad things to others. With this being the case, learning self-defense is one of the most important investments you will ever make in yourself.
A woman well trained in MMA is a dangerous weapon.
If you learn this crucial skill, you will have firm knowledge knowing that you can handle yourself in almost any physical altercation – even if the person is bigger and stronger than you.
This is comforting knowledge, and that in and of itself is reason enough to take up MMA – or at the very least – give it a try.
3. MAKES YOU HEALTHY & FIT
Learning mixed martial arts is more than just self-defense training, it’s also an intense and aggressive workout. As such, it’s the perfect hobby to keep you strong, healthy, and fit. Did you know you can burn hundreds of calories in a single MMA session?
And not only that, but you can also have a lot of fun while doing it too!
If getting into shape is a big motivator for you wanting to join MMA, view this online martial arts calorie tracker. It will further incentivize you to take a class!
Simply insert your weight, the amount of time you’d like to train, and below you’ll see the estimated quantity of calories you could burn.
But all of that aside, MMA is a combat sport. This means that it will toughen you up, tone your body, build your endurance, and whip you into shape faster than almost anything else you can think of.
4. IT’S A GREAT HOBBY
It can be a drag taking care of the kids, cleaning the home, going to work, and reliving that same routine day in and day out. When this is the case, finding a new hobby to add that sense of novelty to your life is paramount.
Many women opt for joining a gym, and while this is certainly a good thing, it is often short-lived.
The reason being is that at a regular gym, it can become quite boring to just lift weights or run endlessly on the treadmill. This is not to say these activities aren’t important (and necessary) for good health. However, they can become very cumbersome after a while.
The opposite is true of MMA.
In this sport, you are constantly exposed to different techniques and moves, as well as different opponents and fighting styles. Every day is something new. Therefore, you’re constantly being challenged – and as a result – learning, growing, and developing as a person.
And this is one of the main aspects of MMA that makes it such a great hobby to get yourself into!
5. YOU’LL ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Something amazing happens when you take the first step toward improving yourself. All of a sudden, others will see what you’re doing and be encouraged and inspired to make similar changes in their own lives. You create a ripple effect and become a beacon of light to those around you – simply by taking a step in the right direction.
Imagine inspiring all of your girlfriends, your children, your husband/boyfriend, your parents, etc, to pursue their aims and goals. This could be the end result of you deciding to incorporate MMA into your life.
Your family and friends will see your progress, notice your happiness, and admire your tenacity. And this often can be enough to nudge them to do something that they’ve wanted to try but have stopped themselves from actually doing.
You could be the person who inspires them to make that change.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Of course, this list is only scratching the surface of the benefits of women’s MMA. The only way to get a better understanding of these advantages is to take that leap of faith and see how it goes. Women’s MMA is a complex but highly rewarding sport that will transform you in the best possible ways.
You owe it to yourself to experience those benefits.