I haven’t researched this, but I was told by a neuroscientist/martial arts-practicing friend that particular sports (like martial arts) where you have to practice a very wide and varied range of technical motions and thus challenge/develop neuromuscular systems widely may be particularly good for general brain health and plasticity (in the same way that varying your routine widely, etc, apparently is). Seems plausible, but I repeat that I haven’t researched it.
Big wodge of evidence about karate in particular (not martial arts in general) being unhealthy.
A lot of it is about karate masters—it’s quite possible that if you stop when karate starts seeming like it’s bad for you, it’s not all that destructive.
I’ve poked around a little to see whether belly-dancing and tap-dancing (complex movement of very different kinds) increase longevity, but haven’t turned up anything.
This probably wouldn’t be an issue for karate, but a lot of high-level judo and jujitsu people in the last century died of stroke because blood chokes ( a major part of jujitsu technique) put unusual loads on the cardiovascular system. The modern consensus is not to practice them on people over forty-five or so, or with existing cardio issues.
I haven’t researched this, but I was told by a neuroscientist/martial arts-practicing friend that particular sports (like martial arts) where you have to practice a very wide and varied range of technical motions and thus challenge/develop neuromuscular systems widely may be particularly good for general brain health and plasticity (in the same way that varying your routine widely, etc, apparently is). Seems plausible, but I repeat that I haven’t researched it.
Big wodge of evidence about karate in particular (not martial arts in general) being unhealthy.
A lot of it is about karate masters—it’s quite possible that if you stop when karate starts seeming like it’s bad for you, it’s not all that destructive.
I’ve poked around a little to see whether belly-dancing and tap-dancing (complex movement of very different kinds) increase longevity, but haven’t turned up anything.
This probably wouldn’t be an issue for karate, but a lot of high-level judo and jujitsu people in the last century died of stroke because blood chokes ( a major part of jujitsu technique) put unusual loads on the cardiovascular system. The modern consensus is not to practice them on people over forty-five or so, or with existing cardio issues.
Fascinating, thank you for this!
You’re welcome. I keep hoping someone with more knowledge of statistics than I’ve got will take a look at the karate study.