This transformation has provided many students relief from their behavioral difficulties. The mother of 11-year-old Daniel says, "Karate became an outlet for Daniel's aggression, but it also taught him how to stay calm and focused" (qtd. in Saulny, par. 19). This calm focus comes from a combination of physical and mental disciplines learned by martial arts practitioners. .
The physical aspect of martial arts often begins with stretching and warm-up exercises. As with many physical activities, these help reduce the frequency of injuries to the practitioners. Martial art styles often mirror warm-up exercises to techniques and movements incorporated somewhere else in the training. From the onset of the simplest motion, good form, posture and technique are learned. Just as the basic warm-up exercises often appear in early forms or kata (a series of choreographed kicks, punches and blocks), early form builds on itself to evolve into more complex techniques that require an ever increasing level of control. Once the practitioner has acquired a certain degree of skill, their learned defenses and counter maneuvers are demonstrated in sparring. .
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There are two types of sparring typically practiced in martial arts; one step sparring, where the attack, defense and counter are pre-determined, and free-style sparring, where the karatekas (students of karate) face off against one another and practice their skills in a controlled fighting exercise. Punches must be pulled when sparring with other students. Holding back an attack requires a great deal of self-control, discipline and practice (Middendorf, par. 10). These learned disciplines bridge the gap between the physical and mental aspects of karate.
The mental portion of martial arts, for most participants, starts by beginning and ending each class with meditation. From the onset of their training, students are taught to commence by clearing their minds of distraction through a brief meditation.