Martial Arts: Cure For Depression?

For years, many physical activities have proven to reduce depression and fatigue in people struggling with chronic illness as well as just help with coping with a bad day.  But why?  How does moving your body move your mind?

Some studies indicate that this effect may stem from an individual's sense of mastery over (or belief in his or her ability to achieve) certain physical goals.  A "can-do" attitude conquers the blues.

Does this mean that someone could sit in a dark room, watching sad movies, reminiscing about their horrible childhood and get cheerful simply by doing all these activities while using a grip trainer, or Dr. Ho's muscle activator?

I think not.

Which means it isn't just the exercise.  As a Sensei for Shinka Martial Arts, my theory is that it has more to do with state change.  That is, a change in the person's movements.  Their physiology.

There is a certain posture, and facial expression that our brains associate with depression, or fatigue.  And that posture is vastly different than the posture required to move around and do martial arts.  Your brain simply doesn't know how to be depressed as long as you don't engage the physiology to do so.

If you don't believe me, sit up totally straight, put a big stupid grin on your face and breathe nice excited breaths.  Move around a little bit and skip like you just won the lottery.  Shake your firsts and yell "woo hoo!"  And get depressed without changing your body's posture, without slacking your facial muscles and without changing your posture.

The reason I like martial arts, is that it's proactive.  You aren't running away from your depression, or hiding under the water from depression; you're actively confronting and overcoming it.  It seems altogether more positive.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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