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Eric Allain
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I absolutely love the BJJ classes here. The instruction is excellent, the staff is friendly, helpful and well organized and the facilities are great. All this comes together to create an environment where the students help each other learn and improve. It is this that really does it for me. PAMA is not just a place to train, it is a community of friends. BJJ is hard. It can be demoralizing. Having helpful, encouraging friends to train with is what keeps me coming back. It is this that will push me to finally get that black belt some day.

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I love coming here. I have improved my Muay Thai technique. A lot of experienced students in the class make sparring fun. Beyond all of this PAMA is a community.

Sean Kavanagh
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Great place to train and has the largest media presence I've ever experienced in any of the BJJ gyms I've trained at. That is a good thing because it lets you know what you are signing up for and makes the gym culture available to see online. And it is a great culture which is very friendly and welcoming of new students and has a desire to see people continuously improve whether it is BJJ or Muay Thai.

Blair Cuneo
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Excellent Women’s Self Defense class! Walked away with several very good techniques.

Mitch Ludwig
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I recently moved to the area and dropped by to check out the bjj classes. I've been training bjj for the better part of a decade and can say without a doubt that this has been one of the most welcoming gyms I've ever experienced. Great instruction with a good mix of belt levels that gives everyone an opportunity to learn.

Dylan Olson
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I like to get to know a school for a while before giving a review. That said, I've been training in PAMA's BJJ program for about a year now. I came to this school as a 2 stripe blue belt and have had training from several different places over the years. I can say honestly that the Pendergrass brothers have succeeded at creating and continuously cultivating an amazing environment for learning. You feel like family as soon as you walk in the door. And regardless of whether you've never trained before or have been training for decades, there is something here to learn and grow in for everyone. The instructors are patient, love what they do and can break down concepts in ways anyone can understand. The culture here at PAMA is consistently positive and inclusive. Classes are organized well and more experienced students (upper belts) are always willing to help those looking for guidance. If you're looking for a place to train, just stop by PAMA and see for yourself.

Chris George
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The professionalism of the staff is unmatched. All of the instructors are great with kids. Both of my kids love being here.

James Willison
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This is a great to train both mind and body in the art of BJJ. The main instructors, Guy and Rob, are knowledge and care about their students. I was particularly impressed that they (and other instructors) already knew my name despite not having formally introduced myself to them. That’s a little thing, but it meant they want to know who is coming to their facility. As well, the other students, particularly the upper belts, are great training partners. In my experience, they know when to go hard and also when to help a beginner out. PAMA is an excellent place to train and to be a part of a community looking to improve themselves on and off the mats.

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Pendergrass Academy of Martial Arts Raleigh & Wake Forest Martial Arts
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Pendergrass Academy of Martial Arts

How to Improve Mindfulness with Martial Arts Training

June 23, 2023

Martial arts practice has many benefits, including some that may not be immediately apparent to a casual observer. While the physical benefits are obvious, there are mental and emotional benefits that might surprise you.

Students who learn martial arts may experience significant changes in the way they think, and that’s because martial arts training is a form of mindfulness practice. Here’s what you need to know about the mindfulness benefits of studying martial arts.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing your attention and emotions on what is happening in the present moment. Mindful people do not get distracted by regrets about the past or worries about the future. They keep their hearts and minds with their bodies, something that may also be referred to as a mind-body connection.

Mindfulness practice is a form of therapy that is useful for people who struggle with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, as well as for long-term caretakers and even prisoners.

What Does Martial Arts Practice Have in Common with Meditation?

Meditation practice is a form of mindfulness. For meditation to be helpful, the practitioner must maintain focus, keeping their thoughts on their breathing or, sometimes, on a visual focal point. They may sometimes employ a mantra, but it is possible to meditate without one.

In both meditation and martial arts training, practitioners must learn to accept their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in a detached manner, not allowing these things to break their focus.

A martial arts student who is not mindful may lack the focus to master new skills. It requires a great deal of mindfulness to execute a perfect kick or punch or to break a board with only your hand.

Any martial artist can tell you that one of the biggest benefits of martial arts training is that it helps practitioners develop a strong connection between their minds and bodies. Many martial arts have a contemplative element to them; one good example is Tai Chi.

How Does Martial Arts Training Enhance Mindfulness?

There are several important ways that training in martial arts enhances the connection between body and mind, increasing overall well-being thanks to an increase in mindfulness.

Repetition

It can be difficult to embrace mindfulness when your mind is constantly being stimulated and interrupted by new information.

Any repetitive movement can help to quiet the mind and improve mindfulness. Some people who have a meditation practice incorporate movement–most often walking–into their meditation. 

In martial arts training, students master new movements by repeating them in class until they become second nature. The process of repetition also builds mindfulness.

Concentration

Concentration and focus are both important in martial arts training, whether you’re learning martial arts to get in shape, defend yourself, or build strength to reduce chronic pain.

When students are learning or testing for a new belt, they must concentrate on the task at hand, not letting their minds get distracted by thoughts or feelings unrelated to the practice of martial arts.

Over time, as students’ concentration improves, they become more mindful and less likely to be distracted from what is most important to them.

Discipline

Discipline is one of the five tenets of martial arts training and serves students well in martial arts classes and their daily lives.

Students who are persistent in martial arts training make significant gains in their mindfulness and may experience a decrease in stress and anxiety.

Mindfulness can help people of all ages improve their well-being. Whether a student chooses a traditional martial art such as Aikido or a more modern practice like Krav Maga, the mindfulness benefits of martial arts training are undeniable.

Pendergrass Academy of Martial Arts proudly serves the Wake Forest, Wakefield, and Raleigh NC areas. For more information about us check out: www.bjjnc.com. For more information on our adult program go to https://www.bjjnc.com/program/bjj/ or for our kids’ program go to https://www.bjjnc.com/program/kids-martial-arts/

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