At the drop of a hat, Chris Murphy, owner of Glens Falls Karate Academy, can rattle off a list of the benefits of martial arts training, among them weight loss, improved muscle tone, staying in shape, cardiac health, stress relief, and greater self-confidence.
“The consciousness of being able to defend yourself means not having to,” he said.
He said it changes a practitioner’s outward appearance as well as making them feel better about themselves. For children, he there is improved self-respect and discipline.
Similarly, James Brushac of North Point Martial Arts in Queensbury, a school specializing in Brazilian jiujitsu, touts the benefits of getting in very good shape–strengthening the core muscles and improving cardio health–plus the mental health benefits of improved focus, reduced stress and a better overall state of mind.
And, he noted, practitioners can get those benefits without risking injury.
Brushac describes Brazilian jiujitsu as a “grappling art,” much like wrestling, with no striking “but you can defend against a strike.”
He said that it is similar to the wrestling component of mixed martial arts with a lot of rolling around on the floor.
“It works off the aggression of the other person,” he said, and emphasizes learning to control a situation without harming the other person. “You can get an adrenalin rush and then shake hands.” It offers self-defense and fun without injury. It is good for kids, women, and people who are not in great shape, he said.
North Point recently moved into the Adirondack Sports Complex on Sherman Avenue in Queensbury. Until November, the school was on Broad Street in Glens Falls, about two miles away. The new facility gives them a little more space and an opportunity to attract new students from among the people coming and going in the building.
The Glens Falls Karate Academy is at 28 Ridge Street in Glens Falls.
Generally, the schools welcome adults and children, from beginners to serious competitors. North Point has about half a dozen students each month at its Queensbury facility and another one in Saratoga Springs that participate in international competitions. He sees it as a chance for students to test their skills.
“You don’t lose. You win or you learn,” he said. He estimates that half the North Point students will compete at least once.
Murphy’s academy concentrates more on personal goal-setting and character building and not so much on competition, he said. Students do some sparring in class but they are encouraged to be “content to constantly be learning.” He noted that his school offers a very clear curriculum “and there is always something to work on. The group atmosphere of karate is special.”
The children’s karate classes stresses teamwork, respect and self-discipline. They include a five or 10 minute “mat chat” each day, with a different topic each month. November’s topic is gratitude. For adults, he said, the focus is more on health and wellness and the application of self-defense to daily life.
Brushac’s Saratoga facility offers a variety of martial arts including kickboxing, karate and judo. He plans to add kickboxing to the Queensbury facility’s curriculum by the beginning of the new year. In addition, members of either facility can take classes at both facilities.
Murphy has been practicing karate for almost 25 years. He began at the age of six. He opened the academy in Glens Falls about three years ago. He grew up in New York City but has lived in Glens Falls since 2008.
Brushac and his brother, Jesse Brushac, both have black belts in Brazilian jiujitsu. He has been practicing various martial arts for more than 35 years, including 10 years of experience in Brazilian jiujitsu. They are joined by a third instructor, Scott Holzwargh, who holds a brown belt.
He noted that it takes 8-12 years to reach black belt status and someone with a brown belt may be equivalent to a black belt holder in another discipline. In Saratoga, there are seven instructors in Brazilian jiujitsu and more than 12 black belt level practitioners in the various disciplines taught there. Instructors from Saratoga sometimes fill in at Queensbury.
The phone for North Point Martial Arts is 683-5588. Glens Falls Karate Academy can be reached at 636-5442.