With karate, what all do you gain besides learning to defend yourself?

Question

And is it possible to learn it with 2 ruptured disks?

Answer 1

Better physical fitness, self control, a better understanding of who you are, but mostly to defend yourself.

Answer 2

The only thing no one has said yet is Self esteem / Confidence

Answer 3

That varies by school and instructor.  At my school:

"We believe that karate is knowledge, skill, and attitude for the purpose of achieving personal development, self-mastery, and self-defense."

Knowledge - Techniques and information.  Specialty methods and concepts

Skill - Application of knowledge.

Attitude - Five attitudinal characteristics that are necessary to help you learn the knowledge and apply the skill while becoming a better person, family member, and citizen of your community.  These characteristics are: courtesy, respect, discipline, confidence, and self-esteem

Answer 4

In my case, a husband...I met and eventually married my instructor :-)  Ten years and one baby later, life is still good, and he's still hot as ever.

You meet the hottest guys at martial arts classes...disciplined, fit, grounded guys, and their confidence without having to be overly macho to show it all the time is so s**y.

Answer 5

young grasshoppa you will learn imporatant life lessons, respect, and physical abilities that you never knew  you had. patience grasshopper.

Answer 6

Karate is so much more than learning to defend yourself. It gives you great physical and mental toughness, and it gives you tons of confidence that you will be able to apply to other situations in the real world. Most of all it is lots of fun and gets you in great shape.

Answer 7

you'll learn alot of the things listed in the other answers.

but sometimes you may not actually learn to defend yourself. if you get a 'mcdojo' or a 'sport only' school...chances are you won't.

make sure you get a good school with a good teacher.

honesty, integrity, discipline, respect, self respect, self esteem, confidence, humility, fitness, better control of your body and mind...and a better understanding of who you are....are all possible lessons...along with alot of "intangibles" that noone knows but you...and noone can explain. these are all possible with good school, with a good teacher...a mcdojo will teach you nothing practically. be careful

Answer 8

Self preservance, discipline, fitness, patience, knowledge of it's art and possibly courage to stand up for yourself in physically unrelated situations you may encounter.

Answer 9

Self control, physical fitness and mental focus.

EDIT: A GOOD TEACHER will be able to modify a martial art to accommodate ANY permanent injury or physical disability.