5 benefits that martial arts can have for veterans

If you’re a veteran, you should give martial arts a try, especially if you are struggling with certain issues. As always, please consult your medical provider beforehand, but I think all veterans should consider martial arts, regardless of their age. When we say “martial arts,” people automatically picture something like karate or boxing, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Many might have a fear of getting hurt, and while it’s possible, there are plenty of martial arts that don’t require you to get kicked or to kick someone in the head, for example Tai Chi and Aikido exemplify the artistic aspect of martial arts. I’m not going to advocate for one discipline over another, but I want to advocate for veterans to give any martial art a try, and I’ll give you five reasons why.

They’re never boring

Martial arts will be the most exciting hour to 90 minutes of your week. How many of us get stuck in our jobs and our responsibilities and simply fall into a pattern? You should work hard and take care of your responsibilities, but don’t use your free time to doomscroll on your phone.

Martial arts can add some spice and zest to your life. As members of the military, we were always learning: learning our jobs, other peoples’ jobs, and more. As veterans, we likely don’t spend a lot of time learning or trying new things. This can give you a renewed focus and a hobby that you’ll find you love a lot more than TikTok.

Veterans are too fat

Soldier participating in The Amazing Race event for the Warrior Transition Units (WTU) within Germany put together by Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), April 2014. At each stage of the event the WTU soldiers had complete a task to include (finding a gnome that had their instructions to the next stage and carry the gnome though out the event, eating a full plate of sauerkraut, eating ice cream, fishing, mini golf, riding a six person bike, archery and controlling a RC car around a track). At the end of the day the WTU soldiers were given awards and had a BBQ provided by the WWP and the Red Cross. (U.S. Army photo by Sean Miller/Released)

Veterans are fat – and that includes me. I know it, and you probably know it. Plain language often works best. Did you know around 78% of veterans struggle with their weight? This leads to a multitude of health issues that can be a huge hassle for the rest of your life. Without anyone to PT us 14 hours a week, we tend to expand.

Martial arts can be a serious workout. I burn about 1,200 calories in 90 minutes at my gym. That’s a lot, and I’m exhausted afterward. Here’s the thing: in the last few months, my cardio and strength have improved immensely. I get bored lifting weights and running, but I never get bored at the dojo.

Getting better at my chosen discipline has given me new workout objectives. I’m not working for something as nebulous as health, but to get better at slamming people and at not getting slammed by people.

Martial arts provide mental health benefits

Twice a week for 90 minutes each time, I don’t have to worry about any of my problems. Work goes away, traffic goes away, my car’s impending oil change goes away, and for 90 minutes, I’m just vibing. This stress relief has been observed through various studies. Physical health influences mental health, and that’s the case here.

Learning new things has also been proven to improve your mood and cognitive function, and decrease your anxiety. A study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health found that men practicing martial arts had an easier time opening up to therapists and discussing their problems. Martial arts helped them gain the confidence to overcome the stigma of mental health.

Additionally, martial arts can help decrease aggression by allowing you to engage in controlled, strategic situations with other consenting martial artists. It;s even shown that martial arts can improve someone’s emotional intelligence.

Related: How hand-to-hand combat training in the US military has evolved through the decades

The community aspect

Mixed martial arts fighters are introduced to the audience during the 2025 MMA Fight Night Live event at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Sept. 12, 2025. MMA Fight Night Live hosted by Marine Corps Community Services brought Marines, families, and the community together for an evening of live mixed martial arts competition and entertainment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gracelyn Hanson)

Sebastian Junger, a famed war reporter, once said something along the lines of, “Veterans aren’t killing themselves in country; they are doing it alone, in their apartments.” His book, Tribe, discusses how veterans fail to integrate into society and lose their sense of community. Most vets join the military young and experience a close sense of community, and when they leave the service, that’s gone in a snap.

A sense of community is valuable for everyone, and martial arts can give you back that sense. You are going to a place where everyone has one thing in common making it easy to have things to talk about and build relationships.

The dojo or gym is a community comprising a diverse group of people, so, you’ll get to meet a diverse group that’s chock-full of different experiences and has members of various ages with distinct goals.

They bring you back

U.S. Marines with the Martial Arts and Fitness Center of Excellence demonstrate a free sparring event during the Marine Corps Martial Arts 25th anniversary symposium hosted by the MAFCE on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Oct. 9, 2025. The goal of this symposium was to provide the Fleet Marine Force with instructions and practical application on the new tan-black belt syllabus and the new free sparring events while integrating guided discussions fostering character development and recounting the storied tradition of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)

If you join the military young, the rigid structure and discipline become a core part of your adulthood. When you get into the civilian world and that requirement for strict discipline gone, it feels at first liberating. Yet, I know myself and others miss that discipline and structure to one degree or another. Martial arts can give you that structure.

There is something great about not having to be in charge. I don’t have to be a dad, a supervisor, or a husband at martial arts. I’m just another student following and learning. The structure is there for us to follow. This also encourages me to continue to build and achieve goals.

Goal-setting and achievement give me that sweet dopamine hit that keeps encouraging me to come back.

Punch it, kick it, wrestle it, slam it, whatever just go do it. Learn something new and improve your mental and physical health. Most veterans may associate martial arts with children or younger demographics, but with the popularity of the UFC, more older adults are training now than ever before.

Feature Image: U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-250 pose for a group photo with members of Broadway Jiu-Jitsu after a martial arts collaboration at Broadway Jiu-Jitsu during Marine Week Boston, Aug. 22, 2025. Marines stationed across the globe commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps, honoring a distinguished legacy of service, sacrifice, and unwavering fidelity to both the nation and fellow Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Vincent Needham)

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