Build Your Own Martial Arts Studio At Home

Ready to Learn Martial Arts? Why Not Do It at Home

Whether you want to have more fun at home, provide quality physical education for your children while they learn in a virtual environment, or just encourage the development of healthy habits and healthy living in your family, you cannot go wrong with building a martial arts studio in your house. You do not need a lot of space to create a one of a kind martial arts dojo right where you live, and you do not need to spend a fortune on the transformation. 

It does not matter which types of martial arts you favor – your martial arts dojo can serve many different purposes. If the kids are into Kung Fu and Karate and you prefer the rough and tumble of MMA  and Judo, you can enjoy it all under one roof, namely the one where you already live. And unlike many other home renovations, building a martial arts studio in your home can actually save you money. 

Just think about how much you would spend to drive your kids to their weekly Karate lesson or take your spouse to learn Taekwondo. If you put that money into a home space that supports all these types of martial arts, you can enjoy the best of both worlds – a wonderful and highly effective physical education and the mental health boost you need to overcome the isolation while you build a better, stronger and healthier body. Creating your very own Dojo is easier than you think, and here are some tips to get you started. 

Indoor Ideas

One of the great things about setting up a dojo in your home is that you can be as flexible and expansive as space allows. If you have a small home and a huge backyard, you can build out a fully functional martial arts studio in the great outdoors. Or if you prefer, you can build an all-weather martial arts space in a spare room, or even in the garage. Here is what you will need to get your indoor dojo started. 

Necessary Equipment for Your Indoor Dojo

It would not be a Karate studio without the right equipment, and you cannot practice your favorite MMA moves without the proper protective gear. As you plan for your very own in-home Dojo, you need to choose your equipment with care. 

There are some obvious must-haves you will need for your in-home martial arts studio, starting with simple things like mats, gloves, and protective gear. Just think about what you would see at the average Judo, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, or Karate studio and build out your own martial arts home space with that in mind. 

You will want to get a good look at yourself and your family members as they work out and continue their physical education, and that means lining the walls of your in-home martial arts studio with mirrors. These mirrors can help you perfect your MMA stance, increasing your odds or a win in your next match, or help your kids earn that highly coveted black belt in Kung Fu or Karate. 

You may also want to hang a punching bag or two in your in-home martial arts studio, especially if you want to bulk up, build your muscles and create the discipline you will need to recreate a formal physical education in the comfort and safety of your own home. This equipment will allow you to build a first-class martial arts Dojo under your own roof, where you can teach moral ethics to your children, continue your own physical education, and indulge in your new healthy lifestyle. And if you have other exercise equipment in your home, like a set of barbells or an exercise bike, you can move those into your martial arts Dojo as well.

Outdoor Ideas

If you are blessed with a large house and have plenty of extra space, there are plenty of advantages to building out a martial arts studio in a spare room or transforming your garage into a workout area. But what if your indoor space is limited; can you still workout and try your latest martial arts moves without getting in your car? The answer is yes, and there are plenty of ways to set up an outdoor martial arts dojo in your own backyard. 

Necessary Equipment for Your Outdoor Dojo

The type of equipment you will need for your outdoor martial arts dojo will obviously be a bit different, but there can still be some overlap. You will still need the same kind of protective equipment, including soft mats to land on. But beyond those basic supplies, you will want to build out your outdoor dojo with things like a medicine ball for strength training, an old ladder on the ground to run through and build agility and even an old tire to build the explosive power martial arts demands. 

The great thing about having an outdoor martial arts studio is that you may already have some of the equipment lying around, perhaps even in the garage or workshop. When your ladder is not busy on the side of the house, you can lay it down and run through it for an intense agility workout. And instead of throwing away your old tires, you can use them to build your strength, all without spending a single penny. 

Workout and Exercise Ideas

The great thing about building a martial arts Dojo in your own home is the flexibility and freedom it gives you. Whether you are new to pursuing a healthy lifestyle or trying to get back into fighting shape (literally), knowing that your favorite martial arts workout is just steps from the living room can give you the discipline you need to get up off the couch and get moving. 

As your plans for an in-home martial arts studio come to fruition, you will want to turn your sights to the practicalities of your workout. Now that your studio is in place, you can design a physical education regimen that will provide results while allowing you to have more fun at home. Here are some basic martial arts workout and exercise ideas to get you started. 

• Deadlifts – Deadlifts are a great way to gain strength and build your core muscles, an important consideration for all kinds of martial arts training
• Squats, with and without barbells – You can use your barbells are part of your squat training, but you may want to incorporate non-barbell squat exercises as well. 
• Burpees – These intense exercises are perfect for martial arts training, and they can help you build your core muscles and increase your strength
• Stretching exercises – Warming up is vital to an effective martial arts workout, so make sure you do lots of stretching. Resistance bands are perfect pieces of equipment for your indoor or outdoor dojo, so keep them on hand and use them often
• Balance challenge exercises – Martial arts requires a lot of balance, so look for exercises that strengthen and challenge your ability to balance on one leg and keep that balance as you move around
• Sparring with your punching bag – You will be using your punching bag a lot, so get to know your new sparring partner
• Using a stationary bike – Core strength is a vital part of martial arts training, but there is no reason you cannot use the exercise equipment you already have in new and creative ways
• Agility training, including the use of an outdoor ladder
• Stance practice, including the natural, forward, and ready stance – Practice these stances until they become second nature
• Functional strength training – martial arts requires a special type of strength, one that can be enhanced through specific exercises

You can vary your exercise regimen to suit your needs and fitness level. Just make sure you start each session with a thorough bout of stretching and end it with a thorough cool down. 

The Most Popular Types of Martial Arts

Whether the end goal is to develop healthy habits in your children, continue your own physical education, or just enjoy a healthier lifestyle, you cannot go wrong with martial arts. But there are many different types of martial arts, so how do you know which discipline is right for you?

At first blush, the many martial arts styles can seem confusing, but as you learn more you will begin to see not just how these types of martial arts differ but all the things they have in common as well – things like the encouragement of moral ethics, their focus on both physical and mental health and the overarching need for discipline. With that in mind, here is a brief overview of some popular martial arts styles and what makes each one special. Just remember that there are also other styles that every culture has and we invite you to look for the best one that fits your personality and personal likes.

• Karate – Perhaps the most well known of the martial arts, Karate is Japanese in origin. Like many other martial arts, Karate places a strong focus on defense and counterattack, making it an excellent form of self-defense.
• Taekwondo – Hailing from Korea, Taekwondo is one of the most popular modern martial arts styles. Similar to Karate, Taekwondo is often practiced in tandem with its better known Japanese cousin. 
• Kung Fu – This popular martial arts style originated in China, where it has been practiced for many centuries. Kung Fu focuses not on arms and armaments but on physical conditioning and the development of defensive and counteroffensive maneuvers. 
• Judo – Derived from the similar practice of jujitsu, Judo is focused on the development of both physical and mental strength. Judo practitioners use a series of holds, along with leverage and their own physical conditioning, to overpower and disarm their opponents. 
• MMA – The acronym MMA stands for mixed martial arts, and that is a good description. Combining elements of grappling, street fighting, and combat, MMA is a full-body contact sport and not one for the faint of heart. Even so, practicing MMA, whether for competition or to have more fun at home, is great for instilling the kind of discipline that is at the heart of all types of martial arts. 

The Many Benefits of Martial Arts

Encouraging healthy habits is important for children and adults alike, and when it comes to getting a quality physical education there is nothing quite like martial arts. The various types of martial arts are different in their approaches, but they all have a few things in common, from the discipline they instill to the moral ethics they teach. 

All of those qualities make martial arts like Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Judo the perfect choice for family workouts, especially when the studio is in your own home. For kids, martial arts teaches a kind of discipline that is easily transferrable to school and to life, and that can give young people a jump start on the future. 

The benefits of martial arts are just as profound for those whose childhoods ended decades ago. Whether you have kids or just want to feel like a kid again, practicing Kung Fu, Judo and even MMA moves can be a real boon to your mental health, especially if you have been feeling isolated. By having more fun at home, you can reach the healthy lifestyle you have always dreamed of, all without leaving the comfort and safety of your own four walls. 

Fun at Home When You Want it, Professional Help When You Need It

As you can see, building your own martial arts Dojo at home and practicing your favorite martial arts styles in your own personal space has a number of important benefits, but that is not the end of the advantages. When you have your own martial arts studio at home, you gain instant freedom and flexibility, and the ability to use the martial arts equipment you own any time and in any way you wish. 

That does not mean, however, that you should abandon professional martial arts training altogether. In fact, having a fully equipped martial arts studio in your own home makes getting professional guidance even more important. 

Whether you are practicing Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Judo, MMA, or a combination of many types of martial arts, it is always a good idea to get professional help for your training. Having an expert guide you with your workouts will keep you safer. It can also make your exercises and routines more effective, so you can move up the levels, compete with confidence, and start earning those belts right away.