Discipline - While natural talent might carry some a long ways in many sports, the martial arts requires discipline. The traditional forms, also called Katas or Poomse, require performance of an intricate set of movements, with crispness and rigor. Many of the specific skills in martial arts can only be achieved by doing difficult exercises over and over. In addition, the atmosphere of the martial arts studio is filled with the discipline of other students and instructors who push themselves to achieve greater mastery.

Mental Awareness - The mental abilities already discussed, along with training in self-defense and sparring, produce an attitude of mental awareness. The experienced martial artist is aware of his or her surroundings at all times. This attitude helps the student respond better to many aspects of life. Tradition - In the modern world, children are exposed to fewer sources of tradition than they once were. We have come through social periods when change and upheaval, for better or worse, have torn apart the bonds of tradition that tie each generation to the past and future. In traditional martial arts, a respect for learning that goes back 5,000 years is instilled in the students. When performing traditional forms, the student connects to the long past that went into the development of the form.