Steven Cowan: Why Everyone Should Embrace Martial Arts for Life Transformation

British martial arts master and multi-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) champion Steven Cowan has been turning heads in the combat sports world lately. Not for his latest competitive victory, but for a profound statement that resonates beyond the mats and into everyday life: everyone should be a martial artist.

In a recent interview, Cowan explained that martial arts training offers benefits that extend far beyond self-defense or competition – it’s about completely transforming how you approach life’s challenges.

The Mindset of a Champion

When I spoke with several MMA coaches about Cowan’s philosophy, they all nodded in agreement. There’s something special about the mental transformation that happens when you commit to martial arts training.

“The mats don’t lie,” as the saying goes in BJJ circles. You can’t fake your way through the physical and mental challenges of training. This brutal honesty creates a unique environment where personal growth is inevitable.

Cowan believes this growth mindset is exactly what most people are missing in their lives. “When you train, you learn to embrace discomfort rather than avoid it,” he explains. “That’s a superpower in today’s comfort-obsessed world.”

Physical Benefits Beyond the Obvious

Sure, we all know martial arts gets you in shape. But according to Cowan, the physical benefits go deeper than just building muscle or losing weight.

“Your body becomes more intuitive,” he says. “You develop a kinesthetic intelligence that changes how you move through the world.”

This improved body awareness has practical applications for everyone:

• Better posture and reduced chronic pain
• Improved reaction time and coordination
• Greater mobility into older age
• Reduced risk of injuries in daily activities

These benefits make martial arts uniquely valuable compared to traditional exercise programs that often focus solely on aesthetics or general fitness.

Mental Toughness That Transfers to Everything

You haven’t truly tested yourself until you’ve been pinned under a 200-pound training partner while trying to remember the escape technique your coach just demonstrated. That’s the kind of pressure cooker that builds mental resilience.

Cowan points out that this mental toughness doesn’t stay on the mats:

“When you’ve pushed through tough training sessions week after week, life’s ordinary challenges start to seem manageable by comparison. That deadline at work? That difficult conversation you need to have? After getting choked out a few times, these things don’t seem so scary anymore.”

The Humility Factor

Nothing teaches humility quite like martial arts training. Even the most athletically gifted beginners quickly discover they have much to learn, and everyone experiences the humbling process of being completely dominated by more experienced practitioners.

This humility, according to Cowan, is transformative: “In an age of social media perfection and ego-driven interactions, martial arts grounds you in reality. You can’t fake your skill level. This honesty creates authentic confidence that’s sadly rare today.”

The community aspect reinforces this humility. When you train regularly with people from all walks of life – lawyers training alongside mechanics, doctors alongside teachers – social barriers break down. What matters is what you bring to the mats, not your status outside them.

Getting Started: Easier Than You Think

If Cowan’s message has you considering martial arts training, you might wonder how to begin. The good news is that most legitimate martial arts schools are welcoming to beginners of all ages and fitness levels.

“The hardest part is walking through the door the first time,” Cowan acknowledges. “But almost everyone is surprised by how supportive the environment is compared to what they expected.”

His advice for beginners:

1. Try several different disciplines to find what resonates with you
2. Focus on consistent attendance rather than rapid progress
3. Leave your ego at the door and embrace being a beginner
4. Communicate openly with instructors about any limitations or concerns

The Bottom Line: A Life-Changing Practice

Steven Cowan’s assertion that everyone should be a martial artist isn’t about creating a world of fighters. It’s about helping people discover their capacity for growth, resilience, and authentic confidence.

In a world full of quick fixes and superficial solutions, martial arts offers something deeper: a proven path to becoming more capable in both body and mind.

Whether you’re 18 or 58, Cowan believes the mats have something important to teach you. Maybe it’s time we all listened.

Have you experienced the transformative effects of martial arts training? Share your story in the comments below or on our social media channels.

Source: Efe Fighting News