Martial Arts and the Catholic Mom

Betsy Kerekes shares her thoughts on how the practice of martial arts can parallel the prayer life.

Longer-term consistency trumps short-term intensity. (attributed to Bruce Lee)  

Bruce Lee may seem the least likely person to quote in a Catholic Mom article, yet, when it comes to the prayer life, having a consistent, daily prayer life could be argued as better than the occasional, inconsistent burst of prayer.   

Ideally, a person would have both.    

Some of you saw the title to this article and assumed I was going to talk about whether or not I think it’s okay to put your kids in martial arts. That’s not what this article is about; however, to answer that question: yes. Martial arts are good for teaching children discipline, self-control, perseverance, respect, and confidence.   

Turns out, adults can learn that too.  

My daughters and I have been taking Taekwondo together since July. This has been a great bonding experience for the four of us. And in November, I began taking Jiu-Jitsu on my own for extra self-defense training.   

It’s not that I expect to be attacked at every turn, nor do I intend to become a vigilante crime fighter (though a girl can dream), but I’m enjoying what I’m learning and have been able to pass it along to middle- and high-school girls in an after-school program at my kids’ school. 

It’s All About Perseverance  

Though it’s a surprise even to myself, I have found martial arts to be incredibly fun and fulfilling. But perhaps the greatest gift I am learning is perseverance, because, as much as martial arts are fun, they are also hard, especially, perhaps, for this “old dog.”   

When trying to learn a new form for Taekwondo (a series of roughly 30 moves to be completed in succession and to perfection), I literally have thought, “This is too hard. I can’t do this. Why am I bothering? I’m too old for this. I should just give up.” 
 
But I didn’t, and here’s where we get to the prayer life. 

Prayer Is Like Exercise  

Many times as a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville (gratuitous shout-out to my beloved alma mater), we were told that prayer was like exercise: the more you did it, the easier it became.   

That is, of course, true. With more “practice” you can build up your stamina for longer, more focused, possibly even meditative prayer time.   

But it takes hard work and determination despite obstacles (like kids) and interruptions (like kids). So, when I pull my hair back into a ponytail and bow to my sensei, or pull out my rosary beads and genuflect to my Lord in the tabernacle, I’m learning and growing and striving to be a better person both physically and spiritually.  

Just Keep Showing Up  

When the martial arts lessons are difficult, I keep going, keep practicing, and eventually overcome. When achieving solid prayer time is hard, I’ve likewise learned to keep pushing anyway. Both activities have taught me that when the going gets tough, I’ve got to suck it up, pull my shoulders back (or put my hands together), and get the job done.   

Thanks to difficulties I’ve overcome in martial arts, I know I can take on harder, more challenging courses of action. Through the benefit of marital arts, and a steady prayer life, I have learned that, above all, with God’s help, I can do hard things. And the harder something is, the greater the sense of accomplishment and the more gratifying the success.  

Don’t let defeats keep you down. Just keep praying. 

Editor's Note: Since the initial writing of this article, Betsy and her daughters went on to earn their black belts. 

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Copyright 2025 Betsy Kerekes
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