Scornavacco Martial Arts exercises mind and body

Ten years ago, Michelle Jensen went on a mission to lose weight. Armed with the support of two of her friends, she lost 30 pounds in four months - a goal weight where she remains to this day.

The secret to her weight loss? Martial arts. Jensen enrolled in the Scornavacco Martial Arts Academy in Longmont, a place she said provides a fun alternative to working out that focuses on building strong overall health.

“It’s definitely a deeper physical fitness than you’re going do with running or jogging or walking,” said Jensen.

Jensen had been on a Weight Watchers program, but said martial arts provided the sense of community and extra support that helped her shed the pounds and keep them off.

“Being engaged mentally and physically has made such a different impact on my life and my weight loss and the fact that I’ve managed to maintain the weight loss since around 2002,” said Jensen.

According to Academy owner Brad Scornavacco, martial arts is fundamentally a way for human beings to defend themselves against people who are trying to attack them. But that definition only scratches the surface of this multi-layered sport.

“I never would’ve stayed in the martial arts if it were just for the self-defense and the physical part. It was the philosophy and helping people change their lives and improve their lives through the training,” said Scornavacco.

Scornavacco Martial Arts focuses specifically on character development coupled with practical self-defense. This philosophy materializes in sessions like their adult kenpo class that teaches the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent.

Martial arts has been around since antiquity, and is often linked to spiritual or religious beliefs. It can help with anything from weight loss to relieving stress, and teaches confidence, discipline, focus, and respect for other people. Ultimately, the sport concentrates on strengthening both the body and the mind.

With the recent downturn in the economy, financial hardships are forcing many to cut back on the things that don’t matter, and invest in the things that do. But Scornavacco has no shortage of customers. With its allure to both kids and adults, martial arts is actually becoming a necessity in people’s lives.

“People realize that you can’t just pass the time, you have to invest. And they see the investment in themselves that they’re doing in martial arts training,” said Scornavacco.

Jensen is now an instructor at the Academy, the same place she started her journey 10 years ago.

With martial arts, Jensen not only found an effective way to lose weight, but also a way to develop herself mentally and emotionally. This is what she vows to teach her own students today.