#077 - The Psychology of Martial Arts with Stephan Kesting

About this episode

Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with martial arts expert Stephan Kesting about the psychology of martial arts and its benefits.

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with martial arts expert Stephan Kesting about the psychology of martial arts. They discuss the evolution of the martial arts, the surprising relationship between martial arts and aggression, the psychological benefits that come from training, the lessons learned on the mat that can carry over into everyday life, and mindset tips for anyone considering stepping into a martial arts gym for the first time. For more on Stephan, visit Grapplearts.com. Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs the human experience from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work. Web | Patreon | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Ryan Moyer

Guest: Stephan Kesting

Topics covered

• psychology
• martial arts
• aggression
• training benefits
• mindset
• everyday life

Keywords

• martial arts
• psychology
• aggression
• training
• mindset
• benefits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grapplearts.com

More episodes of Why Do We Do That?

• #078 - Building Intimacy with Dr. Isabelle Morley · June 1, 2026 · 46 min
• #076 - Love Addiction with Dr. Cortney Warren · March 30, 2026 · 54 min
• #075 - Mattering with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein · March 2, 2026 · 52 min
• #074 - Listening with Christian van Nieuwerburgh · February 2, 2026 · 1h 6m
• #073 - The Power of Rest with Dr. Joseph Jebelli · January 5, 2026 · 55 min
• #072 - Languishing with Corey Keyes · December 8, 2025 · 54 min