I'll use a simple comparison; one that just happened to me this evening. You're driving on the highway. Suddenly a deer darts out of the woods and in front of your car. How do you react?
From what I've read and from my own experience, I've observed that there are two general types of reactions that people have. Some people freeze up. Others are able to use the adrenaline to act and think at incredible speeds to get themselves out of a dangerous situation.
When the deer ran in front of my car all of the following thoughts went through my mind in less than five seconds. "Oh no! A deer! Can I avoid it completely? No. How can I minimize danger to myself and if possible, the deer? Swerve right. How far can I swerve without crashing the car into the woods? About 30 degrees. I need to slow down. How hard can I hit the brakes without losing traction? Light but firm pressure. I now need to swerve left to compensate and not end up crashing into a tree. Are there cars behind me or in the other lane? No. How sharp can I turn without flipping the car at this speed? About 50 degrees. I need to stop the car and put it in park."
Wow! That's a lot of decision making for just a few short seconds.
Many things that I've learned and developed in my karate training helped me to deal with that situation. Here's just a short list of some of them...
Handling an adrenaline rush.
Keeping a clear head in a stressful situation.
Awareness of one's surroundings.
Spatial awareness.
Understanding of movement, velocity, impact, etc.
Quick decision making skills.
A desire to keep one's self, as well as everyone else around as safe as possible.
Thanks karate!
*Note* These benefits apply to everything from handling an argument, to making quick decisions in the workplace, to being able to think clearly enough to defend one's self in a conflict.