Getting Fit With Martial Arts
Alexander Conel
number of health and fitness benefits associated with them as well.
There are several types of martial arts, including:
Karate. This is the most common and well-known form of martial arts.
Karate is a great way to tone and strengthen the upper body. In
karate, an individual uses the hands, feet, and elbows for self-
defense.
Tae kwon do. Tae kwon do is related to karate, but focuses more on the
legs and kicking, and less on the hands and upper body. Tae kwon do is
good for strengthening and toning the lower body.
Judo. In judo, you leverage the size and strength of the person you
are fighting to defend yourself. Unlike other martial arts, judo
focuses more on rolling and controlling opponents by holding them off,
rather than by striking them.
Kung fu. This high-intensity martial art provides a strong aerobic and
cardiovascular workout. Kung fu involves primarily kicking and
punching moves, somersaults, jumps, and evading an opponent. Kung fu
particularly helps improve cardiovascular health.
The Health Benefits of Martial Arts
Karate and other martial arts offer a number of physical and mental
health benefits:
Conditioning. The martial arts are a great way to tone and strengthen
your muscles.
Flexibility and agility. Practicing martial arts increases flexibility
and agility, thereby improving your coordination skills.
Posture. Good posture is beneficial for your health and can make you
look and feel better.
Weight. By burning calories and toning muscles, martial arts help you
lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight.
Stamina. Since martial arts provide a full-body workout, they increase
overall stamina and endurance.
Mental health. In addition to improving physical fitness, martial arts
can improve mental and emotional health. As you learn self-defense
moves, martial arts can give you greater self-confidence, reduce
stress, and help you to concentrate and focus.
First, you need to find a school, class, and instructor that are good
fits. Look for martial arts schools and classes offered in your area:
Search online or ask friends for recommendations. When you find a
class, meet with the instructor and ask to watch a session before you
sign up.
For many forms of martial arts, you will need a white cotton uniform
and belt. Martial arts are practiced barefoot, but there are special
shoes that can be worn; ask the instructor about them if you aren't
comfortable being barefoot.
Martial arts involve many techniques that will take time to learn, so
the first classes will focus on basic moves and plenty of stretching.
You'll also find that classes are often varied and broken into
different segments, helping to keep you on your toes and prevent
boredom.
If you're looking for a way to boost your self-confidence and stay fit
without doing the same old gym routine, give martial arts a try.
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