| Have you ever thought about increasing your fitness | | | | or kicking, using hands, feet, shins and knees for |
| through martial arts? More and more people are | | | | blocking and striking. Other styles use grappling but in |
| becoming health conscious and trying to get fit by | | | | all styles, the basics are virtually the same and offer |
| going to the gym, joining walking or jogging groups | | | | a complete work out of mind and body. |
| and joining other groups offering a health and fitness | | | | Styles like Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing will keep you on |
| regime, but it does not take long before the | | | | the move, increase fitness levels quickly and take |
| boredom sets in and going to classes become a | | | | you excitement level to a new high while still |
| chore. | | | | providing the discipline necessary for gaining self |
| Martial arts have much to offer. Physically, the training | | | | control, many other styles offer slower yet similar |
| involved has the benefits of strengthening and toning | | | | techniques and mind control. Styles such as Tai Chi, |
| muscles, improving suppleness and agility, increases | | | | although no longer practiced as a contact style, |
| circulation and greatly improves coordination. Many | | | | offers slow precise movements which improve |
| people are now using martial arts as an alternative | | | | circulation, add muscle tone, increase suppleness and |
| weight loss program with amazing results. On a more | | | | in a wonderful style for relaxation, clearing the mind |
| spiritual level, due to the mental discipline of martial | | | | and general well being. This form is becoming |
| arts, students become more self confident, can think | | | | increasing popular and can be practiced by people of |
| clearer and make more rational decisions and gain | | | | all ages and abilities and is particularly beneficial to the |
| relief from the potentially harmful effects of stress | | | | elderly or those needing rehabilitation. |
| such as tension and anxiety. | | | | Increasing your fitness through martial arts will not |
| Of course, martial arts are also practiced by an | | | | only make you feel better, improve the many |
| increasing number of people for the self-defense | | | | functions of mind and body but it will add fun and |
| aspect, as the techniques used in martial arts, both | | | | excitement to your training regime making going to |
| physical and mental are an effective means of | | | | classes something to look forward to rather than |
| self-defense, armed and unarmed. Depending on | | | | being a chore that you drag yourself to and |
| what style you decide on learning, the intricate | | | | eventually lose all interest in and give up. In addition |
| techniques can vary, some styles use a completely | | | | to get fit and healthy you will also be learning the |
| weaponless technique, others emphasis striking and | | | | valuable art of self-defense. |