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Kung fu
started as a way for studious monks to get physically fit. A Buddhist
monk, traveling from his native India to what is now southern China, encountered
a temple full of sickly monks--some who were spending so much time studying
that they were neglecting their physical health. This place, the famous
Shaolin Temple, soon became the wellspring of martial arts knowledge for
much of Asia. Cardio, Strength, Balance Martial arts, taken
as pure exercise, develops cardiovascular fitness as well as muscular
strength. Martial artists also enjoy a heightened sense of balance, as
well as learning specific skills to avoid injury (like learning how to
fall properly in throwing arts like aikido and jujitsu). The
benefits of physical fitness for kids are well-documented. According to
the American Council on Exercise, physically active children have fewer
chronic health problems than kids who are sedentary. Regardless
of which martial art your child studies, moving the body in martial arts
techniques is great exercise. While not as calorie-consuming as its more
fitness-oriented renditions, like cardio kickboxing or Tae Bo, martial
arts classes exercise all joints and muscle groups. Classes usually begin
with warmups, then stretching, followed by intense exercise and a subsequent
cooldown. Regular training causes incremental improvements in fitness.
| One Alarming Statistic: |
There's also specific physical benefits unique to the martial arts. For example, aikido's founder Morehei Ueshiba stated that the rolls and somersaults in aikido were beneficial to internal organs. These rolling breakfalls, used to prevent injury when being thrown by a partner, come in handy when riding a bicycle or skateboard as well. |
| The
American Council on Exercise states that by the time they reach high
school, 63% of children are no longer physically active. |
Non-Virtual Fighter
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