Getting into shape is a goal of many people here in the United States. Unfortunately, however, finding the motivation to do so can be a difficult thing, and one that evades many different people. In fact, it is estimated that only around one third of all adults living in this country are actually getting enough energy. And only five percent of this adult population is getting at least thirty minutes of exercise per day, be it relatively relaxed exercise like walking up to more strenuous exercise and working out.
Children also need to get enough exercise. Not only is it essential to them growing healthy bodies, but regular movement has also been found to be critical for growing their minds as well. In fact, it has been found that regular play and physical activity is directly linked to the development of motor skills, fine motor skills and gross motor skills alike.
Unfortunately, all too many children are not getting this necessary physical movement on a daily or even on a weekly basis. This could even end up shortchanging their motor development, something that could potentially stunt their brain growth for the rest of their lives. The culprit here is often in the form of electronics, with children engaging in tablets, phones, computers, and televisions more than they are in the world that is around them. In fact, the average child now spends seven and a half hours a day looking at a screen and interacting with it, with up to two thirds of all parents saying that this is too much time to be on a piece of electronic equipment when they should be getting at least one full hour of physical activity per day.
,br>For such people, adults and children in the United States alike, martial arts might be the solution to the problem of getting up and moving enough. Martial arts not only promotes physical strength, but it also often promotes mental well being as well. And some people even view martial arts as a great way to engage with the martial arts community as a whole, from making friends to even participating in tournaments if your skill level gets high enough (though it is also totally fine to just participate in martial arts for fun and not out of any sense of competition).
And the number of people who are currently participating in at least one type of martial arts is a high one here in the United States. When it comes to residents of the United States who are at the age of six or older, it has been found that more than three and a half million people are participating in a martial arts practice or activity, with nearly two and a half million such people doing so in the pursuit of physical fitness.
There are many varieties of martial arts as well. Tai chi, for example, is an ancient form of martial arts, with the practice of tai chi dating back centuries, more than two thousand and five hundred years in total. In this day and age, more than three and a half million people have participated in tai chi within the last year.
Aside from tai chi, Brazilian jiu jitsu and kickboxing have also become incredibly popular, as have MMA, which stands for mixed martial arts. Martial arts in general is a great way to get into shape, but it is certainly important to choose the right type of martial arts when you are first looking into it.
The benefits of kickboxing, of tai chi, and of jiu jitsu are intense, as just one hour of participating in a session of martial arts can burn as much as five hundred calories. But losing weight is certainly not the only benefit, as many people have found that performing and regularly practicing martial arts can actually help to improve balance. Flexibility can also be improved, as can overall mental outlook in life. As a whole, martial arts can be hugely calming and grounding in a person’s life, and the power of mixed martial arts and the like cannot and should not be underestimated.