9 Amazing Ways To Stay Fit & Healthy With Martial Arts

Although yoga has gained popularity due to its immense health benefits, martial art has been believed to be more effective than any other exercise. Martial art typically does not involve jogging, running or workout sessions; all it involves is intense training.

These intense training sessions not only help to lose weight, but also help to relieve stress and build confidence in a person. It has also been proved beneficial in maintaining the healthy weight of a person.

Also Read: Health Benefits Of Martial Arts

If peace of mind, a perfect body shape and a healthy lifestyle is all you want, you can start practising any one among these martial arts mentioned in the list.

Here is a list of martial arts that can help you to stay fit and well toned. Read on to know about them in detail.

1. Karate:

The most popular type of martial art is Karate which originated from Mainland China in early 20th century. Karate helps to shed off extra weight and also helps to keep you in shape. Practising karate can help to build strength and also teach you self-defense. Your muscles, bones and joints will slowly turn stronger as you keep increasing the resistance. This is one of the best ways to tone your upper body.

2. Kung Fu:

Kung Fu is one among those martial arts which will definitely get your body in shape. The high intensity of the workout helps in improving cardiovascular health. Kung Fu is all about kicks, jumps, pushing and dodging. According to experts, Kung Fu also helps in curing back problems, cervical spondylitis, knee pains and other body aches. Kung Fu is best known for toning the upper body as well as muscle toning.

3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an ancient form of exercise which focuses on grappling, throwing, sweeping, joint locking, limb manipulating, choking, controlling positions and ground fighting. It is a mixture of aerobic as well as anaerobic moves. This martial art does not involve punching and kicking; it is all about rolling on the floor which helps to burn a lot of calories in a few sessions.

4. Capoeira:

Capoeira is a fun Brazilian martial art form which is particularly a mix of dance, acrobatics and music. This art involves your core completely and hence if you practise this art for several months, it will give you a super toned and flexible body. The art involves enormous energy, constant repetition of movements and techniques which is more intense than any cardio exercise.

5. Kickboxing:

Kickboxing is now known as a popular sport, but this is originally a form of martial art. According to experts, one and a half hour session of kickboxing can help to burn more than 1000 calories in total. And also kicking and punching can help to burn fats easily and also melt down the calories.

6. Kalaripayattu:

This traditional form of martial art from Kerala is gaining popularity, thanks to its benefits on the human body. This is one of the energetic forms of exercise which involves total control and limitless power of the body. Practising this martial art can help to burn extra fat from the body in a jiffy.

7. Tai Chi:

Tai Chi is known as a gentle form of martial art which helps in releasing stress. Practising Tai Chi can help to build strength, increase flexibility and enhance endurance. One hour session of Tai Chi is known to burn 1000 calories easily.

8. Judo:

Judo is an ancient form of martial art which originated in Japan in 1882. The exercise is more about defense which involves controlling the opponent by taking them down. Practising Judo helps to strengthen your body and teaches you self defense with techniques. Judo is known as a very good stress-buster and a full-body cardio workout. Lifting the opponents and throwing them with strength can help to tone your upper and lower body easily. Judo does not involve boxing or kicking like kickboxing.

9. Taekwondo:

Taekwondo is similar to Karate and is an ancient martial art from Korea. This Korean martial art involves strengthening and training with kicks and legs and less pressure on hands and the upper body. This martial art helps to strengthen your body. Practising Taekwondo on a regular basis can help to tone your hips, thighs and lower abdomen. It also helps to rejuvenate the working of the brain and also proves beneficial in preventing several health diseases in a person.