You can get an intense workout, plus strength training, improved balance, self-defense, and better self-respect, all by taking a martial arts class instead of aerobics I see and hear ads for aerobic exercise and health spas, and gyms all the time. I often wonder why a person, would spend all that money on just one type of exercise. I have seen different aerobics tapes advertised and, some of the early morning TV shows, and I do not think that any of those are as good as a martial arts class. I spend fifty dollars a month on my Kenpo classes and I get just as good, if not a much better, workout then if I went to a gym or aerobics studio.
When our Kenpo instructor starts up class, he runs us through a drill of the basics. This usually consists of 18 basic maneuvers done on both sides, which gives you 36 maneuvers. Each basic movement is done five times a piece, for 180 total maneuvers, and you finish this all in a half hour. Every class does this basic workout; even the instructor does this. This provides you with a very good cardio workout as well as improved endurance. We usually get a short break in between the basics, and then we start working on other material, usually long enough to catch our breath. .
Some of the other benefits that you can get out of martial arts class; is a better understanding of how to defend your self in a potentially dangerous situation. We have movements for these situations; we call them self-defense techniques. In Kenpo, we have self-defense techniques for almost any situation. For example, if a person comes up behind you and puts you in a headlock to where you are bending over forward; you could perform Grip of Death, for an example. This is for an escape from a headlock. Kenpo is one of the deadlier martial arts, so each person is shown how to tone the techniques down. This protects the student from going to jail, because they used too much force. This also protects the attacker from being maimed or even killed.
