A non-competitive martial arts exercise program for health and fitness in the general population

Authors

  • Ming-Chien Chyu Texas Tech University, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2010.53.13

Keywords:

Alternative exercise, Cost-Effective, Safety, Feasibility, Physical education

Abstract

Although traditional martial arts training focuses on defensive and offensive systems of physical techniques for combat, martial arts can be practiced as a physical activity for health and fitness, and are recommended as such by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  However, limited information on non-competitive martial arts exercise programs is available in the open literature. Compared with other modalities of exercise, martial arts exercise offers advantages in safety, no equipment required, flexible space requirement, adjustable intensity, comprehensiveness, individuality, exercise when watching television, and higher motivation of adherence.  This article introduces a structured, systematic, and comprehensive martial arts exercise program suitable for the general population of different age groups and physical conditions.  The curriculum features a non-competitive, non-contact, safe and fun personal/group exercise based on traditional martial arts training, covering a wide spectrum of techniques of hand strikes, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, blocks, their combinations, takedowns/throws, and self-defense, in addition to warm-up and cool-down.  The purpose is to provide an easy, safe, cost-effective (virtually no-cost) and user-friendly alternative exercise program to help the general population increase quality daily exercise.

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References

Chyu, M.C., Feng, D., Esperat, C., Reed, D.B., Boylan, M., Borrego, J., Billings, L., Flores, D., Ochoa, C. Feasibility of martial arts exercise physical education program for children at risk for overweight. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010; 42(5):355. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000386681.82374.33

Chyu, M.C., Shen, C. Martial Arts: potential alternative exercise for weight control. ACSM's Certified News, American College of Sport Medicine. 2009; 19(3).

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Physical Activity for Everyone, http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/what_counts.html. Accessed November 2009a.

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), How much physical activity do you need?

http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html. Accessed August 2009b.

US Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, Overweight in Children and Adolescents. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/factsheet06.pdf, accessed November 2009.

Winkle, J.M., Ozmun, J.C. Martial Arts: An Exciting Addition to the Physical Education Curriculum. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. 2003; 74(4):29. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2003.10609199

Woodward, T.W. A review of the effects of martial arts practice on health. WMJ. 2009; 108(1):40-3.

Statistics

Statistics RUA

Published

2010-10-26

How to Cite

Chyu, M.-C. (2010). A non-competitive martial arts exercise program for health and fitness in the general population. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 5(3), 430–443. https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2010.53.13

Issue

Section

Physical Education / Children & Exercise