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Staying Alive (Cardio Tips)

Student at PMA about to Jump Rope

Can you imagine living in in pre-historic times when humans had to walk and run everywhere to hunt and gather their food? Or how about having a wild animal chasing you and running to stay alive? In those days, cardio respiratory endurance was absolutely essential to survival! Now, people rely on cars, boats, planes and elevators. These things have decreased the need to run/walk to stay alive.

HOWEVER, as we became more sedentary, there was an enormous increase in obesity and heart disease. It is to the point now that aerobic activities are essential to one getting/staying in shape to avoid heart attacks. Here are some tips to working cardio into your daily routine.

Cardio exercise is analogous to aerobic exercise. For at least 20 minutes per day, for a few times per week you need to elevate your heart rate to 60 – 85 % of your target heart rate. To find this target heart rate, subtract your age from 220 and take the percentage of that number. Walking, jogging, or running are some of the most common ways to get in that aerobic exercise. However, a typical martial arts class can get you that 20 minutes and beyond if used correctly.

It is a little bit ironic that we have come full circle with our cardio exercise. “Back in the day,” humans literally had to walk, jog, and run to stay alive. Overtime technology made us sedentary. Well those sedentary lives have made us overweight and we need to walk, jog and run again to stay alive! Martial arts training can get you the exercise you need while teaching you self defense skills that could save your life also. Self defense in more ways than one!