Karate Kids: The Benefits of Martial Arts. With a bloodcurdling cry, your 6-year-old leaps into the air in a karate kick, raising your hair and blood pressure simultaneously. Before you panic and pad the walls, try channeling this urge into a martial arts class. Activities like tae kwon do, kung fu and aikido are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Some parents may think they also promote violence, but that's a myth, according to experts. The martial arts actually help teach self-discipline and socialization skills. In fact, many parents whose children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids.
The Average Burn. A 150-pound person burns approximately 119 calories in 10 minutes doing interval cardio, according to Fitclick.com. This would be similar to the type of workout you would do in the HIIT 15, 20 and 25 classes.
In an hour of either activity, you can burn approximately 600 calories. Harvard Health Publications notes that a 155-pound person burns just shy of 600 calories in an hour of circuit training, which features a series of exercises performed with little or no rest between activities.In an hour of high-impact step aerobics, the same person burns more than 700 calories. 155-pound person can burn 600 or more calories in an hour of each of these activities. Related Reading: Ways to Burn Extra Calories During Your Workout. Step 3. Join a group fitness class at your gym, such as a circuit training class or a step aerobics class.