The style of mixed martial arts fighting is growing ever more popular, and in order for fighters to perform at their best, they need to stay fit.
Exercising regularly is as important for fighters as is practicing forms, moves, and katas.
There are many myths about exercise in existence and this article aims to dispel some of the more common myths about exercise.
A large number of people believe that exercising for longer periods of time but a lower intensity level will burn more fat than more intense workouts.
This is not true, however, as you burn more fat when you use more calories each minute.
Although most mixed martial arts fighters are used to high-intensity exercise routines, there is still a large number of them who are not.
Ultimately, working out for longer periods of time will burn the same amount of fat that working out at high intensity will.
Often, people give up on their exercise routines because they feel that they have to work out very hard and very frequently.
This is not the case, however, and an hour of physical activity will give you as good a workout as an hour of lifting weights or doing aerobics.
Good exercise simply entails moving about and not staying still.
There is also no guarantee that you will get the results you want simply through exercising, and you may not lose all the weight that you want to.
Genetics features to a large extent in this, and running may work well for your sibling but not for you.
Diet also factors largely in weight loss, and a healthy diet will greatly aid weight loss.
If you are of the opinion that Yoga is a gentle and Zen form of exercise that will not give you a truly good workout, then you are sadly mistaken.
Yoga can, in fact, be a very strenuous form of exercise, especially at higher levels of the art.
Tai Chi is similar to Yoga in this respect - mentally and physically demanding.
Both of these art forms help give your mind focus and have low impact, thanks to the slow movements.
They are excellent for breaking a sweat and even for treating lower back pains and fibromyalgia.
Any mixed martial arts fighter who turns their nose up at Yoga and Tai Chi should try them, and they will soon find their flexibility, coordination, balance, stress levels, and strength improving greatly.
Finally, swimming is also an excellent workout, and does not require you to have an extravagantly expensive gym membership.
Swimming gives your body a complete workout, and mixed martial arts fighters often use it to maintain muscle mass and lose body fat at the same time.
If you are more comfortable doing your workouts in your own home, then you should do so.
That way, it is less likely that you will give up on working out.