Martial arts to suit your fitness style

Kickbox yourself fit

Best for fitness: kickboxing

Opt for non-contact cardio kickboxing which combines aerobics, boxing and martial arts, if you're aiming to max out your calorie burn.

You'll easily wave goodbye to 500 calories in a one-hour class and have fun at the same time: as well as being a fabulous all-body workout, it’s also a great way to banish stress.

Best for stress busting: Tai chi

Absolutely huge in China, mass Tai Chi sessions take place every day in parks across the whole country. Tai Chi’s slow flowing movements are believed to improve the flow of Qi energy through your body, relieving tension and helping improve your general physical and mental health.

Best for toning: capoeira

Stunning to watch, this Brazilian martial art incorporates flowing dance, spinning kicks and acrobatic moves such as cartwheels, flips, rolls and handstands. Capoeira is fantastic for flexibility, and will see you mastering routines you never thought you’d be capable of, to funky Brazilian beats that can prove seriously addictive.

Best for self defence: karate

Excellent for flexibility, karate is not a quick fix as you need to master the moves over a long period of time. It is, however, easy to take up at any age, and many teachers incorporate simple defensive moves into training from the early stages so you’ll quickly learn how to see off an attacker whatever your size.