Martial Arts gear has certainly never been known as chic or vogue. However, a few international designers at London Fashion Week beg to differ.

Fashion Week in London presented a few designers who added a Martial Arts flare to their designs. David Koma introduced “Cocktail dresses tied with karate belts…” and “…Jonathan Saunders also featured waist belts and kimono shapes in his bright and energetic collection.”

According to one reporter, the Martial Arts reference is logical as, “…there is power and strength” in these designs.

From Fashion to Yoga

How do we get from karate belts and tied kimonos of Fashion Week to Yoga? Once again, that concept of power and strength is important. Strength training comes in a variety of forms and fashions.

Yoga authority Kathryn Budig recently blogged that she has a new love: Martial Arts. She chose Kempo Karate and says “In many ways, martial arts and yoga are a match made in disciplined heaven.” Her training includes gaining a knowledge of “…strikes, kempos (combinations of strikes), sequences, and katas (training exercises)….”

Creating Power and Strength With Yoga and Kempo

Kathryn has combined the two modalities by taking two common kicks and pairing them with two yoga poses each “—one to help strengthen the kick and one to boost the flexibility needed to perform it.”

It seems logical that yoga and Martial Arts would combine to make a wonderful workout. The combination increases muscle strength as well as effectiveness and power in the motion. Additional benefits of both yoga and Martial Arts include a calming effect, awareness, precision and of course, a healthier body and mind overall.

Martial Arts and fitness activities such as yoga fit perfect into the General Surgeon’s efforts to increase community support of healthy activities. As he says, let’s Step It Up and try out a few new things!