To live, you have to move! 5 sports you should learn in your lifetime

Consulting expert: Jiang Yicun, professor of the Institute of Sports and Health, Changhua Normal University

Jiang Yicun is a professor at the Institute of Sports and Health at Changhua Normal University, specializing in recreational therapy. With a strong academic background, he is also very strategic in helping his children choose sports talents. For example, two children are Taekwondo players, but they also learn gymnastics to strengthen their body coordination, posture control and flexibility to assist in Taekwondo performance. Additionally, many figure skaters take ballet or other dance classes to help with their artistic performance while skating.

As a professor specializing in sports, he suggests that there are five types of sports that everyone should learn, and his children also play at least one of each type of sport.

1. Physical awareness: such as gymnastics, dance, various martial arts, etc. Jiang Yicun said that learning gymnastics can improve body awareness and control over the body's center of gravity, making it less likely to get injured even if you fall. The ability to control the body's center of gravity will be useful throughout your life, especially when you are older, as it can help prevent falls and reduce the damage caused by falls.

2. Self-defense: such as Chinese martial arts, taekwondo, judo, fencing, karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, etc. The key is to cultivate children's ability to judge external situations so that they can remain calm in emergencies. Jiang Yicun joked: "I may not win, but at least I can run faster when I encounter bad guys." Among all self-defense sports, he prefers Taekwondo because there are many gyms and a clear grading system, which allows children to have clear goals and move forward step by step.

3. Endurance training: such as jogging, marathon, cycling, etc. This type of exercise can enhance cardiopulmonary function and provide better protection for the body's muscles and joints. However, Jiang Yicun recommends that children in their developmental period avoid overtraining and prevent sports injuries when engaging in endurance sports to avoid affecting their development.

But he also pointed out that there is no sport that children cannot do, but the amount of training must be properly controlled. For example, children who want to build endurance can participate in the "Mini Ironman" which is shorter and more fun-oriented; high school students or beginners can also participate in the "Half Ironman" which is half the distance.

4. Water sports: swimming, surfing, sailing, canoeing, etc., among which swimming is the foundation of all water sports. Jiang Yicun said that Taiwan is an island country and we should make good use of our resources and develop marine culture. In addition, water has healing properties and can help people express their emotions. Moreover, swimming is a sport that can be continued throughout one’s life. In the Netherlands everyone can swim, and in addition to testing general swimming skills, the graduation exam also requires swimming in costume. The purpose is to simulate the situation of falling into water so that children can learn how to survive in the water.

5. Team sports: such as basketball, baseball, football, etc. Nowadays, parents have fewer children, so if sports can be used to cultivate children's communication, cooperation, problem-solving and leadership skills, it will be killing two birds with one stone.

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