Everyone wants to be healthier. Whether you are on a first name basis with the trainers at your local gym, or you consider watching the Super Bowl a physical activity, you probably want to be in better shape.

The trouble is, many of us find it difficult to drag ourselves to the gym. Without a friend to accompany us, our odds of staying committed drop like a dumbbell in quicksand. So how can one stay fit and focused without losing interest? Alternatives.

Master Kim’s Tiger Tae Kwon Do is one of those alternatives. Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art, was formed more than 2,000 years ago and focuses primarily on kicks and striking techniques for self-defense, as opposed to throws and grappling.

Yeong Jae Kim, also known as Master Kim, imparts his wisdom quite comfortably to students young and old. He has been studying Tae Kwon Do for over 30 years, but has only just celebrated the fifth anniversary of his school in Kinnelon this past November.

Pam Farese, student and mother, started taking classes at Master Kim's and has been hooked ever since. “Well, to start with, as I get older, it's harder to maintain my weight and you certainly start to feel more vulnerable to life in general and Tae Kwon Do addresses both,” she said. 

“I always had an interest in the martial arts and before my daughter was born, I did a lot of aerobic kick boxing. Then she was born and that was that. Now, my daughter is 11 and a junior black belt student at Master Kim's, as well as on the leadership team.”

Sarah Ginder, a student at Master Kim’s, said she enjoys the health benefits of Tae Kwon Do. “The health benefits are endless. Muscle strength and cardio endurance are two of the most obvious benefits. I have been a dancer my whole life and Tae Kwan Do improved my flexibility more than any style of dance has,” she said. 

Student Lisa Schultz, agreed about the health benefits. “Tae Kwon Do is my primary means of exercise. It's helped me lose a lot of weight and gain a lot of muscle, plus it has helped my concentration and confidence,” she said. “I've also met a lot of friends, younger and older, through regular class.” 

“We always do cardiovascular work," said Robert Bennet, a student and volunteer at Master Kim's. "We start out running around to warm up. Then we do physical conditioning. We’ll do push-ups and sit-ups, squats-we hit all muscle groups.”

Explaining the make-up of the adult classes Kim said, “We’ve had a lot of mothers who join. Many students have improved their fitness and their weight.”