Martial Arts Calories Burned

Martial arts training is a great way to burn calories and lose weight. This page provides information on the number of calories burned during various martial arts & related workouts. Listed below are the average calories burned by a 155-160 pound person over one hour of activity. With most weight loss plans, participants need to eat less (consume fewer calories) and/or exercise more (burn off more calories). Be aware that an average sized person must burn off roughly 3,500 calories (without adding any calories back) in order to lose 1 pound. However, this calorie level varies based on a person’s weight, physical activity, etc.

This website does not provide any diet or medical advice. Please see a doctor if you are having medical or weight issues. For additional fitness information, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Martial Arts Physical Fitness section.

Everyday Activities

  • Gardening – 330 calories
  • Reading (sitting) – 80
  • Sleeping – 50
  • Walking (2 mph) – 204
  • Watching TV – 55

Martial Arts & Related Activities

  • Boxing (sparring) – 670 calories
  • Resistance (weight) training – 365
  • Running (5 mph) – 606
  • Taekwondo – 752
  • Tai Chi – 291
  • Wrestling – 445
  • Yoga, power – 292

Calorie “Equivalents”

The 752 calories burned by an entire one hour Taekwondo class is roughly equal to the following foods/drinks:

  • 7-9 small chocolate chip cookies or
  • 4-5 glasses of beer or
  • 2-3 slices of pepperoni pizza or
  • Less than a Big Mac, large fries and medium Coke (which equals roughly 1,250 calories)

Therefore, if you have cookies, beer and McDonald’s during the week, it might mean weeks of extra martial arts classes in order to burn off the accumulated calories!!!

What Is A Calorie?

When You Burn Fat Where Does It Go?

Video – Jiu-Jitsu: The Cure to Obesity

Martial Arts Calories Burned – Sweat Will Drip During Training!!

Martial Arts Calories Burned

Image From Wikimedia Commons

Reference Sources

  1. Mayo Clinic, Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/exercise/art-20050999?pg=2
  2. Harvard Health Publications, Calories burned in 30 minutes for people of three different weights, http://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/calories-burned-in-30-minutes-of-leisure-and-routine-activities
  3. TaekwondoAnimals.com, Taekwondo for Weight Loss, http://www.taekwondoanimals.com/taekwondo-weight-loss