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Learning a martial art comes with a huge variety of benefits, including increased self-confidence, improved physical health, and life-saving stress relief. From Taekwondo to Muay Thai to Tai chi, the various disciplines allow you to connect with the best choice for your needs. Residents of Houston looking to learn a martial art themselves or find classes for their kids are in luck because there are some amazing schools around the city. To get you started, these four martial arts schools in Houston have a lot to offer. Elite Mixed Martial Arts Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an extremely popular martial art that gained traction in the United States alongside the rise of Dana White's Ultimate Fighting Championship, in which MMA fighters face off in an octagon-shaped ring. If you want to learn the basics of MMA, Elite Mixed Martial Arts on Westheimer Road is an ideal place to start. The programs include options for men, women, and children targeted at levels ranging from beginner to advanced. You can also try your hand at Brazilian jiu-jitsu or kickboxing if you don't want to start with MMA lessons. Elite MMA was first launched in 1993 with a core underlying philosophy of teamwork. more Iron Dragon Martial Arts Offering Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Iron Dragon Martial Arts is a well-regarded school located on Maxey Road. Jason White, a three-time state and national Taekwondo champion, is the owner and chief instructor at Iron Dragon. His talented team of instructors provide a welcoming and beginner-friendly atmosphere that is ideal for learning a martial art. Bam Bam Martial Arts Houston Whether you want to learn a martial art for fun, to meet people, to get fit, or to defend yourself, Bam Bam Martial Arts takes care of your needs with some amazing programs for adults and kids. The instructors at Bam Bam specialize in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu for adults. Kids can learn karate or jiu-jitsu, and the instructors at Bam Bam focus on equipping them with valuable life skills, including self-confidence, character development, and discipline. You can find this martial arts school on Bellaire Boulevard. Houston Samurai Karate Dojo Karate is a martial art that emerged in the Ryukyu Kingdom in what is now present-day Japan. It will make its debut as an Olympic sport in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so it's likely to experience a renewed surge in popularity. Dojo is a Japanese term for a formal gathering place where people practice judo or karate. Houston Samurai Karate Dojo has taught the fundamentals of karate to children and adults since 2001. You can also try your hand at judo or grappling at Houston Samurai. The chief instructor, Shihan Ehab Ahmed, is a sixth-degree black belt in karate, which guarantees you or your children will learn from someone who is highly skilled. Learning a martial art is one of the most valuable commitments to personal growth you'll ever make. Regardless of how old you are, you can find a range of top-notch martial art schools in Houston offering the program you need. Image via Pixabay by stevepb

With lots of sunshine and warm weather throughout the year, Houston, Texas, is the perfect place to explore the outdoors. Riding ATVs with other adventure lovers is a thrilling way to take in some of the natural beauty that this area has to offer. Here are the top ATV trails near Houston. General Sam's Offroad Park At General Sam's Offroad Park in Huntsville, there are 705 acres of land ready to be explored. Ride your ATV over creeks, through forests full of pine trees, and on more than 60 miles of trails created for off-road vehicles. There's even an ATV course with sand and mud drags and a huge bog for a fun challenge and plenty of messy excitement. This park also offers on-site camping so you can make a weekend of it. more Mudbuddys Park In Lavaca County, Mudbuddys Park is a recreational park loaded with opportunities for fun for all ages. A kid's area allows little adventurers to enjoy some messy riding in a safe place. With over 500 acres of land, you'll be sure to find plenty of challenges for your ATV. The Lavaca River passes through the property for some water-fording opportunities. Cabins, tent sites, and RV hookups are also available for anyone staying the night. Creekside Offroad Ranch Just a short drive up Interstate 69 from Houston is Creekside Offroad Ranch. This spot is a local favorite for challenging off-road courses full of mud, sand, and water over 350 acres of land. Open on the weekends, campsites surround the area for primitive camping or RV owners, plus there are public restrooms and showers to clean off after some serious mud riding. Visit their website to get on their mailing list so you never miss a fun event. Xtreme Off-Road Park and Beach Along the San Jacinto River, Xtreme Off-Road Park and Beach is a great spot to take the whole family. Several swimming areas are found in the area. Plan a weekend getaway for loads of outdoor fun like fishing, off-road driving, and hiking. Only primitive camping is available here, so be sure to bring a tent and supplies. ATVs are free to ride, while larger vehicles like Jeeps cost $10. Sam Houston National Forest In the Sam Houston National Forest, you'll find lots of great trails for all kinds of adventures. You'll find opportunities to navigate through mud, dirt, rocky terrain, and creek crossings. Visit any time of the year and enjoy hours of ATV riding. Over 160,000 acres of land make up this forest, so you'll have a lot of exploring to do. Keep an eye out for signs as you ride because some trails will close after heavy rain to protect the integrity of the trails. Houston is full of beautiful parks and undeveloped land. Don't sit inside and miss out on the natural beauty of the area, get out and explore. Next time you're ready to get out for some exciting ATV trail riding, check out one of these great trails near Houston, Texas. Some rights reserved by thigpen.robert

Getting into shape these days couldn't be easier, with new exercise classes and trends popping up nearly every day. Whether you're looking for intensive cardio or a more relaxing strengthening class, Houston is an ideal place to get your muscles moving. Empower Fitness Lab Exercise devotees flock to Houston's two Empower Fitness Lab locations for a variety of customized training activities. Combine cardio and strengthening moves in Empower's signature H.I.I.T. (High-Intensity Interval Training) classes, where you'll enjoy maximum fitness results from cardio and floor strengthening exercises. Set to a thumping music playlist, the hour-long class will fly by as you burn hundreds of calories. Empower also offers a selection of cycling classes like the Sync cycle class meshing together power moves with strengthening. A variety of yoga classes are also available, from quiet restorative practices to higher intensity flow classes. Empower Fitness Lab's classes are offered in a full daily schedule to fit into busy schedules. Drop-in prices range from $15 for a yoga class to $30 for H.I.I.T., with a range of packages and monthly memberships available. more BIG Power Yoga At BIG Power Yoga's two Houston locations, Baptiste hot yoga is the name of the game, with a range of sweaty and empowering classes on the schedule each day. BIG offers classes for adults as well as children as young as 3 years old to expose people of all ages to the benefits of a mindful practice. Expand your mind and your horizons to BIG's Stand Up Paddle-board yoga, where you will practice your poses balanced atop a paddle-board in a local lake. The added challenge of balancing on an uncertain surface blended with the sheer beauty of being on the water is an unmissable experience. New students to BIG Power Yoga can purchase their first month of membership for only $40 and $89 auto-renew thereafter. Regular $5 community classes are also available. Body Rock Pilates Body Rock Pilates offers a killer 50-minute full-body workout set to rocking tunes in a lively atmosphere. The studio's Pilate reformer machines are used to strengthen, lengthen, and tone your body with varied routines that get to each body part. Body Rock also offers ballet-inspired barre classes that help you burn calories and strengthen muscles with a series of quick moves that will have you burning calories for up to 72 hours. Body Rock offers a new client introductory price of $30 for three classes. Class packs of five, 10, 20, and 25 sessions are available at reduced per-class rates, and monthly class pack subscriptions reduce the costs even further. Private sessions are also available. Dance House Fitness Get ready for a party at Dance House Fitness. The "workouts" are based on dance routines and moves that are designed to tweak, tone, and firm every part of your body. With specialized classes that focus on everything from strengthening to advanced choreography, you'll be dance-club-ready in no time flat. Dance House Fitness classes are $20 for a single 60-minute class and $25 for a 90-minute class. Class packs are available, and an unlimited monthly membership for $179 gives you access to as many classes as you'd like. Image via Flickr by teammarche | CC BY-SA 2.0.