After awhile, we all have to change our exercise routines. As we get older, we can’t play certain sports like football or basketball like we used to. Some people try to make up for the loss by running/walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical, but that can get boring fast. It can get so boring that it turns you off from getting your needed exercise. In this case, you need to find something new that excites you. Perhaps you should consider aikido.

Mike Kepka of the San Francisco Gate profiles Tim Sum, a man who uses aikido to aid his fitness in an article titled “Daily aikido routine provides strength, confidence after stroke.” Kepka writes, “Speed and focus are skills he works on with an unrelenting determination. He’s learned they might just help save your life. Sum, 70, practices a Japanese martial art known as aikido at Washington Square, near where he lives. Most mornings he is surrounded by groups of tai chi practitioners and tourists, few of whom talk to him as he runs through defensive techniques by swinging a sword in calculated movements. He’ll bring out his steel sword for those who ask about his passion for aikido, but when he goes out to practice, he takes a cheap wooden one. He’s done that ever since the day a few years ago when police responded to a call about man holding a ‘real sword’ in the park. For Sum, the tool he uses make (sic) no difference. He enjoys the discipline of the daily routine and the chance not to think about the world buzzing around him.”

If you’re looking to explore aikido, Armory Replicas has a huge inventory of practice swords to facilitate your training. This inventory includes our Covert Ninja Japanese Katana Samurai Sword. The 40-inch sword comes with a matte black wooden scabbard that helps the sword maintain a stealth look. Its tip features aluminum, antique brass colored, Japanese Sakura flower fitting. The sword’s carbon steel blade has six etched Japanese symbols. Furthermore, the antique brass colored blade collar fits snug against the spacer and guard. Also, the guard of this sword features the same antique brass colored fitting with another set of Japanese Sakura flowers. Its handle is wood. Our sword has a brown cotton cord wrap and beneath the wrap you can see a raised Japanese flower ornament on both sides. Lastly, the Kashira features the same matching antique brass colored fitting as the tip with a hanging ring and a suede tassel attached and is used for hanging the sword. This sword will most certainly put you right in the action.

Whatever replica armory needs you might have, your best bet is Armory Replicas!