Here’s a piece of exercise equipment that’s as much about working out your brain and your reflexes as your body. You stand in the middle and have to hit flashing targets on the three towers, when a bell sounds. According to a recent article in Business Week, even professional football teams (such as the Denver Nuggets) are using the device. I found pictures on the web of boxers and martial arts students using it, both to get a workout and to hone reflexes. You could aim at the targets with feet (kicks) as well as hands. One of the martial artists was using it with weapons, which would require further skill to precisely strike the target with the tip of a staff weapon or bamboo sword. And of course, much like the Game Bike, it can be used by the Average Joe to get children and couch potatoes up and doing some exercise.
The price for the Makoto Arena? About $8,000, which for now probably makes it more of a tool for companies than individuals (one of the sites I visited suggested setting up a bit like an arcade game and charging per game).
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