So you are trying to get your kids into fitness… and sometimes if your child isn’t into the mainstream line of sports it is sometimes difficult to get them moving!

With all the computer based games that are available these days, a lot of kids just end up sitting on their behinds staring and bashing buttons at a screen. What happened to good old fashioned fun and games!

Sam Bond (Gladiator Atlas) and (Gladiator Siren) have recently become involved with a revolutionary form of gym equipment from a relatively new company on the market – SHOKK.

SHOKKprovide all sorts of widely recognised cardio machines and all of your weight training equipment. The equipment that most interested us was their interactive pieces!

Yes.. I know all pieces of gym equipment are in a sense interactive… but not like these! These have flashing lights, colours galore, music, visual reflectors and lots more fun tools.

Gladiator Themed Wall

There is a whole range of equipment available – one of our favourite pieces was of course the Gladiator Themed Wall. For all of you Gladiators watchers out there, you will know that we normally go ‘up’ the wall to catch our prey

This equipment is completely different and has been tailored to fit into most conventional gym spaces – and hence the pieces of wall are slotted together and followed around the room rather than up it. This is a great idea! You do not need have a 60 foot high area to put your wall into, and kids can easily just jump onto it and have a game with their parents not worrying they are going to fall from dramatic heights!

Wu Shu Tower

Another favourite was the ‘WuShu’ Tower. It is essentially four columns in a square formation that have square targets dotted over them.

You stand in the centre with up to 4 players in total, and you have to test your reactions by hitting the coloured panels when they light up – using your foam headed baton of course! There are a variety of settings like on all of the games. You can either pair up with people, making it a great team game, or play against each other – survival of the fittest! (it felt just like we were playing in true Gladiator style).

All of the games have music and crazy sounds that shoot out of them when you win, loose or just make a hit! Which makes them great for not only kids but adults as well. We all have a child hidden inside of us!

Dance Matts

Another favourite with the girls were the ‘Dance Matts’ - although Sam was very fond (and may I add) very good at this game also!

A series of electronic matts are placed in front of a large projected screen and song/program is selected. They range from slow easy ones to get you in rhythm, up to some extremely fast paced rave tunes for the fast footed among us!

Although these games are portrayed as being fun, juvenile fitness games for kids there is an important part that they play…..

Strength and conditioning for kids

Shokk are keen to “put to bed” the common misconception that resistance training and weight bearing exercise for children is a bad idea. Shokk Training Courses and Gym Equipment cater for all levels of Physical ability in children aged 8 to 16yrs and Shokk recognise the true benefits of serious training whilst having fun. Not only will the children have fun while they play, but they will be developing great athletic talents that other sports may not necessarily offer.

There were many more games in this gym and they are a fantastic way for kids to get active, whether it be a quick 30min visit after school or an organised birthday party. After the fun we both had trying them out I know that these new interactive pieces of gym equipment by SHOKK are defiantly going to be a hit with the masses.

To see where you nearest SHOKK gym visit (www.shokk.co.uk)