Youth Fitness
Fun and Exciting Interactive fitness!!… with benefits that go beyond physical activity. The first interactive fitness equipment that is used to help kids with ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities and for autism therapy. It’s no wonder that schools, YMCAs and community recreation centers are anchoring their youth fitness facilities around the new Makoto Arena!
But that’s not what the kids see. They just like the game because it’s exciting and they’re in the center of action. Every game is different. And whether you’re playing solo against the machine or with a team, the arena will challenge all with a heart-pounding workout.
Accuracy counts. In a standard, timed game the arena scores how many targets were hit in the allotted time and also gives an average reaction time. Or a player can challenge their focus and concentration skills by playing “Sudden Death.” Here the game ends when a target is missed.
What happens in an interactive game of Makoto?
You stand in the triangular arena, facing one of the three towers. The other two towers are at either side in your peripheral vision. You are in a competition of three against one! Each tower has twelve targets. Floorpods add an additional four targets at the base of each tower. Any one of these targets could be the one to randomly activate. You never know which one of the computerized opponents will draw your action!
Once you hit the "Start" button, a voice starts counting down to the beginning of your game. "Four-three-two-one...." An explosion of lights and vibrant tones draws your attention to the active tower. As you turn toward its direction, your eyes search for the location of the light on the tower. You quickly stretch to strike the target.
A second tone confirms that you scored a point. Another explosion of light and sound causes you to lunge across the arena bending to strike the lower target. As quickly as you strike one target another one activates. Your opponent, Makoto, is pacing you! You are relentlessly drawn in to focusing continuously on finding and striking the targets to the exclusion of all other thoughts. Your total body moves, lunging, stretching, bending, twisting, burning calories rapidly. Until… you strike the final target and check your score.
Here's another big difference: you can't cheat Makoto. There are other games where, by unplugging a connection, the player can bypass the "exercise" component of the game. It's so sad to see a well-equipped exergaming room with kids just sitting on the floor playing video games. In a Makoto Arena the player must move from tower to tower to tag each target before the light goes out. Players are scored on accuracy and reaction time.
While we applaud all games that get people up and moving, we strive for a little bit more. Yes - we want people to get their heartrates up and have a good physical workout. But isn't it even better if the activity is also beneficial to your brain? Makoto delivers a bigger bang for your buck. As one player put it, "why not get smarter while you're toning your core!"
Contact us now and learn how Makoto can energize your youth fitness program!!
