Study on Inventing an Original Exercise by Applying a Regional Dance

The objective of this study is to invent an original exercise "SAKADO YOSAKOI-EXERCISE" for the promotion of fitness by applying a regional dance "SAKADO YOSAKOI", and to verify its effectiveness. Selecting a subject of a woman, we measured values of METs (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) at the time of exercise for the intensity of physical activities. As a result, the average value of METs was 4.8 (± 1.2), which suggests the exercise has a reasonable intensity for the exercise to promote fitness. We also conducted a questionnaire survey, selecting 273 female students of J-Women’s University as subjects, after carrying the exercise into effect for three weeks as a warming-up exercise. We compared the tendencies by dividing the subjects into three groups according to their consciousness of achievement of the exercise, "high achievement group", "medium achievement group", and "insufficient achievement group". As a result, more than 90 percent of all of them answered, they could enjoy it, they could experience the mood of "YOSAKOI", and they wanted to re-experience it. Moreover, more than 80 percent of them answered it was easy. These results suggest that the "SAKADO YOSAKOI-EXERCISE" is a pleasant and easy exercise where the mood of "YOSAKOI" can be experienced. We infer from these results that the "SAKADO YOSAKOIEXERCISE" is effective as a exercise to promote fitness.