Dropping Pounds and Burning Calories

“Who are we?” shouted Daniel Beckford.

“Kids Karate team sir!” bellowed the eight children from KicksKarate, located at the Potomac Oak Shopping Center .

Beckford couldn’t help but smile as the group repeated the process three times. The intimidating introduction was followed by a five-minute presentation of high-flying karate expertise from the group of 11- and 12-year-olds.

To the beat of techno music and the Black Eyed Peas, the troupe, coached by 25-year-old Beckford for about eight years, kicked wood planks in half, showed off combos of punches and acrobatic tumbles, and drew a crowd in the Quince Orchard cafeteria at its annual Health and Fitness Fair.

“We wanted to perform to show everybody that karate isn’t just good for physical fitness but for mental health as well,” Beckford said.

Beckford and his group of youngsters were among many organizations at the fair whose focusing on staying fit.

“I think that in today’s world people are trying to stay healthier in communities, and physical and mental health are really important for families,” said Gail Woolf of Montgomery County Public Schools. Woolf recruited many of the businesses to the event. “To come and know what they can do to stay healthy and have fun doing it is what this is all about.”

There were representatives from CrossFit Montgomery County, Club Golf in Gaithersburg, Two Left Feet, the Diabetes Awareness Club, Meridian Facial Spa and many other types of businesses encouraging healthy lifestyles. If there was a new and different way to seek a healthy lifestyle, the Fair had it.

Following karate, step classes strutted their stuff and Zumba participants hit the dance floor to present new and appealing ways to burn calories while having fun.

“Our motto is, ‘Laugh with us, dance with us,’” said Josi Omdal from Two Left Feet. “We just wanted to get our name out there and let people know we have classes of all levels. It’s absolutely a fun way to get fit.”