Working up a sweat at the gym is a great way to release any pent-up tension from the day. It doesn’t matter whether workplace politics or a leaky ceiling stresses you out—exercise may help you forget about it all and regain your balance.
Altering your typical yoga sequence or jogging path might help relieve tension, but sometimes it takes trying a new exercise to feel like your old self again. Even though kickboxing isn’t as widespread as Pilates, spin, or other popular exercise disciplines, it’s a great way to add excitement to your workout and get some tension out by hitting a bag. You might like the exercise so much that you make it part of your regular schedule.
Kick boxing combines elements of boxing with those of martial arts like karate, most notably the use of barefoot kicking. Like other sports, kick boxing helps improve overall health and fitness, and it is widely recognized as an effective method of self-defense.
Kickboxing styles
- Chinese Kickboxing
- Thai Boxing
- American Kickboxing
- Japanese Kickboxing
- Korean Kickboxing
- Burmese Kickboxing
- French Kickboxing
- Shoot Boxing
- Indian Kickboxing
- Thai Bo Kickboxing
Kickboxing is still widely practiced all over the globe, despite being overshadowed in recent years by the rise of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). In contrast to several other sports, Kickboxing is governed by various international and state organizations. Although there are some subtle differences, complete contact kickboxing regulations are consistent regardless of the organization involved.
Purpose in Kickboxing
The goal of Kick boxing, like that of its close sibling boxing, is to defeat an opponent by knocking them out with a combination of kicking and punching techniques or by demonstrating better defensive and offensive abilities and winning on the judges’ scorecards. Since it is a full-contact sport, Kickboxing requires not only the ability to land solid blows with fists and feet but also exceptional fitness and mobility, as many of the most successful moves include kicks to the head.
Kickboxing: A Brief History
Muay Thai, the forerunner of modern kick boxing, has its roots in Thailand. Muay Thai was initially designed as a self-defense technique. Still, it was transformed into a sport after discovering that soldiers could no longer benefit from using unarmed fighting in battle. 1 Kickboxing evolved from Muay Thai with additional influences from various martial systems.
Over time, this evolved into a timed, full-contact sport played out in a boxing ring. Thus, the term “kickboxing” was coined to describe this combat sport.
You certainly aren’t alone in your enthusiasm for kickboxing. Kickboxing rose to prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s as a popular form of group exercise because of Tae Bo’s best-selling training DVDs. In time, this became widely recognized as cardio kickboxing. Subsequently, a plethora of trainers started offering cardio kick boxing-inspired videos and courses. As a bonus, many group training clubs offer alternative versions of martial arts and boxing routines.
Techniques for Kickboxing
A wide variety of strategies are used in contemporary Kick Boxing bouts. Let’s start with a quick primer on the various kick boxing punches available.
1. Jab Punch
The jab punch is an overhand blow delivered with the palm of the hand facing downward at the time of contact.
2. Uppercut Punch
The uppercut is a blow in which the fist follows the contour of the jaw and chin in a vertical arc. It’s often called as “power punches”
3. Hook Punch
To throw a hook, you must swing your arm in a horizontal arc at an angle of ninety degrees toward your opponent. It’s one of the hardest punches you can throw. Given that “Kick Boxing” is the name of the sport, it’s hard to see how excellence may be attained without using effective kicking strategies.
4. Front Kick
As the name indicates, a front kick is executed by straightening the front leg and striking the target region while maintaining the knee, foot, and shin in a hanging or pulled-to-the-hip posture.
The attacker swings their front leg or foot in a semicircular motion to deliver a roundhouse kick, also known as an angled power kick.
The effectiveness of the spinning back kick lies in its ability to catch one’s opponent off guard. Specifically, he spins around and brings his heel back at his adversary.
Advantages of Kickboxing
This sport is growing in popularity and gaining new spectators for several reasons. Here are examples of some of them:
- Sport is a fantastic way to unwind and forget about your worries.
- This is a strong contender if you’re looking for a means of self-defense.
- It improves muscular control and coordination in the arms, legs, and core.
Regulations and Rules
Numerous international organisations promote, organise, and regulate kick boxing events. Various organisations have somewhat different regulations, but generally speaking, a match will include anything from three to twelve rounds, each lasting anywhere from two to three minutes.Â
Each competitor is given a pair of protective gloves and shoes to wear throughout the competition. Some groups may permit kicks below the waist, while others prohibit anything below the shoulders. When two people of the same weight compete in kickboxing, the winner is determined by a tie or a knockout.
Preparations
Kickboxers need to put in serious work before a match by working out and eating well, which will provide them the strength they need to compete as well as the endurance and energy they need.
Elevated push-ups, in which the player uses a chair to raise their legs, are a famous example of a Kick Boxing Exercise. Bananas, apples, and cottage cheese are all part of a healthy diet that should be maintained with this rigorous activity.
Regular exercise may work wonders for your stamina, blood pressure, and sleep quality. Kickboxing, like other forms of exercise and group fitness, has several advantages.
Physical Advantages
Depending on the kind of kickboxing you practice, you can work various muscles. Abdominals are the primary emphasis of cardio kick boxing, which also increases cardiovascular fitness. Regular kick boxing is a martial art that may help you build muscle everywhere. Kickboxing is known for its emphasis on upper-body power.
Strength in the upper body, stamina, speed, agility, flexibility, and balance are all areas where kick boxing excels.
Daily Use and Advantages
Kickboxing is great for your heart since it consists mostly of cardiovascular exercise. How healthy your heart and blood arteries are is known as your cardiovascular health. Keeping your heart in good shape is an important preventative measure against cardiovascular disease and other heart-related issues.
Maintaining your equilibrium and coordination is another benefit of kick boxing. Kick boxing is a sport that tests your reflexes, agility, and hand-eye coordination. Constantly striving to enhance these facets of yourself can also benefit your day-to-day existence. Fitness Kickboxing includes important, everyday motions across various planes of motion.
Getting Started in Kickboxing
Since it is a full-contact sport, kickboxing calls for rigorous all-around preparation. If you’re thinking about starting kickboxing, here are some suggestions for getting started.
1. Pick Your Trainer and Approach
Cardio kickboxing may be a fun and welcoming introduction to kick boxing, and group exercise is more convenient and cost-effective than hiring a personal trainer.
Classes for competitive kick boxing are available in smaller settings for those with prior expertise or who love contact sports. If you’re serious about improving your kick boxing skills, hiring a personal trainer to supplement your competitive training is a great option.
Regardless of the instructor’s specialty or the nature of the class you take, it’s important to discuss your health and fitness goals with your trainer. Make sure they know about any injuries or medical issues they should be concerned about.
2. To improve your kickboxing skills, you need the appropriate gear
Most studios, says Dibernardo, need you to have boxing gloves and hand wraps. These will keep your hands safe from harm. A large water bottle is a must, of course. These are the bare minimums, but specific needs for equipment kinds should be discussed with your teacher.
Safety gear can include:
- Bag gloves
- Sparring gloves
- Headwear
- Mouthguard
- Shin guards
Whatever you decide to wear, make sure it’s loose enough to be comfortable without being so flexible that it may get snagged on anything. Remove any jewelry you may wear since it may get caught or cause injury.
3. Mental Fitness and Kickboxing
To succeed as a kickboxer, you need to be highly driven and have a strong will. Qualities are frequently put to the test in intense performance conditions. Not every kick boxing bout will end in a victory, and that’s a hard reality to accept. Many fighters need to improve their self-assurance to thrive in the cutthroat environment of professional kick boxing.
Kickboxing is a mental sport where you constantly challenge your mind and body to improve. Invest time and energy into being physically healthy, accepting setbacks gracefully, and recovering quickly from injuries.
Kickboxing is a fun and effective alternative to your regular fitness program. You may like it so much that it becomes an established habit. No matter how frequently you engage in kickboxing, you must always do it with a sound frame of mind and use all necessary safety measures.
Wrapping It Up
It’s simply practice, whether you’re working on your cardio or learning the fundamentals of kickboxing. You came here to improve yourself, have fun, and learn something new. This may seem intimidating, but keep in mind that you are under no obligation to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. A lot of time will be given to you so that you may develop and grow. Avoid muscular cramping and injuries by going at a leisurely pace and listening to your trainer.