If you want to do a full body workout, then Kick Boxing is just the right sport for you. It has recently gained popularity and is becoming the favorite sport of weight watchers because one can effectively burn excess fat as well as be fit in a relatively shorter span of time. It is incredibly popular with men and women, boys and girls, of all ages.
What is Kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a type of sport that combines boxing with kicking. It is a professional and amateur competitive sport as well as an excellent cardio and muscular workout. Kickboxing first appeared in Asia more than 2,000 years ago. But it did not garner the public's attention until the 1970s when competitions were arranged in America that permitted full-contact punches and kicks.
What are the Types of Kickboxing?
There are two main types of kickboxing practiced today:
- Competitive Kickboxing: This is a professional sport that emphasizes on technique and power. There are different styles such as points, continuous and knock out.
- Aerobic Kickboxing: Also known as cardio kickboxing, it combines martial arts, boxing and aerobics to increase physical conditioning and stamina and promote muscle toning and strength.
What are the Benefits of Kickboxing?
Both types of kickboxing provide similar benefits. Here is a list of all the benefits:
- Weight Loss: As mentioned earlier, kickboxing is a favorite sport for weight watchers simply because it is an activity that can burn up to 800 calories an hour.
- Healthy Heart: Being a very effective cardio workout, kickboxing is great for a healthy heart. It can help control blood pressure and keep oneself away from cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- Increases Strength: Kickboxing allows you to build your core muscles and improve your balance by strengthening your shoulders, arms and abs. It also tones your thighs and tightens your rear end.
- Reduces Stress: In kickboxing, you can kick and punch your way to a stress-free zone within minutes. According to American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA), a regular kickboxing class increases energy levels and improves concentration.
- Self Defense: Kickboxing, being a martial art, improves your self-defense skills tremendously. It is especially recommended to women because they learn the moves and develop strength which can be used for self defense.
- Improves Posture: Kickboxing helps you regain a better posture and also trim off the excess fat on your waist and abdomen that often causes one to slouch.
- Increases Flexibility: Your flexibility is also improved drastically due to the complete body training and stretching of all the major muscles.
- Improved Coordination: The speedy punches and kicks in the kickboxing routine help you focus your energy to execute each movement successfully.
Although kickboxing is a fantastic workout, it is a high intensity activity. Hence, one should enter into gradually to reduce the risk of injury. Beginners should work out in a supervised manner to avoid injuries. Every kickboxing session should consist of four sections or time periods.
- Warming up your body muscles
- Kicking techniques
- Punching techniques
- Cooling down your body
Kick boxing can give you the benefits of an exercise routine and the fun of sports. It can strengthen your muscles as well as your self-defense skills. Now that you are aware of the so many benefits of Kickboxing, it is a right time to enroll yourself in a kickboxing program!
