Kickboxing is part of martial arts that equips you with the right skills to defend and protect yourself. It’s also a popular form of sports especially in the U.S., with more people getting interested in the sport. In the U.S. in 2016, the number of participants (aged six years and above) in kickboxing amounted to approximately 6.9 million.
But kickboxing is more than just a sport or a form of protection, it’s an art associated with many health and fitness benefits including reduced stress, weight management, considerably burns calories, improve energy utilization and coordination. It’s believed to stimulate your mind and body while improving your response and flexibility.
Kickboxing Workouts are the Most Effective Types of Exercise
Speed and Force for Surprise Block or Punch
Unlike other forms of martial arts such as Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo, karate or kung fu, kickboxing is an ideal crossing-workout that allows you to kick and punch at the same time at high intensity. The routines emphasize on speed and powerful movements and often involve brief warm-up sessions of between 5 to 10 minutes.
Some of the common kickboxing classes workouts include light jog, squats, jumping rope, inchworms, jab, front, side and round kick. The sessions could also involve intense kicking and hitting a punching bag or a pad held by a trainer. Experts recommend a standard time of 30 to 60 seconds for warm and intense kickboxing workouts.
Increased Confidence
Kicking some butt when necessary has its pleasure, especially if it’s done effortlessly without aggression. The intensity of the workouts in kickboxing prepares you for a fight rather than flight, meaning your reaction will be much faster in averting an attack.Through a rigorous kickboxing workout program, you are pushing your limits and testing your agility. At the end of the program, you come out feeling more confident; something that feeds into your personality.
Aggression and Stress Management
After a busy day at work, you’d probably want to grab one for the road before heading home, well that’s fine, but incorporating some intense physical activity such as kickboxing into your routine can help manage work-related stress and frustrations. If you’re suffering from insomnia or an irregular night’s sleep, it could be stress-related and this could be well managed with enough physical exercise.
Enrolling Your Child in Martial Arts
The American Heart Association recommends that children over the age of two engage in at least one hour a day of moderate physical activity. This is necessary for holistic child development. If you are looking to enroll your child in martial arts, consider the school and determine if it’s the right one for your child.
It’s recommended to pick martial art classes that are within your area for convenience. There are legit online sites you can get linked to good martial art schools or ask for referrals from friends or family. It would be nice if you’d first see a session and then consider whether to sign up or not.
Meeting the instructor first allows you to ask questions and get to understand the sport in a much broader angle. Learn about the different types of workouts and techniques. If you’re looking to really challenge your fitness level, consider martial arts and see the difference it brings.
