Kickboxing and Boxing Basics
By Ross Titza :: More posts in Fat Loss | Training and Exercise
Now an established form of group fitness- Kickboxing is a gut busting, cardio-blasting form of exercise that has no shortage of fans. Kickboxing conditions the entire body and is also great for emotional stress relief. In addition it also incorporates power, speed, agility, quickness and proprioception development into one amazing workout- variables often lacking in even the most avid gym goers program. T be sure to get the full benefit of this style of training, start striking!
Striking will give you several more benefits than just punching and kicking in the air. Whether you hit mitts, a heavy bag, or other people, contact will help your body get the resistance it needs to activate change. Impact training will trigger your osteoblasts, the bodies bone forming cells. So it can actually be a form of osteoporosis prevention. Often this type of impact training is reserved for the lower body and jumping. Boxing gives the upper body the shock it needs to grow stronger right down to the bone! Striking will also stress the muscles and joints in a way that will make them stronger, similar to that of lifting weights. Be careful throwing powerful kicks and punches in the air for countless repetitions, this may overstress the joints and put you at risk for staining muscles.
I honestly don’t know if there is any other sport that can come close to the amount of core demand present and required to throw powerful kicks and punches. Only grappling can match the amount of core demand. This means if you want lean, strong and functional abs, start training more like a fighter and less like a marathoner!
Get started by learning the basics of boxing. Hands up at all times with the fists sitting just below the chin. Keep the chin tucked slightly and watch not to round the shoulders and back too much. Though some professional fighters have forward shoulders and kyphotic spines, this is not ideal for you. It can cause low back pain and shoulder dysfunction, so don’t do it. Also, be sure to wear tightly fitting gloves and wraps and avoid striking with a bent wrist. Learn from someone with experience. A pro is always a good idea but many personal trainers have a background in some form of martial arts and can easily teach the basics as well. Either way, master the basics with flawless form to avoid injury and to ensure the best results.
Take a better look at some boxing basics below.
