At The Workout Plant, we use kickboxing for athleticism, cardio, core, confidence and cathartic release. Combining traditional strength training and kickboxing creates a well-rounded, comprehensive, and engaging fitness program.
1. Athleticism.
Improved flexibility, coordination, balance, cardio, and core strength are all things you should expect to gain from learning to kick, punch, knee, and block. As it includes a decent cardio burn, it has been shown to affect heart health, improve multiple health markers, increase muscle tone and endurance.
1. Catharsis.
There’s nothing like learning to rotate your body with explosive force and smack the pads/mitts. Many of my clients, who initially believe they don’t have much interest in the kickboxing aspect of my program, later say its their favorite part. Its empowering and a great stress reliever.
2. Self-defense.
One of the greatest pitfalls of many martial arts classes is that they are too complex and overwhelming, making it difficult to learn to apply them practically. However, if you learn only one or two basic techniques, you are more likely to be able to reflexively use them in the mayhem of a real-life encounter. At The Plant, you learn one comprehensive defensive technique and to throw your entire bodyweight behind one accurate, effective offensive technique. The confidence that you gain from learning to generate explosive force and perform these athletic techniques is invaluable.
Boxing Fundamentals
STANCE.
Shoulder width, non-dominant leg forward, knees slightly bent, weight on the balls on your feet so you’re prepared to move and rotate. Guard up to your face with your chin slightly tucked.
KEEP YOUR GUARD UP.
No “swimming.” Once you throw a strike, bring your hand straight back to your face. You may wish to keep your hands/gloves actually touching your face in the beginning, as a tactile reminder.
PUNCHING.
Punching power is about rotational force, shoulders and hips – not about arm strength. Initiate the movement by pushing off the floor; using the entire posterior chain, launch the punch off your shoulder. Rotate your hips and turn your foot while getting full extension and “turning your punches over.”
On straight punches (jabs and crosses), keep your palms facing the floor. On hooks and uppercuts, palms facing yourself.
Light, audible exhale on every strike. Maintain your balance and then recover your guard.
PUNCH NUMBERS
Trainers use a numbering system to label punches so that calling for certain punches and combinations is easier. Our punch numbers (for righties) are:
1. Left Jab
2. Right Cross
3. Left Hook
4. Right Hook
5. Left Uppercut
6. Right Uppercut
7. Left Body Hook
8. Right Body Hook
One of my main goals as a trainer and coach is to teach all of my clients how to make fitness an ongoing part of their lives, forever; to teach all my trainees the fundamentals of strength training, the basic principles of nutrition, and enough kickboxing to feel comfortable dropping in to any boxing / kickboxing / cardio-kick / mma class without feeling lost and unable to keep up.
You’ll never regret learnin’ to throw them hands!
Click here to contact me for a free consultation to see how I can help you achieve your fitness or health goals!
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