Kickboxing
Kickboxing originally started in the early 1970s when karate experts decided to test their techniques in a contact environment. Although Kickboxing is similar to Thai Boxing, which has existed for many centuries, there are fundamental differences depending on the style taught. Kickboxing today is practiced in a variety of ways. However, most incorporate boxing style punching techniques and kicking techniques from the martial arts.
Training is excellent for fitness and styles revolve around full contact or semi-contact techniques, although many clubs involve both styles in their syllabus to cater for the variety of tournaments you can enter. Of course, you do not need to enter tournaments or even spar to enjoy Kickboxing.
At Range Academy the Thai Kickboxing style trained in is a mixture of the semi-contact and full contact techniques, such as 'blitz' speed combinations and boxing style straight and angular punching techniques, both of which complement the variety of martial art kicks used. Training involves bag and pad work, skipping, shadow boxing, fitness and circuit training, and sparring is optional.
A typical Kickboxing session will vary depending on the knowledge level of the class, the needs of the students (For example if a tournament or grading is approaching) and, of course, which instructor is teaching, but may consist of the following:
- Light warm up and joint movement exercises/skipping/shadow sparring
- Stretching
- Fitness and conditioning exercises (sit-ups, press-ups etc.)
- Technique practice
- Padwork/bagwork - hand techniques
- Padwork/bagwork - leg techniques
- Padwork/bagwork - hand and leg techniques
- Partner work (technique and defence practice)
- Sparring (optional)
- Warm down and stretch
