Kickboxing a great workout

Kickboxing has been called the sport of the millennium and it's not hard to see why, writes Kiran Sawhney.

Kickboxing has been called the sport of the millennium and it's not hard to see why.   It's a great workout. It's a lot of fun and it's empowering to feel like you can defend yourself. Kickboxing is a lot more interesting than traditional workouts like lifting weights or running on a treadmill. You actually learn and develop a skill while your fitness level improves. It's rewarding and it's motivating.

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In Women's Kickboxing Programme you're not just mindlessly dancing around. The program has music, excitement and energy. It combines aerobics, cardio-vascular & body toning with self-defence tactics that could be used to protect you.

Benefits of the Training

Improved cardio-vascular fitness Excellent self-defence Stress reduction and control Improved strength, endurance and muscle tone Greater confidence Improved coordination Learn self defence Get in shape & loose weight Reduce body fat Reduce stress levels

Women's self-defence classes have been experiencing a surge in interest. Self-defence gives you a set of tools that you have on you at all times — no matter where you are or whether you have your purse or your cell phone. Studying self-defence tends to make one feel more confident and safe, and for some, the exercise itself is a way to reduce stress. These classes give women a way to deal with the heightened sense of insecurity that occurs after a disaster, and helps them feel secure in the belief that they could deal with future crises. Learning self-defence can help you tap into new strengths. With the right skills, a woman can overcome someone who is bigger, stronger and faster than her. It is an intense, exhilarating training programme for women.Most classes focus on real-life scenarios, such as fending off an overly aggressive date or flogging a purse-snatching mugger.

Until a few years ago, boxing was pretty much a guy thing.  Whether this wasbecause women were unable to see the character-building aspects of regular CAT scans is unclear. But considering today's new, enlightened attitude, it's not surprising that women are learning how to fight in unprecedented numbers. When it comes to learning fighting techniques, women have the advantage. Men may have more upper-body strength but women tend to pick things up faster because they're generally more coordinated, they're more flexible and they don't rely on brute force the way that some of the men do.

Boxing, karate, kendo, kickboxing, kung fu, tae kwon do, vale tudo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, Savate, Kali etc are many such forms of martial arts.

Known as the king of the ring, Thai Boxing is the national sport of Thailand. Thai Boxing or Muay Thai includes kicking and punching as well as devastating elbow and knee strikes. For this reason, Muay Thai is sometimes called the science of the eight limbs. Muay Thai is one of the best sports for physical conditioning. It is also known for having the strongest kick in the martial arts.

Decades ahead of his time, the late Bruce Lee has probably had more impact on modern martial arts than any individual to date. In his fervent pursuit for the ultimate martial art, Bruce Lee left no stone unturned. Without prejudice he researched and incorporated methods from East and West and searched for anything that could give him an edge over an opponent. He shook up the martial arts community by questioning and rejecting many of the traditions in the martial arts and by creating his own style and system. His martial art and philosophy eventually became known as Jeet Kune Do "the way of the intercepting fist." Jeet Kune Do utilizes all of the martial arts but is bound by none. Jeet Kune Do transcends all styles and systems because it is all encompassing.

Then there are the newer self-defence methods such as the popular Krav Maga (pronounced "krahv muh-gah"), a fighting system developed by the Israeli military. From the FBI to Jennifer Lopez, everybody is learning this tough form of self-defence. This aggressive training program teaches you to defend against chokes, grabs, guns, knives and more. Based on proven hand-to-hand combat techniques, this self-defence method aims to make practitioners streetwise in the shortest time possible.

It is a regrettable fact that many young people no longer engage in regular exercise. It is perhaps no accident that some of the most common ailments of modern life include back pain, hypertension, high stress levels, and insomnia, all conditions that exercise has been proven to alleviate. Training in a traditional Kung Fu school permits people to train their minds and bodies, develop real self-defense skills and preserve some link to martial tradition, folklore and culture. Furthermore, the confidence one gains from knowing real self-defense skill filters through all aspects of that person's life thereby providing access to a more relaxed and pleasurable lifestyle.

 

Must-have safety tips

1. Trust your intuition. Go with your gut instinct.

2. Make noise. Don't be embarrassed to scream and yell.

3. Fight dirty. Don't hesitate to bite, scratch and hit below the belt.

4. Steer clear of potentially dangerous situations, such as going to isolated settings and walking alone late at night.

5. Keep practicing your self-defense skills with drills and classes; don't get rusty.

 

6. Always keep your eyes open. Don’t be oblivious to people and things around you.

 

7. If you feel uncomfortable about a person or situation, walk away immediately.

 

8.   Leave non-essential credit cards at home and never flash your cash.

 

9. Be wary of giving money to beggars. Professional criminals watch where you keep your money and then pickpocket you later.

 

10. Carry a working cell phone with you at all times.

 

11. Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement.

 

Outdoor exercise tips

 

Do not wear expensive jewellery or carry a lot of cash.

 

If possible, exercise with a partner or a dog.

 

Try not to wear headphones — they will impair your ability to hear an attacker.

 

Bring some form of identification with you. If you have no place to carry it, write your name, emergency contact and medical information in your shoe or on an article of clothing.

 

Exercise in familiar, populated areas and vary your routine.

 

If asked for directions, be sure to stand a full arm's length away from the car.

 

If you think you are being followed, head for the nearest public place.

 

Always have your door key ready before you reach your door.

 

Car tips

 

Keep your car in good running condition.

 

Try to park in well-lighted, populated areas.

 

When approaching your car, look around to confirm that no one is following you and have your key ready.

 

When you enter your car, immediately lock your doors and turn on your car before putting on your seatbelt.

 

Never pick up hitchhikers or offer a stranger a ride. This includes nice strangers who seem genuinely in need of help.

 

Keep all doors locked and windows up when driving at night. Be especially cautious at traffic stops.

 

A good kick boxer keeps his/ her opponent on his toes, wondering where the next move will land. A neutral position gives no clues as to strategy, giving you an advantage over your opponent. A neutral stance also balances your weight- putting you in a solid position to either throw or block kicks & punches. To protect your body, your hands should be in a vertical position, with your elbows at your rib cage. This stance will be referred to as the fighter’s stance.

The jab

If you want to come out on top, you need speed, speed and more speed. Enter the jab, which is your fastest weapon, period. Every fighter worships the jab, a dynamic punch that’s usually used to set up power punches and kicks. You can throw it straight out to the face, jaw, nose or eyes. It can inflict some serious hurt on your opponent. Make sure to recoil your arm back after the jab and never lock your elbow. This can injure your own elbow.

The cross

Next is the meat and potato punch called the cross. The cross works hand in hand with the jab. You will throw the jab with the lead arm, and then fire the cross with the other hand. Try to follow a straight line from your shoulder to your opponent’s face, aiming for the chin. Most jabs and crosses are thrown to the face, so that it can be to your advantage to do the unexpected.

The hook

The hook is a tough punch to master. Rumour has it that the hook causes more knockouts than any other punch. Execute your hook from front & rear hand. As you fire, bring the arm to a 90-degree horizontal angle, so that your elbow faces away from your body. Make sure your arm stays up equal to your shoulder. Pivot on the front foot; so that your body weight shifts to the front leg.

The elbow

You never use an elbow strike in competition- it is illegal (except in Thailand). But you may use it in your kickboxing workout; and in self-defence situation, it is your best choice. If kicks are your long-range weapons, punches are medium range weapons; your elbows & knees are your close range weapons. And because the elbow is thrown with a lot of power at close range, you can seriously disfigure your opponent. Also the elbow makes a good weapon because the striking surface is the hard, bony part of the elbow. Raise the elbow into a horizontal position with your hand close to your shoulder. Don’t make a fist because the closed fist will tighten the forearm muscles and make the strike slower.

Getting a good kick start- this is your new mantra: fold, execute. Snap back and set down. Understand that when you kick, your base of support balances on one foot. That is the reason you snap the leg and quickly return it to the floor. Otherwise, if you let your leg dangle in the air, your opponent just might grab it or kick your base leg from beneath you; neither scenario is too good.

Even if you have the flexibility, don’t strike to the head. This is an incorrect move. For one, you will lose the power that was meant for this kick. Also, your opponent will be able to grab your foot and flip you on your butt. Instead aim for knees, thighs, groin or midsection. This should be done only in the self-defence situation.

Here is how to execute perfect front kick. Assume the perfect fighter’s stance. Bring one leg up in a bent position called the ‘ fold’. Raise the knee in a high position and use it as your aiming sight for targets. Snap the lower leg out to the target and have enough power as the kick is being executed. Make sure that you strike with the ball of the foot. After you hit the target, bring the leg quickly back to the fold. Set down your leg and return to the fighter’s stance.

The back kick

Fighters have many rules. One that you should commit to memory is the front leg or arm is used for speed, whereas the back leg or arm generates power. Good fighters rely on both speed and power. Learn to kick in the front as well as at back. You may have two opponents standing on either side.

Of all the fighting techniques, kicks are the hardest to learn. At times you will be flying through the air to execute a flying sidekick. Knowing the proper technique and having a strong sense of balance will help you deliver devastating results.

The round kick

Revered for its lighting fast ‘concussion’ effect, this kick has speed and power. As you fold the front knee, turn the body completely sideways or pivot the body. The knee is horizontal. Snap kick out quickly, hitting the target with the lower part of the shin. Snap the leg back to the fold and set the leg down to return to the fighter’s stance.

The sidekick

Throwing a sidekick takes a lot of patience because the body mechanics are more involved; at the same time however, this kick generates a wicked sting. As you start to fold the leg, turn the support foot. As the leg snaps out, allow the hip to roll over or turn into the kick. Even if you body is slightly turned away from the opponent at this point, don’t take your eyes off the target.