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TALLAHASEES’S TRAIN. FIGHT. WIN. DETAILS TOP FIVE BENEFITS OF KICKBOXING

If you’re interested in learning martial arts, you may struggle to decide which martial arts discipline to pursue because there are so many of them. Some of the world’s most popular martial arts include:

  • Karate
  • Judo
  • Kung fu
  • Taekwondo
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu
  • Muay Thai
  • Boxing
  • Krav Maga
  • Mixed martial arts

These martial arts disciplines offer students unique techniques, philosophies, training methods, and benefits, as do dozens of lesser-known martial arts styles. Among them, mixed martial arts offers some of the most comprehensive training, incorporating offensive and defensive moves used in many other disciplines. The martial arts experts of Tallahassee’s Train. Fight. Win. would also point to kickboxing as an excellent, well-rounded martial art on par with mixed martial arts. As long-time kickboxing specialists, Train. Fight. Win. co-owners Sky and Alissa Rudloe will tell you that its training regimen provides students with numerous physical and mental health benefits of kickboxing.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS KICKBOXING

Kickboxing emerged in the 1950s as a hybrid martial art that melded kick-based martial arts with Western boxing and other kicking- and boxing-oriented martial arts disciplines. As the discipline evolved through the 1960s and ‘70s its popularity soared as it offered participants a broader range of fighting styles than the traditional disciplines. The popularity of kickboxing is credited with helping create the emergence of mixed martial arts in the 1990s, which incorporated ground fighting techniques as part of its hybridization.

Thus, kickboxing is both a distinct hybridized martial art and a specific fighting style incorporated by martial arts disciplines that allow kicking and punching. As a distinct martial art, kickboxing remains popular and is regulated by a half dozen or so governing bodies worldwide.

Now that you know what kickboxing is, let’s take a closer look at its top five health benefits of kickboxing:

1. PROVIDES A FULL-BODY WORKOUT

Effective kickboxing techniques require students to fully activate the upper and lower body, with most moves relying on core-to-extremity movements that start with the core and finish with the limbs. Training focuses on this activation to optimize the power and effectiveness of punches, kicks, dodges, and other defensive moves. Kickboxing training involves total body conditioning that rapidly develops a toned, athletic physique. Along with learning, practicing, and perfecting the numerous kickboxing moves, training typically involves numerous strength-building activities like:

  • Squats
  • Push-ups
  • Pull-ups
  • Running
  • Burpees
  • lunges
  • Battle ropes
  • Plyometric (speed-strength) moves
  • Weighted shadow boxing
  • Speed bag work
  • Stretching
  • Punching bag work

2. ENHANCES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

While strength and power undoubtedly help a trained kickboxer excel at executing effective kicks, punches, blocks, and dodges, speed and endurance are essential, too. Not only do you need to beat your opponent to the punch (or kick), you also may need to outlast them. Thus, kickboxing involves high-intensity training that increases the heart rate, burns calories, and boosts overall cardiovascular fitness.

3. IMPROVES COORDINATION AND BALANCE

Core-to-extremity movements used in kickboxing don’t necessarily come naturally and require keen focus. To execute effective kicks, punches, blocks, and dodges, you must master new forms of coordination and balance that will intrinsically develop as part of your training. Whether a roundhouse, flying knee, spinning hook kick, or spinning back fist, your earliest attempts will undoubtedly make you feel unbalanced and awkward. However, as your training develops your keen focus, the coordination and balance needed for proper execution will grow organically.

4. RELIEVES STRESS

If you need to blow off some steam and ease the daily stresses of life, nothing beats pummeling a body bag with effective punches and kicks. Likewise, with other elements of kickboxing training, the high-intensity workout it requires will stimulate the body’s natural release of endorphins, hormones that act as natural mood enhancers and painkillers. The training also stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin (mood stabilizer) and dopamine and norepinephrine (decrease feelings of depression and anxiety). Research also suggests that regular high-intensity exercise like kickboxing can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can help people maintain a calm mental state and reduce the adverse effects of stress on the body.

5. BURN CALORIES AND LOSE WEIGHT

As you well know, exercise helps people burn calories and lose weight. You’ll get an extra kick in this department, as kickboxing can burn up to 1,000 calories in a single one-hour training session. Combine this with proper nutrition and regular quality sleep, and you’ll shred the pounds with a noticeable decrease in body fat percentage that will have you looking toned and fit. Moreover, the increased muscle mass gained from the strength training component of kickboxing will boost your metabolic rate and enhance caloric burning throughout the day.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BENEFIT OF KICKBOXING IN TALLAHASSEE WITH TRAIN. FIGHT. WIN.

Optimize your physical and mental health in Tallahassee by signing up for the kickboxing training offered by Train. Fight. Win. Our kickboxing training is tailored for all fitness and skill levels, with training intensities adjusted as needed for individual comfort. To see the benefits of kickboxing and what it can do for you, sign up at Tallahassee-based Train. Fight. Win. by contacting us today at (850) 727-8421.

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