There are sometimes great differences in martial arts, so the question of which one suits whom is quite justified. In order for you to find out if kickboxing suits you, we will try to introduce you to the formative elements.
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Suitability of kickboxing
Originally founded as a competitive discipline, the sport is also used to increase physical fitness and is also ideal for self-defense in emergencies to keep the attacker at a distance. The reasons for starting and the areas of application are therefore complex.
- The age at which children are admitted to kickboxing varies greatly depending on the club and is usually somewhere between 6 and 12 years.
- Basically, there are only a few points to consider before you start kickboxing. After all, you can determine the intensity of your training yourself by choosing a training partner who is equal to your fitness level.
- Therefore, you can still learn kickboxing at an older age and some of you can even train until retirement age. After all, exercise keeps the body fit.
Dangers of kickboxing
However, a few restrictions are unfortunately unavoidable when we talk about martial arts. Because health can also be affected in kickboxing.
| Brittle Bone Disease | If you are one of those who have so-called “glass bones” (disorder of calcium absorption in the bones) or a weakened form of it and your bones do not have the usual stability, you should distance yourself from full-contact. However, training semi or light contact fighting may still be possible. |
| Stress on joints | Caution should be exercised with anything that involves joints, especially screwed or artificial joints. The stress on the limbs and joints during hits is heavy, so you should consult a doctor at the first sign of joint problems. Often, however, it is also due to incorrect movement sequences if the joints are affected and in this case your trainer can also help you to get the problem under control. |
| Abdominal hits | Like all sports where there is a risk of abdominal hits, kickboxing is not suitable for pregnant women or those who are about to become pregnant. Hits to the abdominal area could cause serious damage to your unborn child. |
| Heart and Circulation | Due to the enormous strain on the heart and circulation, especially in the strength-sapping light and full contact fights, people who are burdened by previous damage in this area should consult a doctor before starting training. He must clarify whether the practice of this sport is safe for you. |
Used techniques and hit zones
Learning kickboxing means learning effective punching and kicking. The other techniques of karate, such as choke attacks and throws, are not allowed in kickboxing and are not trained.
Punches
Punches are executed with the front of the boxing glove and in some federations also with the backhand. As in conventional boxing, you can distinguish between in a straight line and a hook. Punches are struck with the front jab hand or the back punch hand.
Blocking
Blocking is done, as in normal boxing, either by intercepting the punch with the guard or by deflecting it, for example over the forearm. Evasive techniques are also used and are referred to as “avoidance moves”.
Kicks
The kicks used are mainly from karate and are executed with the ball of the foot, the back of the foot, the sole of the foot, the heel or the outer edge. Furthermore, kicks can be applied forward, sideways, circular, backward, downward, from a turn or as a foot sweep.
Permitted hit zones
The allowed hit zones are the same for arm and leg techniques. The front of the head is targeted, especially the forehead, jaw and chin, as well as the torso from the base of the neck to the navel and laterally to the middle of the body. For both hit zones, the rule is no attacks on the back. This applies to the back of the head as well as the back and kidneys. The risk of injury would be too great here, despite protective measures.