Kickboxing is a great way to stay fit and strong. It’s also loads of fun! Many kickboxing classes are offered at local gyms for children as young as five years old, and it can be an excellent activity for school-aged kids who want to learn how to defend themselves in case they get bullied on the playground.
The biggest kickboxing kick you’ll feel will be the one to your muscles after a good workout. There are many kickboxing classes that offer circuit training, which means several stations in succession with varying exercises for strength and cardio intervals. You can expect high-energy music, an instructor who motivates you through each set, and other participants pushing themselves alongside.
Styles Of Kickboxing
Most kickboxing classes will incorporate some form of kickboxing into their routine, but there are several kickboxing styles you can choose from:
- Full contact kickboxing
- Semi contact kickboxing
- Light contact kickboxing
- Cardio kickboxing
1. Full Contact Kickboxing
In full-contact kickboxing, you’ll be using kickboxing moves to punch and kick your opponents. Your instructor will show you how to make contact with your fists, feet, knees, and shins. This kickboxing style is the most physically demanding since you’ll be punching and kicking an opponent who will also punch and kick back at you!
If you want to learn kickboxing for self-defense, this may be the right type of kickboxing class for your child or teenager.
2. Semi Contact Kickboxing
Semi-contact kickboxing is less intense than full-contact kickboxing. Punching and kicking still happen, but there’s no hitting or punching back from your opponent.
You might choose to participate in semi-contact kickboxing because you don’t feel like it’s safe for kids to punch another person.
3. Light Contact Kickboxing
kids are taught kickboxing in a semi-contact or light contact style.
Light contact kickboxing is even less intense than semi-contact kickboxing. Punching and kicking still happen, but there’s no hitting or punching back from your opponent.
You might choose to participate in light contact kickboxing because you don’t feel like it.
4. Cardio Kickboxing
In this type, there is no contact kickboxing. Punching and kicking still happen, but there’s no hitting or punching back from your opponent.
You might choose to participate in cardio kickboxing because you don’t feel like it is safe for kids to punch another person.
Kickboxing classes are great ways for children to stay fit without having too many risks.
Benefits Of Kickboxing
Here are the top five kickboxing benefits to kick off your shoes for.
- Self Defense
- Full Body Fitness
- Improved Physical Skills
- Strong Mental Skills
- Fun
1. Self Defense
In kickboxing, kids learn to defend themselves using kickboxing moves. Many schools even teach self-defense strategies that are not kickboxing related but may be used in a kickboxing scenario to get away from an attacker.
This is great for kids who might get bullied at school, or children with special needs whose disability makes them more vulnerable targets of bullies or molesters.
2. Full Body Fitness
Kickboxing incorporates the usages of the arms, legs, and core muscles during kickboxing drills.
Fitness kickboxing classes are great for building muscle strength in your upper body (arms) while also toning your lower body (legs). This helps build a strong base that can be useful if you want to take up other sports or activities that require arm strength, etc.
3. Improved Physical Skills
Kickboxing keeps you in constant motion. This means kickboxing requires a lot of quick footwork, as well as the ability to think and move on your feet quickly. Most kickboxing drills require you to be able to skip or jump over an object, dodge an imaginary attacker, etc., so it helps improve coordination skills too!
4. Strong Mental Skills
Kickboxing is also a great activity for kids’ self-esteem.
Kickboxing kick starts your child’s confidence by teaching them to defend themselves, and it also gives kids a great sense of accomplishment after every kickboxing class they attend.
Many kickboxing classes are offered at local gyms for children as young as five years old! It can be an excellent activity for their strong mental health.
5. FUN
While it’s true that kickboxing has a lot of o benefits, it also has plenty of fun kickboxing benefits too.
Kickboxing classes are generally offered in the evenings or later on weekends so that parents working during regular business hours can drop their kids off for kickboxing without missing work! This is great because many kickboxing sets give children a lot of energy to burn by the end of class.
Best Age to Start Kickboxing For Kids
Kickboxing is a great activity for kids of all ages.
There are kickboxing classes specifically tailored to children as young as five years old, but kickboxing can also be beneficial at older age groups too!
Many kickboxing instructors offer specialized kickboxing lessons for teens who want more advanced techniques beyond the basics. These classes focus on customized kicks.
