I’ll start off by saying that I never thought I would be writing an article touting the benefits of a Cardio Kickboxing class. On a similar level as cardio kickboxing, one might think that a class called Thai Kickboxing is targeted towards overweight women. Not true. The class I’m in is one of the best conditioning programs I have ever been involved with, aside from some stair-running/jump-roping drills I used to do back in college in the stairwell of the dormitory, and a heck of a lot more motivatingly diverse.
Right around the end of January I visited my local Tokyo Joe’s School of Self Defense in Hooksett, NH. They specialize in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and Thai Kickboxing. Now, like I said, my particular class is more about conditioning, but we do learn and practice some Muay Thai combinations. We frequently put together combinations with moves such as jab, hook, cross, thai kick, knee kick, and elbows. For an hour straight we pretty much push it without more than a 1 minute break for air and water. Leg day is pretty fun too, as we get to complete a circuit of squats on the toes, duck walks, 1/2 bottom squats on the toes, duck walks, 1/3 bottom squats on the toes, duck walks, lunges of some sort, and finally lying leg presses with your partner lying on your legs. It’s great stuff.
If you are bored with your current conditioning program, or maybe you are just getting back into fitness after a layoff, or perhaps you have some other reason not to hit the weight room; give Thai Kickboxing a try. At the very least it will cut down on your body fat ratio while strengthening your lungs, heart, muscles, and joints.
