Getting certified to become a kickboxing instructor can seem daunting without guidance. The good news is, whether you are a fitness enthusiast, martial arts guru or a participant in a kickboxing class that fell in love with the format, getting certified is not difficult. Once you have researched and developed a plan, it is a simple process.
Getting Certified
Step 1
Determine what you want to do with the certification -- work for a fitness center or use for recreational use. Contact the gym that you are interested in teaching if this is the direction you have chosen and speak with the group fitness or training manager. Ask the manager which certification -- national, regional, online, for example -- would be required to instruct at his facility.
Step 2
Research the certifying organizations to determine which one is best for you. Contact the certification organization to book your training and purchase any necessary materials, including workbook, text book, boxing wraps.
Step 3
Prepare by studying your material, if applicable. Increase endurance to prepare to be able to physically present the material. Find a kickboxing instructor who has used the organization you are certifying through and ask questions about the process.
Step 4
Get certified. Simply follow the directions of the certifying organization to finish the process. Once you have completed the process it may take six weeks to four months to receive your proof of certification.
Tips and Warnings
Many certifying organizations care available. Some organizations allow you to take their certifications online,some are one day certifications, while others have a much more intensive process. Here is a list of certifying organizations to help jump start your search: AFPA, AFAA, AAAI/ISMA, ISCA, IFA, FiTour and Les Mills BODYCOMBAT.
One word of caution: because each certification has different requirements do not learn specific moves and names of the moves unless you are confident that it is what you will be tested on. For example, one organization may call a move a "sidekick" while another may call the exact same move an "evasive" kick. Find a kickboxing instructor who has used the organization you are certifying through and ask questions about the process. Finding an instructor may help prevent learning something that may not be needed or completely incorrect.
Posted in: Kickboxing