Friday, January 6, 2012

5 Fitness Benefits of Kickboxing


Kickboxing provides a cardiovascular workout that combines marital arts with aerobics and boxing techniques. In a 2009 study, professional personal trainers at the American Council on Exercise reported that kickboxing was one the most popular exercise workouts, routinely requested at gyms across the country. The health advantages to kickboxing include improved heart function, calorie consumption and upper- and lower-body involvement.
Weight Loss
Kickboxing uses up an enormous amount of calories compared to other aerobic exercises. A 175-pound person could burn as many as 400 calories in 30 minutes of kickboxing. Average calorie burn is between 6 and 8.3 calories per minute. While the caloric burn is equal to that of a high-intensity aerobic workout or steady run, the additional benefits of kickboxing make it a healthier alternative exercise for many people.
Cardio
Kickboxing increases the heart rate to a steady 50 to 85 percent of the maximum, well within the guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association for optimum heart health. The aerobic benefits gleaned from kickboxing include reduced high blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, as well as prevention of diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Strength-Building
Kickboxing incorporates every part of the body and helps to strengthen all the major muscle groups. It is a complete body workout that fitness enthusiasts can use to complete an entire routine in a short amount of time. Flexibility is improved since both the large and small muscles groups are engaged during the exercises.
Self-Defense
Because it is a form of martial arts, kickboxing can be used as training for self-defense. The sport teaches quick punches and how to kick with the feet, skills that can be useful in a threatening situation. It develops hand-eye coordination that is particularly important if you have to protect yourself in a fight. Reflexes become honed from learning kickboxing techniques and overall physical coordination is improved. Endorphins are released during the training, which elevate the mood and boost confidence levels, allowing practitioners to remain calm and focused in the moment when danger may be imminent.
Stress Reduction
After spending 30 minutes or more kicking and punching, many people find their stress levels greatly reduced. The workout is a natural stress-reliever and avenue for taking out frustrations and anger. The combination of controlled movement and increased heart rate, followed by a required cool-down period can be used as a total body fitness regime and stress buster.

 
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