Thursday, January 12, 2012

Basics of Boxing and Kickboxing Martial Arts


Conceptual cousins, the martial arts of boxing and kickboxing have at least as many similarities as they do differences. They diverge in their techniques and individual culture of competition. Which is right for you depends on your own tastes, needs and goals for learning a fight sport.
Program Basics
Both kickboxing and boxing programs center around preparing an athlete for competition. To this end, training sessions include warm-ups, resistance training, cardiovascular conditioning, skills training, work on bags and pads, and sparring against teammates. Many boxing and kickboxing programs also encourage participants to work outside of regular sessions, getting additional cardiovascular or resistance workouts and paying attention to their diet.
Common Practices
Boxing and kickboxing are both combat sports. Both take place in a ring, adhering to a multiple-round competition structure divided into weight classes. Both sports can end a match early with a knockout. Fights that "go the distance" are decided according to points judges award during the match. Strategy and tactics also are similar for both sports, although the individual techniques apply those considerations differently.
Boxing
Boxing allows only punches for competition. This means that boxing training focuses on punches and lacks defenses against attacks below the hips. The stance of boxing also differs from kickboxing. It's narrower, focused more on mobility, because the fighter never needs to set up his stance to deliver or avoid a kick.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing allows athletes to attack an opponent with kicks, elbows and knee strikes. A kickboxing program trains fighters on a wider variety of attacks than boxing but does not develop punching skill with as much focus. Kickboxing also teaches "leg checks" -- a specific defense against low-line kicks using your knee and shin. Stances in kickboxing are wider and more open, designed to allow kicking and knee strikes.
Importance of a Coach
The coach of a boxing or kickboxing program makes the most impactful decisions about the training's feel and effectiveness. As a general rule, the difference between two boxing coaches can make programs feel more contrasting than the differences between a kickboxing and boxing coach with similar training philosophies.

 
Design by Free Wordpress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Templates