If you’re new to kickboxing you might be wondering if that kickboxing class is going to teach you some real fighting skills. This is a great question that has a somewhat complicated answer. There are many different types and levels of kickboxing. So the degree of fighting skill you obtain depends entirely on the type and level of kickboxing that you have chosen.
So the short answer is that yes, kickboxing can teach you how to fight if you are engaging in full contact kickboxing which will involve sparring against an opponent. If you are taking cardio kickboxing classes you will not learn how to fight, but you can develop correct punching and kicking techniques that are important prerequisites for learning to fight.
So what is the difference between full contact kickboxing and cardio kickboxing? And why does one teach fighting skills while the other doesn’t? Read on to find out.
What is Full Contact Kickboxing?
Full contact kickboxing is a sport that has been practiced in many different ways by a multitude of cultures for hundreds of years.
As the name suggests, full contact kickboxing means opponents deliver punches and kicks with full unrestrained force making “full contact” with their opposition’s head, limbs, or body. Full contact kickboxing is often used synonymously with American Kickboxing, but it is actually a general term that can be used to refer to many different styles of kickboxing.
Some of the variations that fall under the umbrella of full contact kickboxing include Dutch kickboxing, Savate kickboxing, Japanese kickboxing, and Muay Thai, just to name a few. You can read more about all of the different variations of kickboxing and which one might be right for you in this information packed article about kickboxing styles.
What is Cardio Kickboxing?
Cardio kickboxing, also referred to as fitness kickboxing, is just that- kickboxing with fitness as the focus. Many cardio kickboxing classes are taught without the use of a punching bag or gloves so they can be done at home, in a gym, or pretty much anywhere because the classes require no equipment.
In these classes the participants are taught kicking and punching techniques thrown in the air, often to the beat of fast paced music. This is usually a very high energy, fast paced workout that can max out that heart rate. This type of kickboxing can be a great cardio workout that burns up lots of calories in a high interest, exciting way.
Some fitness kickboxing classes are taught with the use of a punching bag and gloves. In these classes, participants are often taught more technique and proper form than in the classes without equipment. You should never take kickboxing classes on a punching bag without being meticulously taught correct technique. Punching or kicking a bag the wrong way is a highway to injury.
As you can see, fitness kickboxing can be a great way to lose weight, get in shape and even learn some striking skills. But because it doesn’t in fact involve punching or kicking an actual person who is at the same time fighting back at you, you won’t gain enough knowledge or real world experience to win a fight or defend yourself from an attacker.
The sensation of being clobbered and still retaining enough presence of mind to reactively strike back quickly and effectively makes for a very different kind of fighting experience than just punching or kicking bags. The sense of powerlessness and vulnerability that go hand-in-hand with genuine fighting can’t be replicated in a fitness kickboxing class. Unfortunately, this is one of the few drawbacks to cardio kickboxing.
Oftentimes participants will get a false sense of security from taking these classes, believing they are more prepared to defend themselves than they actually are. This can get you into some dangerous situations. If you are wanting to truly be able to fight or defend yourself, you’ll need to take it a step further in kickboxing. This leads us to how full contact kickboxing can benefit you.
How Does Full Contact Kickboxing Teach Fighting Skills?
Since full contact kickboxing puts the focus on training to beat an opponent in a match, you can learn some very useful combat and defensive skills. You will learn many different striking techniques, and when and how to use them. Most importantly you will learn how to use these in a tangible manner, which will allow you to experience more authentic and practical training in regards to fighting.
In American kickboxing there are many rules that vary throughout the different kickboxing associations. Some of these rules include: no strikes below the belt, 10 oz. gloves and protective shin guards must be used, and no clinches, throws, or sweeps.
These rules are there to keep the fighters safe, but they do hinder your ability to fully experience what it would be like to be in an actual street fight. If winning a street fight is what you’re after, there are other styles of kickboxing that will better prepare you, but these fighting styles can be much more brutal and dangerous.
A very popular form of kickboxing called Muay Thai is more aggressive in teaching fighting technique. There is less protective gear worn, and more allowances for clinching (upper body grappling) and strikes below the waist.
Dutch Kickboxing is a type of kickboxing that combines Western boxing, Muay Thai, and Kyokushin karate. Very aggressive sparring is common practice, therefore Dutch kickboxers are known to be quite prepared to perform well in a street fight or a competitive match.
This type of kickboxing is much less common in the US, so it can be difficult to find training in this variation. You can find a lot more information about these different styles of kickboxing in this article.
What Does Cardio Kickboxing Teach?
Cardio kickboxing has many benefits. You will learn basic punching and kicking techniques, and if you are taking a class that is taught on a punching bag, you will learn the proper way to land those kicks and punches. Here is a list of the moves you will learn and a quick explanation of each.
Punches:
- Jab -Kickboxing stance, lead hand extends straight out to strike the opponent’s head or upper body.
- Cross – Usually comes from the dominant hand, rear hip rotates forward, hand extends straight out and palm turns down.
- Hook – Arm bent 90 degrees, hand swings out and around from the side to connect with side of opponent. Hips pivot with the punch to deliver maximum power.
- Uppercut – Hand rotates so that palm faces up. Punch comes from below in upward motion, pivot feet and push off left calf for a left uppercut and off right calf for a right uppercut.
Strikes:
- Elbow Strike- point of the elbow is used, motions similar to hook and uppercut.
- Knee Strike- knee is used to strike opponent in an upward motion. The straight knee (forward knee) thrusts forward from the front and a roundhouse or curved knee comes at an angle from a rotated hip.
Kicks:
- Side Kick- lift the knee toward the chest, extend the foot out sideways as if stomping on your opponent. Body leans away, knee comes up and foot extends.
- Spinning Back Kick- step and turn body away from target, lift knee and fully extend foot back while rotating foot parallel to ground, looking back at the target.
- Roundhouse Kick- Step and turn planted inner foot parallel to target, lean back, lift knee of kicking leg up, snap lower leg out, rotating from the hip.
Kickboxing also teaches you coordination. It requires a considerable amount of coordination to execute a series of punches, kicks, and combinations. When you first start, you might feel like a fool. It may all feel very unnatural.
But as you practice and train, your coordination will improve and things will begin to fall into place. And as an added benefit, as your coordination improves at the gym, your coordination will improve in your daily life as well.
Here’s a really interesting article you should also check out about the benefits of kickboxing to inspire you to get to the gym!
Can Kickboxing Teach You Self Defense?
Kickboxing can teach you self defense skills, especially if you are engaging in full contact kickboxing. You will learn how to block a punch or a kick, how to break free of a hold, and specific strikes to fend off the opposition.
But keep in mind, if you are wanting to learn how to defend yourself in an assault, no matter how skilled you are, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to take on someone that’s twice your weight or someone who has a weapon, with kickboxing moves alone.
If you want to learn self defense to protect yourself from an assault, it’s best to layer some self defense classes on top of your kickboxing training. Self defense classes will teach you psychological skills like how to spot a threat and how to negotiate with an assailant. They will also teach you defense skills that would be prohibited in kickboxing because they are meant to be extremely harmful and detrimental to the attacker.
So although self defense classes do teach many of the skills that you will learn in kickboxing, these classes will go above and beyond to teach those “dirty fighting” techniques that you would need to stop a bad guy in their tracks.
It would be ideal to be trained in kickboxing and have some self defense classes under your belt. You would then have the benefit of being well conditioned, strong, confident, and quick to react from your kickboxing skills combined with the all out ruthlessness you will need to fight off someone bigger or stronger than you are.
How Long Does it Take to Become Good at Kickboxing?
If you’re wondering how long it will take to become good at kickboxing you need to ask yourself what you are willing to put into it. How quickly you improve in kickboxing is very dependent on how much and how hard you train, how dedicated you are, and what kind of coaching you receive.
If you start with zero experience, get some really good coaching, and consistently train three days per week you should be pretty proficient within about six months. Proficient would mean you are able to do all of the strikes, blocks etc. with correct form, you are conditioned enough to go hard for 2-3 minute rounds, and you feel fairly confident sparing.
If you continue this training for another 6 months you will build a lot more confidence and refine your skills to become what you could call “good”. But of course the word “good” is relative.
If you want to become a professional fighter it will take much longer than a year to become good enough. Most likely it will take closer to eight to ten years of training to be able to step into a professional ring.
And becoming good enough to win a match depends a lot on the number of times you put your combat and defensive skills to use in a real bout. You can’t get good at fighting by simply punching the heavy bag. The more you fight, the better you will get at fighting. Period.
Is Kickboxing Good For Street Fighting?
If your goal is to become good at street fighting you will want to choose a more intense form of kickboxing like Muay Thai. You will also want to spend a lot of time sparring hard so that you get as much experience in a realistic fighting scenario as possible.
As I mentioned earlier in this article, one of the best forms of kickboxing to improve your fighting skills is Dutch kickboxing. But again, it is difficult to find this type of training in the US. There are many YouTube videos that teach Dutch kickboxing, but you’ll definitely need to find a partner to practice with.
Conclusion
You can learn how to fight with time, dedication, and the right type of kickboxing training. You also can learn specific self defense skills. But kickboxing alone isn’t enough, so take it a step further and get yourself into some self defense classes if you are wanting to protect yourself from an assault. It’s always best to error on the side of caution and be ready for anything that comes your way. You can never be overprepared!