A: The thought of
the sport of kickboxing can be intimidating to some women.
Many of us have a preconceived notion that the gym will
be filled with huge, hardcore, male fighters kicking
the crap out of each other. But you’d be surprised
at the number of women taking kickboxing these days.
I’m one of them - and sometimes there are more
women than men in my class.
If you’d like to start slow, check out your
gym’s class schedule and see if a cardio kickboxing
class is offered. Many times these classes focus on
punches, elbow strikes and kicks, but generally isn’t
full contact. These classes also tend to be more of
a cardio workout.
If you’re looking to kick it up a notch (no
pun intended), give Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing - my
favorite) a shot. It also involves punches, kicks and
elbow strikes but it’s a full contact sport. You
can expect lots of conditioning (skipping, jumping jacks,
push-ups, sit-ups), and bag and pad work.
I’d suggest researching local clubs to find
out which style inspires you. Many kickboxing gyms offer
free trial classes so take an intro class to get a feel
for the gym. Check out the facilities (men/women’s
change rooms, showers, air conditioning), the number
of classes being offered, and the quantity and quality
of the equipment being used.
And, although these factors are important things to
consider, it’s really the heart of the gym that
will keep you coming back. It’s not always about
the impressive, state-of-the-art facility. It boils
down to reputable instructors, who are passionate and
dedicated to training people in the art.
Whether you train for general fitness or as a full-contact
sport, you will reap the benefits of the high-intensity
training regime kickboxing offers. Tone and condition,
increase stamina and strength and improve cardiovascular
fitness.
You have nothing to be afraid of - get out there and
train hard!
To learn more, check out www.kickboxing.com. And,
if you’re in the Toronto area, visit Krudar Muay
Thai (www.krudar.com) or Siam No. 1 - House of Muay
Thai (www.houseofmuaythai.com).
 |
ANSWERED BY:
Ally Tripkovic
Designer,
Oxygen
magazine
|
|
