Beginners kickboxing tips

somebaldyfela

If anyone has any useful tips for someone whos just started kickboxing and keeping fit in general at age 28 id love to hear from you's??cheers

arybvtcw0eolkf

somebaldyfela wrote: »

If anyone has any useful tips for someone whos just started kickboxing and keeping fit in general at age 28 id love to hear from you's??cheers

When you start sparring, but the best gear you can afford. It makes a difference.

While you might try to budget IMO its just not worth it.

Professionally moulded gumshields are great and very affordable if you've ne experience of moulding your own.

When you starting hitting the heavy bag, wear wraps and don't go near 'bag mitts', use proper gloves, at least 12oz.

A lot of tips you should be picking up in your club, when your buying a headguard don't bother with those TKD/Karate moulded foam guards - get a proper moulded Top-Ten guard or similar and wear a bandana under it to stop it sliding around.

Work on your cardio and flexibility in your own time, it'll pay off in sparring and competition.

Dragan

Work your weaknesses.

People have a naturally strong arm or leg, this will normally come along a lot faster technique wise. Ensure you work the weak side just as much if not more. Do not fall into the trap of favouring a leg as this will lead to being easily taken advantage of when sparring or in competition.

A person with nothing to fear from one whole side of you is gonna have a good day at your expense!

yomchi

Do not fall into the trap of favouring a leg as this will lead to being easily taken advantage of when sparring or in competition

Tell Bill Wallace that

OP enjoy yourself, get fit and enjoy all the benifits of being cardio fit.
Mairt is spot on about bag mitts, get yourself a good pair of gloves and wraps. Everlast are cheap over the net as are Top ten on www.pad-up.com

Best of luck

Dragan

Jon wrote: »

Tell Bill Wallace that

Are you trying to imply that people had less to fear from Superfoots less super foot?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Dragan wrote: »

Work your weaknesses.

People have a naturally strong arm or leg, this will normally come along a lot faster technique wise. Ensure you work the weak side just as much if not more. Do not fall into the trap of favouring a leg as this will lead to being easily taken advantage of when sparring or in competition.

A person with nothing to fear from one whole side of you is gonna have a good day at your expense!

In the finest tradition of boards.ie lets complicate this thread too

In my opinion you have it about 50/50 right.

If the OP's kickboxing club is based on a Karate system he'll probably spend alot of time on Kata's, in which case he should be able to display equal abilities on either side.

But in sparring or competition a fighter will always favour one side over the other. Me for instance, I couldn't throw a left round house kick to save my life in sparring/competition but I could spend an hour doing forms up and down the floor and look equally good on both sides.

Same as my axe kick, crap on my right and super-strong with my left.

I fight orthodox so jab and hook with my left, I can't go into south-paw for love 'nor money.

Once the OP starts to learn about combinations and how to work off them its easy to understand why we fight in certain styles and why it works (mostly).

I hope I explained that one ok.

Dragan

Very good point Mairt. To this day when i am sparring i will always look to connect with left kicks. Why? Because i am just far more comfortable with them ( left leg is stronger, right arm is stronger ) and will always find a way to work someone over with them.

Same with my hands, i'll look for a good right all day, once again because i know it's a better shot for me and when it lands they know it.

However, it wasn't until i really started to work the weaker sides and gave people something to think about from them that i started finding a lot more sucess with my other shots.

Stance changing helps me a lot as well, if you don't mind dropping into Southpaw for a while.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Dragan wrote: »

Stance changing helps me a lot as well, if you don't mind dropping into Southpaw for a while.

I'll be honest, I've only ever done that when I'm exhausted (getting battered) and have no idea what to do next

somebaldyfela

Cheers for the replys boys,iv had about 5 lessons so far but it seems to be coming really slowly to me,like when we are throwing out combinations im still not even finished one when hes almost halfway through the next combination you know?!maybe its more of a concentration problem,its not fitness as im in the gym the whole time and i aint touched a drop since start of jan:)

arybvtcw0eolkf

somebaldyfela wrote: »

Cheers for the replys boys,iv had about 5 lessons so far but it seems to be coming really slowly to me,like when we are throwing out combinations im still not even finished one when hes almost halfway through the next combination you know?!maybe its more of a concentration problem,its not fitness as im in the gym the whole time and i aint touched a drop since start of jan:)

Sounds more like an instructor problem than a pupil problem.

I believe that the instructor should only go as fast as the slowest student.

But it can be other factors too, your learning new skills and that takes time.

You'd be surprised at how many lads think they can fight, then bring them into a class like this and they're tied up in knots for weeks!.

It will come to you, give it time and it'll make sense. IMHO kickboxing is one of the easier martial arts to understand.

yomchi

I agree Mairt, sounds like the instructor is going at his own pace

somebaldyfela

Mairt wrote: »

Sounds more like an instructor problem than a pupil problem.

I believe that the instructor should only go as fast as the slowest stupid.

But it can be other factors too, your learning new skills and that takes time.

You'd be surprised at how many lads think they can fight, then bring them into a class like this and they're tied up in knots for weeks!.

It will come to you, give it time and it'll make sense. IMHO kickboxing is one of the easier martial arts to understand.

we have 2 different instructers and to me it feels like they are both flying through it!everyone in the class is keeping up from what i can see but they are all at it a bit longer than i am,they are being graded tonight,not me thank christ!will pop along anyway though and see what happens..

mccaffertyt

find a good club with respectable coaches and jus have patience and enjoy the training, technique wise learn to have a good gaurd it'll make sparring and fighting a lot easier

arybvtcw0eolkf

somebaldyfela wrote: »

we have 2 different instructers and to me it feels like they are both flying through it!everyone in the class is keeping up from what i can see but they are all at it a bit longer than i am,they are being graded tonight,not me thank christ!will pop along anyway though and see what happens..

It might also be that you began late into a beginner's class so your going to be a bit of a straggler for awhile.

Go along to the grading and see what its all about, this is always a good thing regardless what grade you are.

As I said, kickboxing is an easy style to learn so have a little patience because you won't see your own progress until the next beginners class starts and your up a grade or two on them and giving out your own little hints and tips.

Something I always encourage - competition.

When your holding your own in sparring look at some competitions, just small local light contact stuff. Make the leap early, IMO thats where martial arts is at.

Roper

While I see all the points here folks I wouldn't agree that an instructor should go as fast as the slowest guy, because the slowest guy is always going to be a beginner- then the whole class goes at beginners pace all the time!

If you're trying to keep time with people, moving up and down the floor etc. then you're going to have trouble as a beginner. IMO that's a badly structured class and you won't see many good sports coaches trying to get people to do techniques in unison. There are simply too many differences between people to make that a possibility. A well coached and structured session should allow people to go at their own pace, but still be motivated to do better.

Sorry for taking that off track! OP, my reccomendation to you would be to firstly show up! Most beginners start out by "taking things easy" and doing things once per week, skipping sessions and working their way up to full training. As a result they don't improve like they should. Train as much as you can and eventually if your coach is any good you'll be flying along with him. Best of luck with it, have fun.

waterfordkick

I think a good way to learn is to work and develop on you basics, building them into combinations. working with the more experienced members in the club will also bring you on as you can learn from them too. And don't be afraid to ask questions. If you feel lost ask for help. A good instructor will have no problem helping with a new or struggling student.

phoenix-MT

I agree with all here, its a complicated one, and in an ideal world every club would have beginners classes starting all the time, however it all boils down to cost and time for instructors. Everyones covered good points here, also try and learn the stretch used in the lesson, and keep practising it at home as much as you can, that will help you with flexibility when it comes to kicking, take your time, speed and power will come with proper teqnique. Goodluck

somebaldyfela

cheers lads

arybvtcw0eolkf

Roper wrote: »

While I see all the points here folks I wouldn't agree that an instructor should go as fast as the slowest guy, because the slowest guy is always going to be a beginner- then the whole class goes at beginners pace all the time!

I wouldn't disagree with you either.

I was coming from an understanding that it was a total beginners class, thats why I later said that as a student starting late into a beginners class (his class are grading tonight, he's not that far yet) he's going to be a straggler.

But all the same, I think the OP is getting good advice for a beginner.