Training Systems

Kickboxing is a system whose techniques grew from a combination of the kicking techniques of Japanese/Okinawan Karate combined with the hand-attack and defensive combinations of both Eastern and Western boxing.

Some traditionalists do not regard kickboxing as a ‘martial art’, rather a ‘hybrid’ version of a number of ‘traditional arts’. Regardless of how the system is categorized, its fundamental principals and techniques have been developed from some of the world’s oldest combat systems, from which techniques have been stripped down to their most functional and direct form, primarily with sport in mind.

Without the restriction that some ‘traditional’ styles impose, Kickboxing allows the student free expression to make the techniques work in a way that suits them individually. As a result, Kickboxing has become one of the most widely practiced and dynamic systems available in the world today.

Today Kickboxing is practiced all over the world, with hundreds of systems and styles to choose from. These range from purely aerobic-based workouts, such as ‘Body Combat’ or ‘Tai Bo’, to full-contact Kickboxing that takes place in a boxing ring with a similar scoring system to professional boxing. You will find our club somewhere in the middle of this ‘spectrum’; that is to say that we are not a full-contact club, but we do place a strong functional and competitive emphasis on what we do, which means we do not provide merely an aerobics class either.

When we train using pads in class, we hit and kick these as powerfully as we can, generating power through correct ‘body sponsorship’ and technique, rather than through brute force. When it comes to sparring, we do make contact with each other, but with the aim of controlling all our techniques and keeping our opponent safe, rather than aiming to knock them unconscious. With experience comes the ability to spar harder and more quickly, while still being able to both control the techniques you throw at your opponent and, through conditioning, absorb the attacks that they throw at you. All sparring is done wearing the appropriate protective equipment and in an extremely friendly environment in which our more experienced members are encouraged to help support and develop our newer members.

Training in kickboxing will help your physical and mental growth. By training regularly, you will become fitter, stronger and be able to perform physical feats that you didn’t think your body was capable of. Mentally you will gain self-confidence and a strong sense of wellbeing as well as that vitally important ‘never quit’ attitude.