Kickboxing is an active all-around exercise that offers a multitude of benefits, from youngsters to older individuals, KidsHealth says. Kickboxing aerobics classes are found in many gyms, but the moves can also be done in the privacy of your home through DVD or video exercise tapes. You don’t have to be an expert in boxing, mixed martial arts, or even be particularly coordinated to engage in kickboxing routines–as it’s the cardio workout you’re aiming for, not necessarily the ability to take down an opponent.
Weight Loss and Maintenance
Kickboxing offers a high-impact, high-intensity workout that burns calories and fat, the Kids Health Organization says. Individuals who engage in kickboxing workouts can burn up to 450 calories an hour.
Stress Relief
Kickboxing aerobics offers moves that require sidekicks, roundhouse kicks and back kicks, all of which give a person a way to release excess energy and stress at the end of the day. Punching techniques not only allow exercisers to battle their anger and frustration, but they can release pent-up stress by pretending to plant a kick square on an imaginary stressor. A good cardio workout can also release endorphins in the brain, which help a person feel better overall.
Self-Defense
Some of the most basic moves involved in kickboxing are good self-defense moves, says Kids Health. Punches, kicks and jabs are used widely in this form of exercise, and they all teach proper ways to throw a punch to protect the fingers, to kick quickly and to jab at the face or nose. Kickboxing aerobics offers children, men and women basic self-defense methods to help escape dangerous situations.
Cardio
Kickboxing offers a great cardio workout, which helps increase stamina and strengthen the heart, one of the most important muscles in the human body. Kickboxing elevates the heart rate, which gets oxygen-rich blood pumping to all parts of the body. The workouts also increase lung capacity and stamina, working in conjunction with the heart to provide all-around benefits for heart health and maintenance, Tonia Moore of the website A Healthy Me says.
Flexibility and Strength
Kickboxing is good for muscle toning as well as for helping to increase joint range of motion and flexibility, says Dr. Rose Windale of Health and Wellness Tips. Sidekicks, raised kicks and punches develop strong joints, ligaments and muscles that help provide body support and stability. Torso and good core strength enable a strong spine, pelvic stability and teach muscles to work in a coordinated manner, offering strong extremities, effective muscle memory and flexibility.
About this Author
Denise Wang is an experienced freelance writer and editor. She has written professionally for six years, and is a published fiction author. She regularly provides content for health-related and elder-care care websites. She is currently completing coursework for a degree in Health Information Management from Penn Foster College.
