Are you wanting to get fit and strong, but are not sure on where is best to go? Well, you have come to the right place, as we will talk you through why learning kickboxing has 12 great reasons how it is better than going to the gym.
No matter on what your goals are, kickboxing will generally excel over going to the gym and other fitness regimes.
However, don’t get us wrong, from doing other types of training can be just as awarding to kickboxing, but it doesn’t quite tick all the boxes. So, if your now intrigued to know more about the advantages of kickboxing, let’s go ahead and dive in.
So firstly, what is kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a combat sport very similar to boxing, but kicks are allowed too. Kickboxing is also considered a martial art, as it roots were originally derived from professional karate in the 1970’s, so lot’s of clubs offer a grading syllabus.
Here is our list of 12 great reasons why kickboxing is better than the gym:
1.Learning a martial art
A great advantage of learning kickboxing as opposed to going to a regular gym is your are getting taught real martial art skills.
Of course, by going to a gym you will be able to use state-of-the-art equipment, but you generally won’t learn anything skillful.
In a martial arts class, the sensei will be teaching you their knowledge they have gained over a long period of time, which could be considered priceless.
2. Get a black belt
C’mon, who doesn’t love the thought of having a black belt. Having a kickboxing grading syllabus is a great progression incentive and a reminder of how far you have come.
When you reach a black belt, you can show it off with a silk black belt with your name in gold embroidered writing.
At the gym, sometimes you can get to a point and feel you plato and not achieving any further gains.
3. Become a champion
For those enthusiasts that really want to take their kickboxing to the next level, can enter competitions, win trophies and maybe one day become the next world champion.
You can still enter competitions from the hard work you have put In at the regular gym, especially if you don’t like being punched in the face.
For example, Tough mudder runs, marathons, or even body building competitions, but the awards are probably not as great as of a sport like kickboxing.
4. Self-defence
Let’s be honest, it can be a dangerous world at times, and by going kickboxing it will teach you how to defend in a real-life scenario and strike with cat like reflexes.
5. Personal touch
in kickboxing classes, your coach will get to know your strengths and weaknesses and will be able to help you of any flaws that could do with improving. At the gym, unless you hire a personal trainer, you are usually left to your own accord, so no one will be able to help if you have poor form or technique.
6. More excitement
Kickboxing being a fast paced, action packed class, it will never get tedious, and the fact their so many things to learn, the class will have so much variety. When you get to the sparring stage, you won’t find a buzz quite like it. At the gym, it can however get a little boring, using the same equipment each time.
7. Kept motivated
In kickboxing you will be motivated and pushed to your limits, not only by your coach, but by your training partners too. Also, it can be surprising the amount of extra energy you didn’t realise you had. As Rocky quoted in the Balboa movie:
“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can, that’s what makes all the difference in your life.”
8. Make new friends
As you are always pairing up with new partners to hold pads and encouraging one and other, you will make plenty of friends. At the gym, as everyone is usually concentrating on their own workout and may even wear headphones, people tend not to chat as much.
9. Stress relief
Hard day at the office? Well, you won’t beat it by letting it out and smashing some pads.
10. More discipline
Martial arts clubs have a timetable with all the different classes to suit all levels, so you have to make sure you attend the classes on the given days, otherwise you won’t be able to train. Not only that, but in a gym it is so easy to call it time when you have had enough, but in a kickboxing class, as it is for an hour, you will stay for the duration.
11. Full Body Workout
By going to the gym, you can target the muscle groups you want to train. However, in kickboxing, with the constant punching and kicking, it works the entire body, even muscles you didn’t realise you had. So, you can’t get out of skipping leg day in kickboxing.
12. More cost effective
Kickboxing classes can be pay-as-you-go, so you won’t have to tie yourself in to a contract.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, kickboxing has so much to offer compared to going to a gym. Also, you will find you will still get more muscular, be ripped and have tons of energy.