Muay Thai Boxers Article

If You're Just Into Fitness Then A Cardio Kickboxing Video, DVD, Or Class May Just Be What You Need To Get Started

Some people just don't like the thought of hitting someone or getting hit but like the thought of learning how to punch and kick and get fit at the same time. Cardio kickboxing is what you're looking for.

I must admit, first up, that I have done this sought of class at my local gym. I was in between muay thai gyms at that time and just wanted to keep up some of my skills and fitness.

The fitness however is not exactly the same and the moves are slightly different in a cardio kickboxing class compared to muay thai kickboxing. You don't actually hit anything but just do kickboxing moves in the air in time to music.

This type of workout is a little bit like the shadow sparring explained on the muay thai technique page, but is very aerobic in nature because the class goes for about 30 minutes. Muay thai shadow sparring, however, is done in rounds of 3 minutes which (even though you're huffing and puffing) is anaerobic in nature like a sprint.

The first cardiokickboxing video shown below is this type of workout where you don't hit anything and is just a substitute for an aerobics class. Although I would recommend this type of cardio kickboxing workout over aerobics any day because it makes you move with purpose rather than just waving you're limbs about. When you move with a purpose you increase the intensity of a workout and burn more energy.

There is another type of cardio-kickboxing workout where you actually hit something like a bag or boxing mitts held by another person. There are all types of these workouts springing up at gyms like 'Fitbox' classes.

I have also done these type of classes and they are much closer to the fitness you would get at a muay thai kickboxing class. Because you are actually hitting something you get added resistance which increases the workload considerably. The second 2 cardio kickboxing dvds below teach this type of class.

Neither types of cardio kickboxing actually teach you how to defend yourself, however, so don't be fooled into thinking you can kick arse after doing them for a while. The best you will get is being fit enough to run away from an attacker.