Archive for the ‘Kickboxing for fitness’ Category

It’s one of the biggest challenges facing small business owners: how do you grow your business on a restricted budget? After all, they say “it takes money to make money”. But, how do you get the word out about your business, when you don’t have the budget to advertise? And, how do you get the help you need to enable you to build your business if you don’t have the funds to afford an extra paycheque? If we were living in the 1980’s or even the early 1990’s you may have been without a solution to these problems, but fortunately, today, in our world of high-speed internet, 500 Gig hard drives and Internet phone service, there are alternatives.

Some of the best ways to publicize your business are absolutely free. An example of this is article marketing; if done well and on a consistent basis, article marketing can cost little to no money and bring you significant results. Let`s look at an example of how this works, assuming that you own a business that distributes fitness videos. When “Joe Smith” decides he wants to buy a kick boxing video in order to take off some pounds, he types, “weight loss kick-boxing video” into Google and he gets a selection of websites and articles related to those search terms. If you were article marketing, one of those links could be to your article. If after reading your article, “Joe Smith” decides he likes what you have to say, he will click on the link to your website at the bottom of your article. He is a highly targeted visitor your site, and all it took was the time to write and distribute your article.

Press releases are another method to get the word out about your business, and like article marketing, they can be absolutely free. These are a great way to announce news relating to your business that you can`t afford to advertise. Has your inventory recently expanded? Have you added a new product or service to your existing offerings? Have you become certified, won an award, or are you offering a free product? If so, write and distribute a press release and you will be surprised at the interest that can be generated.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your work, obviously hiring an employee would be the perfect solution. An extra set of hands would help you to accomplish more, which in turn may enable you to boost your sales. But again, without the budget to hire help, this simply isn’t possible. Today the easiest and most cost effective way for a business owner to develop their venture is to outsource. Outsourcing can encompass a great many tasks and, for those who don’t absolutely need someone to work 40 hours per week, it is more affordable than hiring an employee. For example, if bookkeeping is an undertaking that distracts you from the tasks that generate income, you could conceivably hire a bookkeeper to work for 10 hours per month (depending on your sales volume of course), and use those 10 hours to increase your sales. If administrative tasks are hampering your growth, you can hire a Virtual Assistant to handle these duties on an “as needed” basis.

Don’t let a limited budget stop you from building your business into the success it was meant to be. Advertising can be done on a budget and getting qualified help doesn’t have to mean hiring an employee. With a little creativity, you can increase your profits and you can do so on even the most limited budget.

Kelly Sims
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/grow-your-business-on-a-budget-531517.html

Martial arts are a sport that combines a variety of different methods of combat. In some cases, martial arts are used only for use, in other cases, they are used in head-to-head combat, in generally controlled situations, such as matches or shows. Because martial arts includes a variety of different styles, it is normal when a person thinks of them, that they think of one specific types, for example, karate.

However, there is more to martial arts than just karate. For instance, Karate is a stand up style of the art, in which Kung Fu, San Shou, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Kray Maga, Kickboxing, and Boxing also belong. When focusing on styles such as these, also known as stand u styles, blocking, kicking, and punching are the foremost focus when it comes to these forms of arts.

Another style of the arts is called grappling or ground fighting. These are forms of wrestling, that includes the martial art practices of Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo, Shoot fighting, Shooto, and Brazilian Jujitsu.

Yet another style is what is called throwing styles, in which an opponent attempts to unbalance the other by using means of locks, trips, or throws. Within this style, arts such as Hapkido, Shuai Jiao, Aikido, and Judo reside.

For weapons based martial arts, these are arts performed using weapons, and for the most part are only used during cultural and traditional displays, though Kali is still used as an effort of self-defense and combat. Arts within this category include Kendo, Lado, and Kali.

Not all martial art styles are used for combative purposes today, even if they were originally designed for that purpose. Now, many are instead used for exercise, relief of stress, internal energy, and breathing. Some of these meditative or low impact styles include the arts of Chi Gong, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

What happens when you combine techniques from the different forms of martial arts? You get what is called Mixed Martial Arts, which is also commonly known as MMA. Mixed Martial Arts is a combination of a variety of styles of the art, in which opponents attempt to overpower the other using a variety of techniques.

While it is a combination of a variety of techniques, the most popular techniques are those in stand up styles, clinch styles, and ground styles. Most fighters focus on a particular skill, but must have training in all skills to be successful. It is more common for fighters to have a variety of coaches that train for the various phases of combat, it is not common place nowadays for a fighter to specialize in one specific area of combat.

Because mixed martial arts is a recognized sport, with two specific organizations, the PRIDE Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, there are rules and regulations.

For example, weight classes are a requirement in these rules, they pair like weights with other like weights to make fights more fair. In these rules there are a variety of fouls and penalties as well. These rules were designed to eliminate the picture of barbaric fighting, in which two people fight to the death, as many people once believe mixed martial arts to be. These fouls were designed to protect the fighters. Penalties are awarded to the fighter for fish hooking, biting, pulling hair, gouging eyes, and head butting.

Attacks to the groin is illegal in mixed martial arts, as well as strikes to the kidneys, spinal area, and the back of an opponents head. The trachea is off limits as well, a fighter may not grab or strike the trachea of the opponent. Joint manipulation, such as toes and fingers, is allowed. There are many rules, this area has only touched the surface, but you can basically get the idea that mixed martial arts is a controlled and very regulated sport, designed for the physical fitness and enjoyment of the sport, with the health of the fighter in mind.

Adrian Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/getting-a-kick-out-of-different-martial-arts-96865.html

Experts in fitness aren’t surprised about the health benefits of water exercise and many individuals have found it just the ticket to get in shape. Classes offered vary from traditional water aerobics to bench stepping, yoga, tai chi, deep water running and kickboxing. Your body is buoyant in water, so you don’t hit the bottom of the pool as hard as you do with land exercises. Therefore, impact on joints and muscles is reduced. If you have injuries, keep your joints slightly bent instead of straight. This helps to distribute the water pressure throughout the limb, rather than directly on the joint.

Just being in the water causes you to exercise. The continual water pressure that pushes against you while you move makes you push out harder to continue movement. Water exercise is natural resistance training as there is continual resistance to each move you make, creating stronger muscles. Water activities like aqua aerobics, bench stepping, deep water running and kick boxing all are great cardiovascular conditioning workouts. They also naturally increase muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. Finally, they are good calorie burners if done at a high enough intensity.

Yoga, Pilate’s and Tai Chi have hit the water too. Aqua Yoga is a harmonious workout, combining the gentle qualities of yoga poses with the relaxing ebb and flow of the water. The water actually can help support the body, easing wear and tear on the joints and increasing balance so performing the poses is a bit easier than on land. Aqua Pilates othen combines the use of tubes to stengthen the core muscles with some cardio so you get the best of both worlds. Finally, Aqua Tai Chi can be described as a meditation of movement involving gentle and fluid exercises that use the water to overcome some of the clumsiness, stiffness and heaviness experienced on land. The fluidic environment helps to free the mind and emotions so the individual is more in tune with the inherent fluidity inside their bodies.

As you can see, water exercise is a booming workout form with new ideas coming out all the time. There are also many products you can buy such as buoyancy and back support belts, shoes to give you better traction on the pool bottom, hand paddles for upper body resistance exercise and weighted belts to increase your workload. So take the plunge and try poolside instead of the gym for your next workout.

Dr.lanny Schaffer
http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/aquaexercise-for-all-85179.html

One of my favorite stories to tell is about the time my brother-in-law’s girlfriend got her black belt in karate…

She had her big flashy test…kicked the bag…sparred other girls (and a couple of guys that looked like girls!) with the foam booties and gloves on…did her kata with the appropriate “snap” in her movements…very nice.

Now, I’m not a complete jerk, so I let her have her moment. Congratulated her, hobnobbed with the karate “master”, and ate a piece of the sheet cake with little icing karate dudes on it….

That was until a couple of months later at a family graduation party when she began to tell all the girls how the type of “karate” she studies is great for fitness (ok), fun (ok), and self defense (BZZZZZ!).

I had stood what I could, but I couldn’t stands it no more…

I walked right up into the middle of the gaggling girls, singled her out and flat out asked her, “Tell me the truth…If a 225 pound man attacked and tried to rape and kill you, can you 100%, honestly say that you would know what to do? Could you save your own life?”

There was a deathly quiet pause as every single girl in the room visualized that horrible situation in their own minds. Then came the same answer I’ve heard from every single women martial artist I’ve ever met in my life who doesn’t train with us…

“Ummm…I guess not.”

Here in the United States there seems to be a government agency looking into just about every consumer industry in an effort to protect people from scammers, hucksters, and other assorted con men or corporate swindle.

Unfortunately, for women who are looking for a martial arts style that will provide them with a way to defend themselves, there is no government agency licensing or even looking into instructors or the proven effectiveness of the claims.

Therefore there is an over abundance of inexperienced, untrained, liars who claim they are teaching self-defense. These frauds will often teach a style that sounds and perhaps even looks good on the mat, but lacks any value in real combat.

Moreover, dealing with criminal rapist scum is no time for a woman to find out that her “training” was really just cardio kickboxing in disguise… So share the following information with a woman you care for.
Examining the profiles of rapists gives incite into a dangerous enemy.

The Power-assertive rapist considers himself manly and is the one most likely to commit date rapes. This type makes up 44% of rapists and will try to con a victim and gain her trust, but will have no problem using whatever level of physical force he needs to take control.

The Anger-retaliatory rapist hates women and will look to brutalize and punish them. He looks for targets of opportunity and will most likely beat you unconscious then commit rape. This animal makes up 33% of rapists and is easily enraged.

Power-reassurance rapists account for 21% of rapes and often spies on or stalks his victims since he lacks the confidence to have a normal relationship with women. In his twisted fantasy, he sees himself and the victim as lovers, and will force her to wear lingerie and kiss her while seeing the attack as lovemaking. However, using violence is not out of the question if it comes down to making a woman give in to his demands.

The Anger-excitation is the worst of the lot. A sexual sadist, this sick bastard only makes up 5% of all rapists. He has his attacks preplanned and victims can be women he knows or just spots haphazardly on the street. He derives sexual pleasure from inflicting pain and will tie up, gag and torture women for days on end. So vile is this creature that he will even film or photograph his victims so he can relive the attacks. He is the hardest to catch of the group because he usually kills his victims when he’s through.

During an attack your mind will be racing and you won’t be thinking clearing about what kind of rapist you are dealing with and what approach to take, but what all experts agree on is that a “properly trained” woman who fights back early DOUBLES their chance of escape…AGAINST ANY SIZE OR STRENGTH ATTACKER.

The Department of Justice reported that 93,934 women were forcibly raped in 2005 (They’re still calculating ‘06)…These numbers are completely unacceptable as women can and should know how to defend themselves.

In Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, safety is listed right after breathing and eating. Personal protection is too important to be left to the police alone, or to depend on others for help.

Teaching and learning a martial art is ok as it has plenty of redeeming physical, cultural, social, & mental benefits. However, what people (especially women) need to understand, is that 99% of martial arts are NOT legitimate methods of self-defense.

Chris Pizzo
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/only-real-martial-arts-stop-rapists-132319.html

One of the biggest fitness crazes for women in the past few years is cardio kickboxing. Fitness and martial arts facilities throughout North America have taken noticed and many have started to offer women’s only kickboxing classes. It’s popularity can be attributed to its many health benefits for women. For many, just three times a week is plenty to stay healthy and trim.

Weight loss for women does not mean they have to stick with the usual mundane exercises such as running on a treadmill. Fitness for women does not have to be the same old boring exercise routine. It’s okay for women to bring out the “tiger” in them once in a while. Traditionally women have been taught to be gentle and non-aggressive. This explains the under representation of women in most martial arts schools. While kickboxing is a mainly male dominated sport we are seeing more and more women getting into it as a means to relive stress and lose weight.

First you must find a fitness facility or martial arts school near your area. Some places even have classes in kickboxing and fitness for women only. Once you enroll you should set your mind on a goal in order to maximize your results from the class.

Here are 7 cardio kickboxing tips to help weight loss for women:

1). Take your warm-up seriously. If your instructor wants you to do 100 crunches then try your best to reach that benchmark. If you are unable to reach that that number then that is okay. The great thing about cardio kickboxing is you can stop to take a breather anytime without falling behind the class. However just sitting there and watching the rest of the class because you’re lazy is wasting your time. Remember you paid for the class so you mine as well put in the work while you are there.

2). It’s important to have fun but make sure you put in the right effort and intensity. Your instructor usually sets the timer for 2 or 3 minute rounds. So make sure you don’t play patty cake with the punching bag. Your punches and kicks should be done with full power and intensity to get your heart rate up.

3). Make sure you breathe properly during training. Exhale when you throw your punch or kick, and inhale when you retract your arm or leg. Doing this properly supplies more oxygen to the lungs enabling you to workout more efficiently and longer.

4). When kicking try to kick as high as your flexibility allows. High kicks require more energy to perform then low kicks. As a result you will burn more calories.

5). When working with a partner during drills remember to encourage one another. This is really important especially when you are near the end of the round and fatigue starts to set in. The extra words of encouragement from your partner can help you push a little harder before the round ends.

6). When purchasing boxing gloves try going with a heavier glove such as a 16oz. The extra weight will fatigue you shoulders quicker then a 10 oz. glove.

7). Try to keep your hands up at all times when you punch and never loop or drop them below your chin. Your punches should go straight out and back to your face. By keeping your hands up you will work and sculpt your shoulders and burn more calories as opposed to dropping your hands to your waist.

So there you have it! Incorporate some cardio kickboxing into your day if you are bored with your regular gym routine or exercise regiment. Kickboxing is one of the most enjoyable workouts you can do and is known to burn the most calories in a hour. It is fun and great for weight loss. For women it can also be a great outlet to let out your frustrations from a stressful day.

Raz Chan
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/7-important-cardio-kickboxing-weight-loss-tips-for-women-696105.html

ive got one student that’s been training with me for about 15 months did not want to grade he felt that he’s to old (age35) and its a hobby rather than competing. but im going to grade him in a few weeks his skill and experience will take him up at least 4 belts then he would struggle a bit red/ yellow/ orange x2 /green x2 /blue x2 /purple x2 /brown x3 so that will take him to green. and if he graded from beginning and passed he would be there now and training for his second green do i make him start from the start red or give him one big Intense grading that will push his fitness level and composure. our style is kickboxing with thai and karate influence due to our location opportunity to compete is slim we are more into self defence and pad work and light sparring.
thank you for your answers one of the main reasons i want to grade him is so i have a class room assistant that i can depend on to help with beginners or if im ill or can not make it to class. it will only be us 2 at the adults tonight it will give him a goal to reach and it will give him more focus he can just about kick head hight (round kick) but falls backwards.and will change to a lower kick cause he can do that. he wont do a back kick because he can not do it and will avoid doing it insted of working at it.he’s good at punching but when you actual study his feet hes not i correct stance no point just doing this. the class feels like friends getting together for a pad work session i want more out of the lesson i feel he does to i think its back to basics for us all you can not beat it
does this make any sense to you guys or know where im coming from.
ive had a word with him and hes happy to go for his first belt, hes now looking forward to it he’s got a goal to aim for. he said things are being explained to him more and going into even more detail with techniques. bacause it was just a hobbie the small details did not sink in.

Something is wrong with this picture. Your wording sounds to me like you are very green in the martial arts?? But in any case, if the student wants to remain at his level, why do you feel the need to try to force the issue and make him test for rank? (The term grading is not something the traditional martial artists use.)
If you force the student to test when he does not want to, he is likely to drop out of class. It is his right to stay at the rank he is. To make him test would be a mistake. Leave it alone.

110 metre sprint (or jog) X 10
10 minutes of skipping rope
20 minutes of areobic (or anoerobic idk) boxing (kicboxing) witch is, hitting the punching bags and glove targets.
100 sit ups (crunches)
100 push ups (different types; thumbs touching, arms as far as they can go etc)
and some weird thing at the end were we have to hold our arms out for a while till the end of the workout, its hurts bad.. hehe

btw this is an Kickboxing for fitness class

Depends whether you are going for strength or aerobic (endurance) training. If your training for Strength then you want to lower your reps (for max strength training you want 3-5 reps). If your training for Endurance then this is a fairly good work out but you still probably want to lower your reps to about 30 (do this by adding weight to maintain intensity eg. hold a weight plate while doing sit ups or sit one on your back to do push ups) For Strength training add weight until you CANT do more than 4 reps.

Ok, I’m a sixteen and a half year old boy. I am 5 foot 8 inches and weigh 70 kg (154 pounds). My BMI is 23.5 which apparently is healthy but I don’t feel or feel like I look fit and healthy. What can I do? I am starting Kickboxing for fitness and I am eating healthy as my dad has a heart problem. Thanks!

You’re ok, but this is definitely about how you feel you look, not switching from unhealthy to healthy. I took kickboxing myself last year and I think it’s a lot of fun, no matter how hard they kick your butt. Keep up the kickboxing. One thing that you should do is make sure that you get some consistent exercise beyond the kickboxing. There are a lot of ways to do that, but the most important thing is for you to go DO something for at least 30 minutes a day. To feel like you look healthy, make sure that you know what your goals are and check that you did at least one thing a day to work towards each of them.

can kickboxing be considered a fitness routine by itself? is it very intense? whats the basic fitness required to start this activity?

It’s very good. Try it. It’s very intense and not easy to go three, three minute rounds. It is exhausting. Being in shape is the best defense. Add some good technique (any good technique) and that’s way better.

You should do other exercises as well. Cross train.

It’s mostly cardiovascular (you need good wind), agility and power (strength).