BY CAROLINE PETERSEN
EXERCISE
VOLUME 31 LOSE IT! 35’ve never been good
with cardio and am
quite intimidated
by team sports – so
it’s safe to say that
my (normally quite
flexible) yogi body
went stiff with anxiety at the
thought of heading into a gym
to kick and punch people. I never
suspected kickboxing would be
something I’d love.
Erick Kaboja, fitness,
conditioning and boxing trainer
at Pride Fighting Academy, gave
me the lowdown. ‘Kickboxing
is a combination of boxing and
some technical karate as well,’ he
explained. This stand-up combat
sport is similar to boxing ...
except that you use a lot more
energy and concentration because
your legs get in on the action too.Sure, boxing is a
great workout, but
its high-energy, cardio
intensive, core-building
big brother – kickboxing
- gets your heart
pumping even more!
BOXING
Erick explains, ‘It’s more
intense, because with boxing you
use your legs when you move, but
with kickboxing you have to raise
your legs and kick, which requires
a lot more energy. Your legs are
heavier than your arms, so to raise
your leg up and push takes more
energy than just a punch.’ You
also have to keep your wits about
you. ‘You have to think a lot
more in kickboxing,’ says Erick.
‘Not only are you focusing on the
hands coming at you but you also
have to focus on the legs!’
I naively assumed I’d be the
only woman there... I was wrong.
Erick especially recommends
kickboxing for women because
of the great fitness benefits and
its handiness for self-defence.
‘You don’t have to do the kicking
and punching hard, like you’re
actually attacking someone,’
Erick assured me. ‘We have bags
and pads you can practice on –
it’s more about the fitness perks
that come with the movements.’
Kickboxing is simply a workout
like any other.
You’ll need gloves for
punching, shin-pads for kicking
and a gum guard and headgear
if you choose to spar (but these
aren’t necessarily used in your
average kickboxing class). A
typical session starts with a
warm-up to prepare your body for
high-intensity movement – warm