36 LOSE IT! VOLUME 31
PHOTOGRAPHS: LIZA VAN DEVENTERmuscles prevent injuries. This will
include five minutes of skipping
and three minutes of push-ups,
squats and sit-ups.
Next is shadow boxing, where
you practice typical kickboxing
moves on your own. It might
seem quite silly, but this is helpful
to hone your fighting techniques,
condition your muscles and
mentally prepare yourself for
working with a partner.
Working with a partner
involves hitting and kicking pads.
You practice your hooks, jabs,
straight punches and variations ofkicks. Not only is pad work good
for your kickboxing technique,
but working out with a partner is
fantastic for motivation as there’s
someone to hold you accountable.
No two kickboxing sessions
are ever the same. ‘The structure
is similar, but the combinations
of moves will always be different,’
says Erick. His recommendation
for beginners is not to push
yourself too hard on the first day.
‘Be patient with the process.
Sometimes it is a bit frustrating
because it’s like you’re learning a
new language. Your body needs
to learn how to stand and how
to move, so it’s a bit unnatural
in the beginning. However, with
time, the more you practice, the
more natural it becomes. After
that you’ll fall in love with the
discipline. This is way more
fun and less boring than just
going to the gym to do lunges
or something. With kickboxing
you get a good workout while
learning a new discipline at the
same time.’My first session was simply about
learning the new ‘language’ Erick
spoke of: standing in the correct
way and practising straight
punches, hooks, jabs, front
kicks, side kicks and round kicks.
Kickboxing is very technical
and it’s easy to feel disheartened
because you often make mistakes,
sometimes mixing up the different
movements. By the time I walked
out of the gym I was dripping
with sweat – a clear indication
that my first session was a job
well done! It took some time to
get into the groove of kickboxing
(a case of ‘fake it till you make
it’), and a lot of patience to learnand understand a very new and
foreign technique. I was eager
to get back and see if my second
session was going to be easier now
that I’d learnt the ropes. But for
a few days after, muscles I never
knew existed cried out every time
I moved.
During my second session I
joined the regular, bigger class.
Intimidating, yes, but also
helpful; you learn good habits
and technique from watching and
training with those who’ve been
doing this for years. Kickboxing
is also a real stress release, as you
let everything go and just punch!
Less overwhelmed now, my
body’s muscle memory also
remembered more of the moves
than I expected. It’s intense but
more enjoyable exercising in a
bigger group. Even when you
want to give up, your partner
keeps cheering for you to push
on. The discipline allows you
to take breaks when needed but
simultaneously encourages you
not to rest for too long and to get
back up and try again. After the
first session I already felt stronger
and more determined to keep up
with everyone else!I recommend this to anyone
who is up for a challenge. If
you’re looking for a workout that’s
as fun as it is challenging, where
there’s a trained professional
keeping you going and checking
in on you, and where you’re going
to leave feeling high on post-
workout endorphins, kickboxing
is for you! ■Clothes: Normal gym gear –
whatever you feel comfortable
training and getting sweaty in!
Shoes: Training/running shoes –
but you’ll most probably kickbox
barefoot.
Water: You should hydrate during
and after a kickboxing session.
Too much water right before
class will make your stomach feel
heavy while you train.
Food: ‘It’s best to stop eating two
to three hours
before training.
If you haven’t
eaten at all and
you’re feeling
a bit faint and
hungry before
a training
session, snack
on something
very light such
as a piece of
fruit, otherwise
an energy
drink is good
for energy,’
says Erick.EXERCISE
GETTING
READY
GLOVES ON
TAKE A JAB
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