Why Cardio Kickboxing Is an Awesome Workout (Healthline)

Posted: Jan 23, 2023 in In the News

This article originally appeared in Healthline on January 23, 2023.

Why Cardio Kickboxing Is an Awesome Workout

By Jessica Timmons 

Cardio kickboxing is a group fitness class that combines martial arts techniques with fast-paced cardio. This high-energy workout challenges the beginner and elite athlete alike.

Build stamina, improve coordination and flexibility, and burn calories as you build lean muscle with this fun and challenging workout.

An experienced instructor leads cardio kickboxing class by demonstrating choreographed movements of punches, kicks, and knee strikes set to fast-paced music. Cardio kickboxing combinations are a mix of punches like:

• jabs
• crosses
• hooks
• uppercuts

Lower body movements include:

• knee strikes
• front kicks
• roundhouse kicks
• side kicks
• back kicks

Classes also incorporate a warmup and cool down as well as both dynamic and static stretching. Often, there is a brief segment specifically for core exercises like crunches and planking. Typical cardio kickboxing classes run from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the gym or studio.

Despite the name, cardio kickboxing is a noncontact workout. All punches and kicks are thrown into the air or onto pads. It’s a high-energy workout that can burn between 350 and 450 calories an hour, according to the American Council on Exercise.

Your elevated heart rate moves into in an intense zone in which cardiovascular conditioning takes place. This has a positive impact on your heart.

Cardio conditioning can help you have a daily calorie deficit, allowing for fat loss. This loss may include the belly fat that can be so difficult to lose. Excess belly fat has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, and diabetes.

A cardio kickboxing class challenges your technique, endurance, and above all, concentration. Half the battle is mental — you need to focus on the individual movements that make up a combination.

Read the full article here.