How to Teach Kickboxing

Kickboxing is popular as a means of fitness, but if taught correctly, it can also be useful in self-defense situations. While kickboxing classes range in focus from exercise to self defense, they all follow the same format for kickboxing instructors.

Things You'll Need

• A gym or workout space with mirrors and heavy bags
• Boxing gloves
• Kickboxing shin guards
• Mouthpiece
• Energetic music

Instructions

1. Spend the first 5 minutes on light cardio fitness such as jumping rope or shadow boxing. It is best to stretch after the muscles have warmed up a bit to prevent strains.

2. Lead the class through a series of stretches paying close attention to the hamstrings and groin as these muscle groups are prone to injury.

3. Move to sparring. Have your students don protective gear and begin with simple hand combinations such as jab cross, or jab cross hook. Pay close attention to the student's free hand, making sure it goes back to their face to protect them.

4. Allow the students to pair off together practicing both defending and attacking with the prescribed combination. This back and forth repetition will make the combinations smoother and become more second nature to the students.

5. Add kicks to the combination, a low leg kick is an easy addition to a jab cross combination, then work your way to more challenging kicks. Make sure that the students are keeping their hands up in defense as well as checking their kicks.

6. Change the combinations to more challenging ones as the students get comfortable with the techniques. Add side kicks and uppercuts, paying close attention to their hip movements. They should be bringing their knee up high and turning their hip over, digging into their opponent with the heel.

7. Have the students move from sparring work to heavy bag work, allowing them to practice the new combinations at full-contact speed and power without the risk of injuring another student. Remind the students to stay light on their feet, even while punching the bags.

8. Finish the class with some more stretching. After a workout is the best time to stretch to increase flexibility in decrease the likelyhood of injury.

Tips & Warnings

• Any type of martial arts class, including kickboxing, has some risk of injury. Require that your students bring their own mouthpiece and purchase their own gloves and shin guards to protect themselves from unnecessary harm. Also, because this is a full contact sport with many challenging techniques, only experienced kickboxers or martial artists should teach kickboxing.

References

• Master Dino Haynes; Martial Artist and Kickboxing Instructor; Agoura Hills, California