An Ode to My Love, Cardio Kickboxing

Anyone who has previously read my blog, will know that I like to workout and I regularly go to the gym. Knowing that, this post goes back to the time I had first signed up at my local gym in March of 2009. Let me also state that I had been exercising at home for several months prior to that. I would not certify that I was in top physical shape then, but I could go for a 1 hr step class session without faltering prettty comfortably. Then, upon buying into the membership at my local gym, I discovered they had a cadio kickboxing class. I managed to work up the courage to show up for class about 2 weeks after my introductory fitness assessment. There I was thinking, how hard could this be?



This class demonstrated here is not exactly the same, but it's the closest representation to what we do in class on a weekly basis.

Man, was I wrong. It was hard…very very difficult. I turned beet red, had difficulty keeping up, my breathing was hard and shallow, and I suddenly realized how weak my hip and butt muscles truly were. I was panting and had to run for my water bottle to then not be able to drink fast enough in between gasping desperately for air. When I walked out of the classes studio, I felt I must have broken something deep inside my legs, some obscure muscle I didn’t even know existed until that day. The first thing I did when I got home that night was limp to the couch and straighten and raise my knee since it was killing me. I even had a hard time climbing up the steps to get through my door. Over the years, I have consistently and increasingly suffered from a very weak right knee. That night, the damned thing felt as if it was on fire and it kept pulsating to rub in the fact that I had overdone it and that knee was NOT happy.

I must be a glutton for punishment because although this workout almost literally kicked my butt, I found it to be great fun, dynamic, thrilling, and it tapped into my well-hidden aggressions and managed to release them in a controlled and positive way. In time, my knee became stronger and tolerated the movements more readily, even my hips loosened up, and I gained much greater overall flexibility. No longer did I feel that something broke during the class. Now, there are many articles on the net listing all the benefits of cardio kickboxing, but I found one in particular from the AFPA that particularly stood out for me. It encompasses all the praises I can possibly sing about this type of exercise.

Since that first class, I have been training one-on-one once a week with a personal trainer and lucky for me, it happens to be the same instructor that teaches the class. During the week, I practice my jabs, kicks, and stances at home paying more close attention to my form and gradually pushing myself further each time. I have incorporated this regular practice into my own routine which focuses a bit more on the boxing aspect of the workout as well. Then, when I do have my training session with her, I can bring what I have learned through repetition and my muscles can take over rather than me having to constantly think about how I am placing my feet, where to aim, and paying attention to not overextending any movements. Having a moving human target, who is adding resistance as well pawing and deflecting my punches, adds a whole other dimension to the movements, which is something I would not be able to duplicate in my solitary practice or while in class.

As a result, not only has my confidence sky-rocketed, but I have lost over 23 pounds and have gone down several pant sizes. Right now, none of my old clothes fit and I am now waiting until the Fall to buy a whole new wardrobe that actually fits me. I feel stronger, more limber, just overall great and very much full of energy. I love the muscle definition in my arms and legs and know that I will definitely keep going back to my beloved class for as long as I possibly can. I don’t think I want to go back to life without it…hehehe. I would definitely recommend that if you are looking to get great results from a fun and energetic workout, you definitely check out a cardio kickboxing class, pronto!