Boxing: Ladies ring

IT IS KNOWN AS "boxing" that boxing was held at the ancient Olympic Games. In modern games, boxing - Male - appeared in St. Louis (USA) in 1904. Yet it was not until 2012, in London, will take place the first Olympic women's boxing match. The ring of Excel Stadium, the 36 pioneers come from Russia, the United States, China, Tajikistan, Nigeria ... But not France because no tri athlete won his qualification. They will be divided into three categories: fly (48-51 kg), lightweight (57-60 kg) and heavyweight (69-75 kg).

The boxers have grounded the last bastion of male sport when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in 2009 that a women's tournament is held in London. A year earlier, the Beijing Olympics, boxing was still the only Olympic sport prohibits women.

Side Regulation, male and female tournaments will be identical. In London, the fighters will fight in a boxing ring square ...

Kick Boxing - General Background

Kick boxing is a relatively modern martial arts system, who syllabus derived by combining several fighting techniques from a variety of the more traditional disciplines, including Kung fu, Kyokushinkai Karate, Muay Thai, Kyokky shinkai and Tae kwon do.

History:

Martial arts boomed during the early 1970s and interest was greatly increased by their emphasis on competition fighting. Chinese styles of fighting began to take a more westernised form in the UK, and even more so in the United States, where the first real freestyle systems were beginning to be created. Indeed, many people claim that Kick boxing originated in the US during the 1970s. This, they say, was due to various American Karate practitioners becoming frustrated with the limitations of tournament competitive scoring. While Karate and the other disciplines were viewed as being entrenched with theories and set kata, and were performed in a controlled environment, practitioners wanted to see how effective their moves would be in a more realistic environment. Great emphasis began to be placed on specialised techniques, such as kicks and punches, being delivered with full force. Although full contact Karate was already established, concerns were expressed for the safety of competitors.

Development:

There is a close affinity between Kick boxing and Muay Thai. While it is believed that the Americans had created this concept in their attempt to find a sport that could refine full contact competition, it is believed that the development of Kick boxing was borne out of the World Kick boxing Association finding common ground between Eastern and Western fighting cultures.

It is also believed that Joe Cawley, Don and Judy Quinn, along with Howard Hansen, a Shorin ryn Karate black belt, were the initial promoters of Kick boxing and worked together for improved recognition. Hansen took Kick boxing a stage further by introducing fights in a boxing ring rather than the usual Karate tournament bouts. He became known as a ring matchmaker, staging a variety of successful events with stars such as Bill "Superfoot" Wallis.

New rules evolved and were introduced into Kick boxing, most notably weight divisions - from fly weight to heavy weight - similar to those in traditional boxing. A down side to the discipline in those early days was criticism of a high risk injury. This led to improvement in the safety rules, such as contestants wearing protective clothing to cushion the impacts of the blows.

Kick Boxing Bag Workouts

Kick boxing bag workouts are a great way to grab a full body workout and have been really gaining popularity in the last couple of years.

Even if your only experience with kick boxing is playing video games or watching a Kung fu movie Kick boxing bag workouts are safe for the beginner and have an "Easy Learning Curve" for those just starting out.

As always before starting any new workout regime consult your doctor to make sure you are fit enough o participate.

Before any workout you should take the time to warm up properly. I personally prefer the stationary cycle or jumping rope to get my heart rate up and my body warm and loose, some people suggest stretching before a workout however recent research has proven that its probably best to stretch after you have completed a workout to prevent injuries.

Start slowly, practicing a variety of kicks concentrating on accuracy before power, which can be worked up as your form and technique improve. Practice on both a kickboxing bag and have a friend or training partner use focus mitts. Really try to kick through the kick boxing bag not snapping back with your legs after impact.

Focus on keeping your head up and concentrate on keeping your upper body not too far forward when working kickboxing drills, you want to always keep your body in such a way you can throw kicks after doing a punching combo.

Cross train to improve your lower body strength and balance which is essential for a great kick boxing bag workout. Jumping rope, cycling and jogging really help build up your leg power and improve your footwork which is crucial in kick boxing just as it is in regular boxing.

Expect your self-confidence to soar as you not only get into great shape but improve your kick and punching skills at the same time.

Avoid over exerting yourself which is easy to do in kick boxing bag workouts, stick to short rounds just as fighters do in professional matches, kick boxing bag workouts are a great cardiovascular workout but its easy to over do it, drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated between drills.

As always with any martial arts training program keep these skills in the dojo or the gym and do not use them out on the street where you could seriously injure someone.

The Author grants full reprint rights to this article. You may reprint and electronically distribute this article as long as its contents remain unchanged and the Author's byline remains in place.

How to Survive Your First Kick Boxing Class

The most important part of all exercise of course is being prepared. The best way to prepare for your first class is to dress appropriately. You will certainly want to be in loose fitting clothing and comfortable footwear. Try and avoid the big bulky clothing such as hoodies because they will make you far too hot. Plus the pull strings for the hood will swing wildly and hit you in the face. I recommend a simple T-shirt and shorts that are not too short) or some simple sweat pants. Be sure the shorts of pants of choice have enough room to stretch as you raise your legs to the side or the front.

The other things you will want to consider are food and water. Be sure you have a water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated. While you won't really need food during class, the high level of muscle use in a kick boxing class can take some people by surprise who are used to more traditional cardio. So stay away form that steak and potato dinner right before class to avoid cramping. If you eat a couple of hours before class, keep the foods light and moderate in protein. Something like a granola bar or some fruit usually fits the bill. Other people have good energy and stamina with the classic PB&J sandwich.

Finally, remember to have fun. Leave your ego at the door and simply relax. Too many people will walk into their kick boxing class trying to be the next Chuck Norris. This usually brings about an excessive amount of power in your technique which often leads to injury (for yourself or your partner if you are working with someone) and fatigue. Remember that everyone knows you are new and no one expects you to be perfect or even to know what you are doing. So it's always okay to make mistakes and look like you are new to kicking and punching. Everyone in that class started out exactly where you are, so they understand. So go easy, have fun and keep the ego in check. You will have much more fun if you simply play around with the techniques rather than try and impress everyone and yourself.

Extra tips:

o Also be sure to arrive early to class to say hi to the instructor and introduce yourself. This will make you feel like less of a stranger and the instructor will feel more comfortable helping you when they know a little bit about you.

Be fit and live free,

Matt Schifferle

FREE E-course on how to workout less but lose more weight and gain more muscle.

Kick Boxing

Kickboxing is a mixture of various sports. It is termed a sporting martial art that is similar to boxing. However, in kickboxing, feet are used in addition to hand contact. While boxing is not a full contact sport, kickboxing certainly is.

Kickboxing is said to have originated in Japan and is a mixture of boxing, taekwondo and karate. There are three types of kickboxing -- Japanese style, American style and European style. Japanese kickboxing has various forms that are devised by various kick boxers and trainers.

In American kickboxing, opponents are allowed to hit each other with feet and fists. They have to strike above the hip. Opponents cannot use elbows and knees and the use of shins is mostly restricted. Fighters and promoters agree on the various rules and regulations before starting the match.

In Japanese kickboxing, five rounds of three minutes each are played. Opponents are allowed to attack with the elbow and the knees. They are also allowed to attack below the belt, everywhere except the crotch. However, they are not allowed to head-butt, push or throw.

The American kickboxing rounds are basically two to three minutes. A typical American kickboxing match has ten to twelve rounds. The fighters and the promoters mutually agree upon the duration and number of rounds. There is a one-minute rest period between the rounds.

European kickboxing has five rounds of three minutes each. In European kickboxing, opponents are not allowed to attack with the thighs or the knees. Opponents are allowed to kick below the body, everywhere except the crotch. Also, in European kickboxing, opponents are not allowed to head-butt or push.

Boxing [http://www.Boxing-Web.com] provides detailed information on Boxing, Boxing News, Kick Boxing, HBO Boxing and more. Boxing is affiliated with Pro Wrestling [http://www.Wrestling-Source.com].

Kick Boxing Bag Workouts

Kick boxing bag workouts are a great way to grab a full body workout and have been really gaining popularity in the last couple of years.

Even if your only experience with kick boxing is playing video games or watching a Kung fu movie Kick boxing bag workouts are safe for the beginner and have an "Easy Learning Curve" for those just starting out.

As always before starting any new workout regime consult your doctor to make sure you are fit enough o participate.

Before any workout you should take the time to warm up properly. I personally prefer the stationary cycle or jumping rope to get my heart rate up and my body warm and loose, some people suggest stretching before a workout however recent research has proven that its probably best to stretch after you have completed a workout to prevent injuries.

Start slowly, practicing a variety of kicks concentrating on accuracy before power, which can be worked up as your form and technique improve. Practice on both a kickboxing bag and have a friend or training partner use focus mitts. Really try to kick through the kick boxing bag not snapping back with your legs after impact.

Focus on keeping your head up and concentrate on keeping your upper body not too far forward when working kickboxing drills, you want to always keep your body in such a way you can throw kicks after doing a punching combo.

Cross train to improve your lower body strength and balance which is essential for a great kick boxing bag workout. Jumping rope, cycling and jogging really help build up your leg power and improve your footwork which is crucial in kick boxing just as it is in regular boxing.

Expect your self-confidence to soar as you not only get into great shape but improve your kick and punching skills at the same time.

Avoid over exerting yourself which is easy to do in kick boxing bag workouts, stick to short rounds just as fighters do in professional matches, kick boxing bag workouts are a great cardiovascular workout but its easy to over do it, drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated between drills.

As always with any martial arts training program keep these skills in the dojo or the gym and do not use them out on the street where you could seriously injure someone.

Examples of kick boxing drills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8YYZGvKM-8

Al Dawson is a 25 year + keep fit fanatic and runs the company : http://www.ultimateboxingbags.com

The Author grants full reprint rights to this article. You may reprint and electronically distribute this article as long as its contents remain unchanged and the Author's byline remains in place.

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Kick Boxing Equipment

Developing speed, power, strength, stamina, and most importantly kicking techniques involves constant discipline and training. Kick boxing, boxing, martial arts, including judo, have become so advanced in technical training techniques, that to engage competitively one must be at the peak of their mental and physical best. So what are we looking for to reach this peak of competitive endurance in training techniques. The most vital aspect of all martial arts training is self preservation. In other words having the knowledge and ability to defend oneself in confrontational situations. But how can we define what self defense is and what are we protecting. We are protecting what the Buddhist monks called, "The Circle of Life." This circle of life is defined as our life force aura. This aura encircles our whole body and all the space that it takes up. How we measure this space is very simple and this is where the correct kick boxing equipment becomes essential for martial arts training if one desires to become proficient at it.

The "Circle of life." How is it defined. Well we must go back to the first recorded use of this term. It was first known over a thousand years ago when the Buddhist monks designed the art of "Karate." This term "karate" means " Empty Hands." This became known as martial arts. The reason why the monks designed this art of self defense was because of attacks in the tibetan mountains. These attacks came from bandits stealing the monks meagre possessions as they travelled on pilgrimages to other Buddhist temples. The human circle of life is defined simply. If one stretches out your arms as high above your head as they will go, then arc them around to the front of your body stretching again as far as they will stretch. Then repeat the same again bringing your arms behind your back again as far as you can stretch then resting them down by your side. Then bring your legs out in front of you raising them as high and as far as they will stretch turning around full circle. Whatever distance and space your arm and leg movements covered then this is your, "Circle of Life. If anything or anyone enters that circle uninvited then they must be considered a threat, and your circle must be defended.

Kick boxing equipment is just as old as martial arts because it was designed to train the monks how to become proficient and masterful in the art of fighting. "They used straw packed around wooden stakes which were planted in the ground." They would train for hours perfecting, punches, kicks, kneeing, open hand striking, head butting, in fact any part of the body which could give them an advantage in their self preservation struggle. The basic principles of training has remained the same, but the equipment has become immensely technologically advanced. Here are some features you should look out for if you are thinking of purchasing some kick boxing equipment.

The outer Skin must be made from extreme durability high-strength plastisol.
The Inner cavity should be filled with durable urethane foam with extra strong absorption ability.
They should be adaptable to suit the different sizes for individual users.
The base naturally should be stable very firm and of course included in the product package.
There is more very valuable information to read, just click on below to find out all you need to know about model sparring partners.
To learn more very valuable information please click on below.

The heavy workout bag is without doubt the most effective boxing training equipment you can buy on the market. It is designed to take the most rigourous type of kicking, punching, elbowing, kneeing, in fact any type of physical attack that one might use in self defense and personal training. Great speed Training It has become one of the most favoured means of training for all martial arts systems including, Kick boxing, boxing, and karate as well as judo, and is a must for all types of gyms and personal trainers at home.

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Common Kick-Boxing Mistakes

Just when I think that I am an old martial artist has-been, I see things that say otherwise. Like the young guys, with all of the fancy gym wear, who thrown these ridiculously slow roundhouse kicks at the heavy punching bag. Before you get your head handed to you in a match or scuffle please:

1. Keep your hands up. A good boxer or puncher can step inside of your kick and knock you o-u-t out, when you drop your hands.

2. Kick a lighter bag around 40 pounds. Something with give. I was constantly going to a chiropractor when training heavy and, 30 years later, I still get hip problems.

3. Work the bag, do not let the bag work you. Kick and punch to develop your hitting power. Do not just keep hitting the heavy bag until exhaustion. You will just get sloppy.

4. If your coach is not watching you, try not to train to exhaustion. When you get too tired. You get sloppy. Sloppy practice makes sloppy technique. While you have to be able to train while under stress or fatigue, make sure that you are not making sloppy mistakes. I used to train wrong for weeks and then have to untrain myself. Better to train less properly than too much improperly.

5. Avoid over-training. You will know when you cannot sleep well, have a poor appetite and an accelerated heart rate. Underweight, skinny guys take note.

6. Train patiently. The whole idea of martial arts is to develop the person. When you train intelligently, consistently and patiently, you will make more progress. The guy who is in a big hurry to just "bust heads" always takes longer.

7. Practise some humility. The genuine martial artists do not strut around town with "cage fighter" t-shirts and attitudes to boot. The skinny guy will just attract the attention of bullies and the blow-hard will get taken down a notch or two. I have met world-class martial artists who do not flaunt their abilities. (One 19 year old insisted that he had won 48 bare knuckle matches. He also failed a simple fitness test, so it makes you wonder.)

8. Nail down one technique at a time. Some methods, like Hapkido, practice dozens of kicks and hand strikes every session. This works after a couple of years. I found that becoming proficient at a couple of punches put me ahead of most other beginners. One good technique beats a dozen sloppy ones.

9. If you are going to train, TRAIN. I get tired of the guy claiming to train 3 hours a day, when he mostly hangs around the gym flapping his gums. Have fun, socialize, but get some serious training in.

10. Jogging is not road work. Road work, as described by champion grappler, Matt Furey, is running while imagining that you are fighting. If kick-boxing, practice punches while running. If too many people are around, practice footwork and wind sprints. Kick-boxing matches are not at the jogging intensity.

11. Most of all, enjoy your training. If you do not like the workouts, try something else. Just remember that professionalism does not come easy.

Doug Setter holds a Bachelor's of Food and Nutrition. He has served as a paratrooper and U.N. Peacekeeper, has completed 5 full marathons and climbed Mt. Rainier. He held a welterweight kick-boxing title at age 40. He consults clients in alcohol reduction, stomach-flattening, kick-boxing and nutrition. He is the author of Stomach Flattening, Reduce Your Alcohol Craving and One Less Victim. Visit his website:

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Kickboxing Basics for Everyone

A common question will arise regarding enrolling in kickboxing classes. That question will be "Do I need a lot of flexibility in order to kickbox?" That answer to that question revolves around your goals. But, before we delve further into the answer, here are two very brief and to the point statements for the answer:

There really is no requirement to possess any level of flexibility when you start a kickboxing program.

Your level of flexibility will increase over time as you train.

In short, you do not need to worry about being flexible when you start taking lessons. Commonly, beginners will look at a kickboxing match where a lot of head kicks are performed and will assume they need a high level of flexibility to take part in a kickboxing class. That is not the case at all. You will need a high level of flexibility in order to compete in a serious environment but this will not be required when you are a beginner. As such, it is best not to compare yourself to professionals or those with a high level of experience. Beginners often make this mistake and it skews their opinion on what to expect from a class.

Also, the amount of flexibility you need will depend on the style of kickboxing you are taking part in. In today's gyms, the most commonly taught kickboxing art is Muay Thai which puts more emphasis on low and mid-line kicks. Kickboxing arts such as savate and full contact karate have greater emphasis on head kicks but they are rarely taught in gyms because most gyms are more Muay Thai and MMA centric.

Since your kicks are targeting the low line and the mid line, you do not need a lot of hip flexibility or balance in order to deliver an effective kick. In order to kick high, you need the hips to "open up" more and this can be achieved by slowly and incrementally raising the height of the kick. Again, this does not have to be achieved overnight nor should it be. In fact, it may not have to be.

Truth be told, if your goals are self-defense or even MMA, you do not need to kick high. Hence, you do not need a lot of flexibility. Head kicks are non-existent in self-defense and they are rare in MMA.

While the debate may rage among MMA fighters and trainers whether or not high kicks are valid, this really should not be a concern of your unless you are ready to make the jump into the cage. Obviously, if your goals are to compete in the ring then you do need to develop high kicks. All of this takes time so there is no rush to develop the needed attributes.

It is advised, however, not to be too dismissive of the value of high kicks and the flexibility they provide. Developing a decent amount of flexibility has many health benefits since the more flexible you are, the more resistant to injury you will become. Also, training higher kicks requires a bit more in terms of cardio ability which, in turn, means you will burn more fat during your workouts when you are performing high kicks.

The controversy of high kicks in a kickboxing class really is not something that should be controversial at all. As long as you approach the development of proper flexibility the right way, you will be surprised how flexible you become in a short period of time. You might even become equally amazed at how great of a kickboxer your turn into once you tap into your body's full range of motion.
A Brief Look at Different Styles of Kickboxing

The art of kickboxing has a far greater and lengthier history than most people realize. Kickboxing maintains unique roots and origins in various cultures and the popularity of the sport has had its peak at different points in history. Each and every form of kickboxing has its own set of rules and employs different skills. For those interested in the sport or kickboxing, here is a brief look at the most famous of the kickboxing styles that have developed over the years:

Muay Thai: This is the national sport of Thailand and it is a comprehensive ring sport that entails punching, kicking, throwing, kneeing, elbows, and clinch fighting. This is also an art that is performed barefoot which emphases kicking with the shins. Many consider this the most physically demanding of the kickboxing styles. It helps enhance one's level of toughness tremendously and the many benefits to this art have allowed it to become the most popular kickboxing systems in the world.

Full Contact Karate: Almost forgotten about today, Full Contact was an enormously popular sport in the 1970's. Full Contact combined traditional karate with boxing and became a wildly successful television ratings draw and also packed arenas with fans in major arenas throughout the world.

Savate: Savate is the national sport of France and it remains one of the most interesting of all kickboxing systems. One component which makes it so interesting would be the fact this is an art that employs the use of the shoe. Hitting with the tip of the shoe allows the art to be one that is based on precision striking. Savate is not an easy art to learn but the effort one puts into learning it is well worth it.

Bando: This is a Burmese kickboxing art that is quite similar to Thai Boxing. The difference is boxing gloves are not used. Instead, the hands are wrapped in protective fist wraps. The rules also allow for headbutting which adds to the violence level of this art. Sadly, few people know this method of kickboxing which is why instruction in it is so limited.

K-1: K-1 is known today mostly as an MMA promotion but in the 1990's it was among the hottest kickboxing promotions in Japan. The rules were similar to Muay Thai but many different styles of kickboxing were represented. This allowed the fights to be very exciting.

Shan Shou: This is a Chinese style of kickboxing that spawns from traditional kung fu. What separates this art from other forms of kickboxing is that it puts a lot of emphasis on the sidekick and a great emphasis on throws is stressed.

JKD Kickboxing: JKD is the art of Bruce Lee and this would be considered a subset of it designed to enhance the fencing, boxing, component of the overall art.

MMA Striking: Not a pure form of kickboxing by any means, MMA striking does include quite a bit of kickboxing in it and it is designed to work within the framework of the totality of mixed martial arts.
The Bridge Between Kickboxing and Self-Defense

A common refrain you will hear from self-defense gurus is that kickboxing is not a good art for street self-defense. This is a misguided notion. While there are huge differences between training for the ring and training for self-defense, many of the tools and attributes from kickboxing remain the same. You simply need to adjust your tactics in the appropriate manner in order to achieve the desired results you are interested in.

First, you need to realize that modern kickboxing is more Muay Thai and MMA influenced than it was in the past. This means the emphasis is a bit rawer than prior generations. In modern kickboxing, greater emphasis is placed on the boxing component which means you will be taught to use your hands in a much more effective manner. Kicking is commonly performed with the shin or the foot is employed more for stop hitting and advance or attack.

Furthermore, clinch fighting has been added to the matrix. Within the clinch, you learn a standup version of grappling along with the proper use of elbows and knees which are critical for serious self-defense situations. The MMA influence on kickboxing is huge. Because of this influence, a great deal of grappling and counter-grappling is weaved into kickboxing training. With all these elements added to the mix, you do end up with a truly well rounded standup game which has very few holes in it. Both your offense and your defense will be quite sound.

Sparring adds the needed resistance and experience with dealing with a non-cooperative opponent. This does not mean your sparring sessions have to be intense or competitive. Even a moderately slow pace can yield great skill development and you will need such experiential skill to defend yourself.

To make the bridge to the self-defense arena is not as difficult as you would think. However, you do need to make certain changes. Learning how to strike with bareknuckles is a must since you do not want to run the risk of injuring your hand and wrist. You would also have to adjust your training in order to develop familiarity with a more street oriented opponent. All of these skills can be easily learned without having to change the core martial art of kickboxing. The big changes would center on environmental training, awareness, and yes, the legal issues surrounding self-defense.

Rather than fall prey to conventional wisdom, it would be wiser to look at how kickboxing can help self-defense skills from an unbiased perspective. Once you do this, you will realize how valuable kickboxing can be for self-defense training.

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