subject: St Louis Kickboxing - A Multipurpose Martial Art [print this page] When most people think of kickboxing, the first thing they probably think of is the Taebo exercise tapes created by Billy Blanks that were popular during the 1990s. Although Billy Blanks exercise routine was a mixture of Tae Kwan Do and boxing, it still heavily focused on kicking and punching which is the hallmark of the Kickboxing sport. American Kickboxing has been around since the sixties with Count Dante, Ray Scarica, and Muang Gyi producing the first tournaments in 1962. Unlike some martial arts, kickboxing is a fairly straightforward discipline and can be easily learned at a St. Louis Kickboxing school.
There are several styles of kickboxing that you can learn at St. Louis Kickboxing schools. Adithada is Indian boxing that uses knee, elbow, and forehead strikes. Lethwei is Burmese boxing that includes headbutts. Pradal Serey is from Khmer which, like Muay Thai, emphasizes elbows. Gwon-gyokdo is a Korean kickboxing discipline that mixes Muay Thai and Tae Kwon Do. Savate is French boxing that allows the use of shoes. Sanshou is a form of Chinese boxing that mixes in wushu/kungfu. Shootboxing is a Japanese form of boxing that allows throwing and submission while fighters are standing. Freestyle kickboxing combines Muay Thai, boxing and karate.
Kickboxing can be learned by both men and women. It is a versatile discipline in that students can learn it to compete in tournaments, for self defense, or simply physical fitness. It works the major muscle groups and the heart so those going to a St. Louis kickboxing classes for fitness will definitely lose weight and become more fit. At the same time, the moves can be used to fend off an attacker and make them sorry they ever thought about trying to mug you. Students will learn a variety of punches, kicks, knee offenses, and sometimes even head butts designed to put the opponent out of commission.
Finding a St. Louis kickboxing class is pretty simple. You can join a local dojo like Absolute Martial Arts. Some colleges and universities, like Washington University in St. Louis, may offer it as an elective. You will have to check with the class registration office to find out for sure. This is more beneficial for people wanting to learn kickboxing for fitness reasons. In any case, take your time to learn the right way to do the moves. The last thing you want is to injure yourself.
