Kickboxing, best defined as a combination of boxing and karate, offers up a challenging workout that is sure to kick any personal training program into high gear. Also called cardio kickboxing, this type of exercise does not involve actual sparring with a partner; instead, it’s all about going through the motions, which involve throwing the kicks and punches, revving up your heart rate, and building serious muscle tone. As a professional persaonl trainer, this whole body workout should be a part of your personal training repertoire.
The Components of a Kickboxing Personal Training Program
Kickboxing providing a full-body workout, thanks to karate-type kicks for the lower body and boxing punches for the upper body. The high-energy movement of a kickboxing workout also provides participants with cardio and stamina benefits.
In short, a personal training kickboxing program is designed to increase your clients’ endurance while toning their bodies. A typical kickboxing personal training session will include the following components:
Stretching/warm-up: The warm-up period of a kickboxing session is crucial for loosening the muscles, slowly increasing the heart rate, and lowering the risk of injury from the kickboxing workout.
Punching: The punching component of a kickboxing workout may include use of heavy bags, speed bags, or pads. You will encourage your clients to try a combination of punches, following your demonstration of proper form and technique. Punches, which include jabs, hooks, and a combination of the two, are designed to tone the upper arms, shoulders, chest, and back. The process of punching for a period of two to five minutes (at different intervals) will allow your clients to get their hearts pumping.
Kicking: The three, primary kicks of kickboxing are front, side, and roundhouse kicks. Your clients can complete the kicking component of the kickboxing session by kicking a heavy bag, pads, or a punching dummy. Through the completion of kicks for two to five minutes, your clients will tone their legs and buttocks, while at the same time improving their balance and flexibility.
Core Training: A kickboxing routine will include both the abs and back muscles through the completion of crunches and side bends. Core training exercises will be interspersed with kicking and punching exercises.
Benefits of Kickboxing
Your personal training clients are sure to enjoy a number of benefits from a kickboxing workout.
Specifically, kickboxing as a fitness program:
- Can burn more than 500 calories in an hour-long session
- Targets all major muscle groups, thus providing a full-body workout
- Provides stress relief
- Boosts energy
- Improves coordination and balance
- Provides a fun alternative to traditional fitness programs
- Provides a high-intensity, high-impact workout
- Provides cardiovascular benefits (decreased blood pressure, decreased cholesterol, weight loss, increased endurance)
How to Become a Personal Trainer Specializing in Kickboxing
To become a personal trainer who specializes in kickboxing, you must first become educated in the field of physical fitness, which is typically accomplished through the completion of an associate or bachelor degree in personal training or a related area, such as:
- Exercise science
- Exercise physiology
- Fitness and health
- Kinesiology
In addition to providing a comprehensive foundation in the liberal arts and biological sciences, a relevant degree program consists of a core set of courses that are focused on physical fitness and exercise training:
- Care and prevention of athletic injuries
- Human anatomy and physiology for the health professional
- Nutrition for the physically active
- Exercise physiology
- Foundation of physical conditioning
- Principles of strength and training
Many associate and bachelor degrees in personal training-related programs culminate in a clinical experience that is completed under the supervision of an experienced fitness professional.
In addition to, or in lieu of, a degree program, you may choose to earn professional certification.
In addition to general personal training certification, you may choose to pursue certification in kickboxing, thereby allowing you to earn a reputation as a kickboxing fitness expert:
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, Kickboxing Certification
- American Fitness Professionals Association, Cardio Kickboxing Instructor
- FiTOUR, Kickboxing Certification
- American Sports and Fitness Association, Kickbox/Step Aerobic Instructor Certification
- Kickboxing Fitness Institute, Certified Kickboxing Fitness Trainer
- International Fitness Association, Kickboxing Instructor
- International Sports Conditioning Association, Kick Boxing Level I, II
- American Fitness and Nutrition Academy, Kickboxing