[Like The Roman]

This is an email I received from the instructor:

"Our style utilises a Western Boxing stance, guard and punches with Kickboxing kicks, though there are some Muay Thai kicks and traditional Martial Arts parrys/blocks added in too."

Does this sound like a good mix?

By the way - I´m new on here, and just thought I´d give you a few details about me: I´m 28, from a traditional karate background, though a few years ago I boxed for around six months - and was very impressed with WB. Now I´d like to try kickboxing for fitness and self-defence.

[bamboo]

Try it out and ask politely to spar with the instructor.
Sparring with him shuld give you a nice gauge on how well what they do works. I'm doing the same next week ata couple of grappling gyms.

-bamboo

[Like The Roman]

Originally Posted by bamboo

Try it out and ask politely to spar with the instructor.
Sparring with him shuld give you a nice gauge on how well what they do works. I'm doing the same next week ata couple of grappling gyms.

-bamboo

Good idea, though I have only ever boxed full-contact - never kickboxed. Kumite was always (supposed) to be semi-contact - if you drew blood from your opponent you were deducted points, disqualified, so I´ll be óut of my depths, really.

[zefff]

Hahaha! Ask to spar? Man you will get slapped up straight! I can see it now...it all goes quiet except for one or two sharp intakes of breath from disbelieving students...they all draw back and form a loose cicle... instructor gives a little laugh like "Ha!" before accepting...you square up and the bout begins....you throw a light jab and maybe a front snap kick then......WATAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! He flys in with a spinning, hook kick to your head, Muay Thai clicnh for some Anderson Silva style knees to your Rich Franklin like nose, followed by a running, flying side kick to your ribs and it all ends with him jumping on your head and groin!

Here is what happened to the last guy: You are Bob Wall BTW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1z7ELBVK6k

[bamboo]

Meh, I've done it before and frankly I'm just sick of guys that talk a great game but suck.

If your not comfy with the teacher ask to go with a student...

[Triple T]

Originally Posted by Like The Roman

"Our style utilises a Western Boxing stance, guard and punches with Kickboxing kicks, though there are some Muay Thai kicks and traditional Martial Arts parrys/blocks added in too."

This sounds like a very typical, straightforward "American" Kickboxing school. All kickboxing gyms in the States that are not labeled as Muay Thai have curricula that sound just like this. On paper. The proof of the pudding is in the taste, as they say, so swing by the gym and observe a class. Ask if they have something like a "trial" period where maybe you can get a class or two for free without committing to the school.

Expect full-contact with safety equipment, bag work, agility drills and a round structure all similar to your boxing training. Welcome to the forum.

[Gazelle]

Originally Posted by Triple T

This sounds like a very typical, straightforward "American" Kickboxing school. All kickboxing gyms in the States that are not labeled as Muay Thai have curricula that sound just like this. On paper. The proof of the pudding is in the taste, as they say, so swing by the gym and observe a class. Ask if they have something like a "trial" period where maybe you can get a class or two for free without committing to the school.

Expect full-contact with safety equipment, bag work, agility drills and a round structure all similar to your boxing training. Welcome to the forum.

Sounds similar to what we had in our syllabus too, apart from my teacher was from a kung fu background (unfortunately he didn't teach that there anyore), but, yes, we did the same punches boxers do, but our 'training' was less focussed on our arms, than i think it was with boxers. The boxing does suggest it will be less semi-contact based than what i did, but, obviously, they'll be light sparring, and, yes, definately lots of bags. You will hopefully notice a difference between boxing and kickboxing training though...you do a lot more kicks in drills, and a lot more leg training (surprisingly enough), you'll probably get slow kicks too...everybodies favourite.

As far as self defense goes...there may be some specific self-defense techniques integrated into the syllabus, though, they're normally requirements for higher grades, in my limited experience. The actual 'kickboxing' itself, depending on how one draws that line, you'll generally find that there are better things for self-defence, i believe. We were always taught, and, it does makes sense, that, realistically in a self defense situation the only kicks that you would probably get in would be maybe ones around shins/knees, and possibly some 'kneeing' too, as it's generally close up, which, sort of make the majority of the kicks, in the majority of situations void of use. The punching techniques, being that they are basically what you do in boxing (though if it is like what we did you will do a couple that boxing don't that could be useful, but being that your from karate background, you've probably done them in some form or other already), so you can pretty much judge for yourself how useful they'd be. The parrying and blocks could come in handy, but, generally, i think the more useful self-defense techniques (though, i think that training in something generally helps at any rate) are generally only taught with that purpose in mind, and normally out of the context which i think the instructor described. Basically, given what they've said, i'm not sure how much better for self-defense it would be, given karate and boxing background it will be, but, still, hard to judge from a few lines of writing. The best things to do would be to go and see. And, if it's not, should be good for your general fitness (the smile more apt than the yellow ones, besides, colour pretty cool).

Well, i reckon that's no help, but, there we are, i tried.lol.

[The BadBoy]

If you want good kickboxing find a Muay Thai gym. you'll get good powerful punches and solid kicks aswell as a good clinch game for striking.

A coach doesn't have to be a good fighter, he has to be a good coach. if you want to spar with someone then ask to spar with a senior student but keep in mind he is more than likely gonna try to take your head of for having thenerve to ask if they are any good.

Also take a look at the ability of teh senior students, are they all just attribute junkies or do they have some thought, technique and conceptual process in what they are doing. Not easy for a begginer to spot though, so here are a few tips. Are they bobbing and weaving slipping everything or do they actually have a tight defense to go with all the movement. Are their techniques sharp and tight or loose. When they parry do they overextend? When sparring do they turn their heads away from punches?

[bamboo]

I know MT is considered on the best if not teh best by many people but at least try the american kickboxing class. It seems to me that everyone and their mom is doing MT now.

In the ring setting, whenever you see someone really good that doesn't go cookie cutter (BJJ + MT + wrestling takedowns) you end up with quite the show. Anyone remember vitor vs. sak? Maurice smith?

-bamboo

[Triple T]

Furthermore, the ultimate "father" of most American kickboxing schools is Joe Lewis, a huge figure in full-contact karate and collaborator of Bruce Lee. While very few gyms these days bother to tell you where their lineage lies, if you're in the English speaking world, and the gym isn't labeled specifically for Muay Thai or Sanshou, it's probably American kickboxing. The significance being that Joe, like Bruce, was aware of hard hitting styles like MT without being swayed by them. The typical jab should be direct and snappy, showing the Wing Chun influences, and kicks have a tad bit more utility than the sledge hammers that MT people call kicks. Although, your clinh game may suffer since neither full-contact karate nor kickboxing (outside of MT) really want the clinch. They want to see expertly executed strikes. If you have plans of using this training in an MMA format, be sure to crosstrain a tad so you can get used to clinch situations.