Kickboxing Questions (im new!)

[Harry]

Hi im new here, and first let me congratulate you on having such a great forum, everyone seems to be nice and friendly
Lets see if I can change that.
I have some questions about kickboxing, im starting on friday.

1) I read that if your 5ft9 or under, you might not have enough leg 'reach' to execute kicks properly, Im a few milimeters over 5ft8 but im only 16 so is this going to be a problem?

2) Ive never done any martial arts before, and although im quite fit, my legs dont currently reach any higher than my bellybutton without hurting.

3) I know this will vary from gym to gym, but what should I expect on the first session, should I expect just to be evaluated for 'potential' or taught some basic techniques, stances and such, or even to be thrown into a very light spar with basic techniques?

4) One again, a question thats not easy to answer, but how long does it take on average to amount to a 'kickboxer' and not just someone whoose learning, I appriciate that everyone is still learning in one form or another, even the instructor, but by this question, I mean, how long roughly before I can expect to be ready to start full contact? with all of the major techniques

5) I read that after about 2 years, a kickboxer can stand a good chance in full contact against a karate black belt, I know this depends on many factors, but is it generaly true, Im not slagging off karate, but im more asking, does kickboxing allow for a faster access into competitions than other arts?

6) Im also learning for self defense, and I understand that kickboxing might do nothing more than teach me a few techniques I can use in the street and get me a little more used to pain and adrenaline, is it reccomended to take two arts at a time to supplement each other, or would I be best taking one after im at a good kickboxing stage?

7) What can I do to prepare, I have 3 days, should I continue with my 'workout' (6 miles on exercise bike a night at 20mph or above constant, forearm weight thing (its like a pully) scissor grip till fatigue everynight, and 20lbs dumbells every 3 nights) Should I continue this, or should I leave it and give myself a chance to rest for a painful first lesson.

Anyway, thankyou for any advice, and if this is answered in another thread, please direct me to it, and you have my sincere apologies.

Thanks.

[Tom Yum]

Go to class. Keep an open mind, do what your instructor tells you, work hard and have fun. repeat.

Good luck!

[Karate_kid]

In my first lesson when i went to Muay Thai i was put in the ring straight off, Luckily after doing karate for awhile and was farely good at fighting i ended up beating the guy, And i reckon doing karate before i went to muay thai was a great help seeing it gave me flexibility, fitness and good kicks. I still do karate and i think it helps me alot with timing and other things.

[Harry]

Thanks for the replies, Im hoping I dont get put straight into a fight, because when I get into a situation that involves fighting my natural reaction is grappling and submission moves, so I at least hope I get taught some basic techniques so I dont look like a fool, thanks, I'll update this thread with anything interesting that happened on friday night

[dirtynewb]

I'll chime in here, and maybe answer some of your questions. in kickboxing size doesnt matter, so dont worry about being a little short. And yes the learning curve for kickboxing, is faster than some of the other MA's out there, but to be good it is going to take awhile. So for best results follow the simple rules that Tom Yum gave you above

[SteveMuayThai]

So wait are you doing american style kickboxing, or muay thai? Because 2 years of muay thai, not only would you be able to beat a black belt of karate, you would be able to mop the floor with him.

[Harry]

So wait are you doing american style kickboxing, or muay thai? Because 2 years of muay thai, not only would you be able to beat a black belt of karate, you would be able to mop the floor with him.

American, in in the UK so there are pretty much no muay thai places that i know of within 320 miles
Sorry about this but im really confused, on this forum and from my thai boxing friends Ive learnt that american kickboxing doesnt deal in blows to the legs, however I read a site somewhere, will post the url If I can find it, stating that american kb uses kicks to the legs.

[Tom Yum]

American Kickboxing is kind of a misnomer, because it can mean alot of things. It used to mean full contact karate, where fighters could punch and kick, but only above the waste.

Today there seems to be 3 different kinds of American kickboxing venues:

1. Kicks and punches only above the waste. Alot of these guys originally come from Tae Kwon do, Tang Soo Do, Karate, Kung fu backgrounds, so they know how to kick but have to learn the upper body techniques and foot work of boxing.

2. Same as 1, except they allow thai kicks to the thigh (sometimes sweeps too). This style seems to attract boxers whom only have to learn to use and defend the Thai kick, who allready have some experience boxing. They seem to be tougher than the guys from 1, but have equal technique. It also attracts muay thai fighters who want to compete and get some experience.

3. Same as 1 and 2, but you can knee kick to the body from the clinch. Most of these guys seem the toughest; they come from serious muay thai and sanshou backgrounds. Its not exactly full muay thai rules (no elbows or knees to the head, but still gets the American Kickboxing classification).

You can still train at a muay thai gym and compete at any of these venues, but people don't consider it muay thai unless it allows elbows, knees to the head, and clinch work. Real professional muay thai fighters are monsters!! They train at a whole different level then us rec. fighters.

[Harry]

American Kickboxing is kind of a misnomer, because it can mean alot of things. It used to mean full contact karate, where fighters could punch and kick, but only above the waste.

Today there seems to be 3 different kinds of American kickboxing venues:

1. Kicks and punches only above the waste. Alot of these guys originally come from Tae Kwon do, Tang Soo Do, Karate, Kung fu backgrounds, so they know how to kick but have to learn the upper body techniques and foot work of boxing.

2. Same as 1, except they allow thai kicks to the thigh (sometimes sweeps too). This style seems to attract boxers whom only have to learn to use and defend the Thai kick, who allready have some experience boxing. They seem to be tougher than the guys from 1, but have equal technique. It also attracts muay thai fighters who want to compete.

3. Same as 1 and 2, but you can knee kick to the body from the clinch. Most of these guys seem the toughest; they come from serious muay thai and sanshou backgrounds. Its not exactly full muay thai rules (no elbows or knees to the head, but still gets the American Kickboxing classification).

You can still train at a muay thai gym and compete at any of these venues, but people don't consider it muay thai unless it allows elbows, knees to the head, and clinch work. Real professional muay thai fighters are monsters!! They train at a whole different level then us rec. fighters.

Thanks for that, Im not sure what the place im going to be training at does in relation to below the waist, but im kinda hoping there is some work done on that.
Thanks!

[CHOKE UK]

Harry Tom yum has given you some good info.

The best thing is always to see for yourself.

Things rarely turn out the way you may imagine them.

So dont worry, the size of your legs etc,
is not a factor.

The fact you have not done previous striking arts can be an advantage, as you have no bad habits, however you are starting from scratch.

Try not to prejudge it.
Simply go and look at the club and as many others as possible and watch carefully what they do and how they train.

unlike many other arts that concentrate on perfect-looking techniques etc
Mt and and good kickboxing doesnt work that way.

More important is, Fitness, speed, power, application, strategy etc.

you have mad a better choice for a first art than many!
good luck

[Harry]

you have mad a better choice for a first art than many!
good luck

Ive had my first lesson today, and im more than happy I chose kickboxing, I found it challenging, fun and I went away feeling that Id learnt alot, I was also impressed at myself, I was more flexible than I had previously believed.

[CHOKE UK]

Harry, what was it kickboxing or Muay Thai?

what kind of things did you do?

[Tcell]

Here's a link for some UK MT clubs.

Muay Thai UK

Hope this is of some use.

Cheers Jez

[Harry]

Harry, what was it kickboxing or Muay Thai?

what kind of things did you do?

Im really not sure, when I asked the instructor afterwards (I had assumed it was American kickboxing) he informed me that they taught normal kickboxing techniques, but they also taught elbows and knee's just in case you got into a competition using them.

In the lesson, we did the warm up thingy, then they had people getting ready to be graded so it was a quick go through the syllabus, he'd demonstrate a move to the beginners and then he'd get us to preform it on the count of one, checking each person individually and correcting them if it was wrong.
Then, those who wished to spar went and did so, whilst everyone else (mostly beginners) were taught more techniques such as low roundhouses and uppercuts he'd once again check that each person was getting the move right, and making sure everyone kept their guards up whilst preforming kicks.

Then we watched the end of the sparring for a few minutes before we disbanded.
It was great, I ache like hell but I cant wait till tommorrow

To Tcell : I spent a whole week calling around trying to find a Muay Thai club in my area, then I spend 30 seconds on that website and find one in my hometown! lol
Thats a great help, im going to stick with where I am for a little while and see how things go, if I still love it, I'll stay and then in a few years im wanting to move onto something like Muay Thai, if I suddenly change my opinion on the place im going, I might change to the place on that website.
Thanks.

[sirmattu]

American, in in the UK so there are pretty much no muay thai places that i know of within 320 miles
Sorry about this but im really confused, on this forum and from my thai boxing friends Ive learnt that american kickboxing doesnt deal in blows to the legs, however I read a site somewhere, will post the url If I can find it, stating that american kb uses kicks to the legs.

dont worry muay thai really over rated