How long to get good at it?

[KT2002]

How long would it take to get started in kickboxing and actually be good at it? I'm not talking about going out and fighting CHuck Liddell but just to have a good understanding of everything and be able to throw good solid punches and kicks. I have heard around 4 months. Thanks

[gregimotis]

It's pretty much impossible to answer that question. Some guys pick it up real fast, others take a lot of work. Some coaches train their people hard and well, others don't really care.



Four months, four or five days a week with roadwork and good sparring partners would probably give someone a solid understanding of the situation and the conditioning to use it. Another four months and four or five amatuer fights would take that person to another level entirely (nowhere near Chuck Lidell status, of course).

On the other hand; four months two or three days a week without roadwork and spotty sparring might be enough to make a person look good on the heavy bag but not give them any usable skill against a properly trained opponent.

[isukgrar]

I think it is also depends on number of fights that you have during the time. You maybe able to learn quickly if you have chance to have many fights in shorter time and learn from that. It may take years to be good at it if you have no chance to make some real fights.

[Little Apple]

Do people usually fight that soon though? We train 2-3 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, and I couldn't imagine our newbies in a fight. That's just mean, there are some tanks out there.

Though come to think of it, if a guy has a fight, or wants to fight, our instructer will train them with that in mind and get them as good as possible in the time they've got. It sacrafices the little things though, and it's mind-bendingly hard training. Otherwise he recomends 3 years before a fight.

Do people go into a fight just for experiance, like as a learning thing? You'd think they'd want to be ready.

[Python]

On the other hand; four months two or three days a week without roadwork and spotty sparring might be enough to make a person look good on the heavy bag but not give them any usable skill against a properly trained opponent.

I think that all depends on the instructor. If a student listens well, puts forth 110% effort, and has an outstanding work ethic, I can have him/her ready to bang in 3 or 4 months at 3 to 4 times per week. It does vary...some I won't let in the ring because they just don't get it...some get it quick...some want to so I give them a chance to gain that experience and some "think" they are ready so I let them do it so they can realize how much more work they need. At the amateur level, in my opinion, it is all a learning process and the experience is priceless. The student's first fight let's me know where his/her heart is, how their skill level has improved and what we need to focus on more. The heart is the big thing in my eyes for a new student/fighter...many say they want to be a fighter but they have no clue what they want when it comes down to it...it looks much easier sitting outside the ropes yelling at the athletes. Once you don the gloves and get in the ring for your first time...in begins to sink in. I don't mean sparring either.

Many get in there and don't do so well, or get banged up a bit, and decide it is not for them. But some just want it so bad they are so determined. I have a student who is off to college this year. She had her first fight at 16 and it was an exhibition with a girl who was very tough and was 6-1, also the IKF National Champ. My girl got beat up pretty good, sore jaw, black eyes, sore ribs, fat lip.....She was in class the following week ready to learn. I caught hell from other students for putting her in there knowing what could possible happen. Well, she was better and stronger for it and took training serious. She ended up going 2-2 before leaving this fall. I was very proud of her work ethic and how big her heart was. Very few have those qualities.

Anyway, sorry to ramble.......it all boils down to the instructor, the student, and the schedule. You can learn as fast as you want, time permitting.

[sportmuaythai]

How long would it take to get started in kickboxing and actually be good at it? I'm not talking about going out and fighting CHuck Liddell but just to have a good understanding of everything and be able to throw good solid punches and kicks. I have heard around 4 months. Thanks

From what I've observed, if you train at a good camp in Thailand, a slightly above average athletic person can learn muaythai and progress to where he may have his baptized bout after two months of training. This is twice a day, six days a week of training. The reason I stress Thailand is because here, the training at good camps is one on one with pad work being the core of your learning. After three weeks, you should be able to spar, and after five weeks, you can start to learn clinching, and practice round house leg kick.
I'm talking here about a completely newbie to muaythai.