Muay Thai Kickboxing is the ultimate martial arts fitness program. One of the greatest UFC champions Georges St. Pierre said that he stayed in shape doing Muay Thai. Training in Muay Thai will not just get you in great shape. It is also a great self defense system. It is call the Art of the 8 Limbs because you will learn to defend your self using both hands, elbows, knees and legs.
So many people today are turning to kickboxing to get fit. And why not kickboxing done in 3 minute rounds increments is a good HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout. There are numerous kickboxing and boxing franchise opening throughout the country. Most of these kickboxing franchises might be owned by martial artist yet are run by aerobics instructors and PE teachers. This in turn creates bad techniques and injuries.
Kickboxing for fitness trainers should have a background in kickboxing. The trainer should be able to perform the technique and be in great shape. If it doesn’t work for him or her why would you think it work for you. At Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense we have numerous fitness programs and our instructors are fully certified. Our Muay Thai program is the most popular. I’m a certified Kru full instructor equivalent to being a black belt instructor in Muay Thai Kickboxing. At 59 years old Muay Thai keeps me in great shape.
There is nothing new under the sun. Kickboxing for fitness has been around since the 90’s. I remember bringing Fitness Kickboxing to Doral in the summer of 1998. We were the first cardio kickboxing style program in North Miami Dade County.
The late nineties to early 2000’s was the peak of the kickboxing for fitness craze. By the end of the year in 1998 a student of mine came and told me that she had seen me on TV. I told her that I was not on TV. So, she said well theirs this black guy selling videos just like what you are teaching. That was Billy Blanks who actually was the person that started the craze and brought martial arts and fitness together doing cardio kickboxing. He called it Tae Bo. I had the honor and pleasure of training with Billy Blanks in the beginning of 1999. Billy was an amazing instructor and in great shape.
Yet, with all the good comes some bad. Originally most fitness kickboxing classes where conducted in martial arts schools by martial artist certified in kickboxing for fitness. My wife and I were both certified in Fitness Kickboxing, Kardio Karate and Cardio Karate. Even though I had trained in boxing I took it a step further and took private kickboxing lessons from World Boxing and Kickboxing Champion James Warring. Tai Bo became largest fitness craze ever. All gyms and health clubs wanted to offer this new fitness class. The health club industry started to do 2 day certification that aerobic instructors could do over the weekend and start teaching it at the local health spa. The problem was that you can not teach proper boxing punches and martial arts kicks to instructors over a weekend. With the surge of unqualified instructors lots of injuries took place. There is nothing new under the sun. Today’s unqualified instructors are injuring their students. If you are looking for a fun functional fitness program give me a call, mention Ciudad Doral for a free class.
Julio Anta is the owner of Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense established in Doral since 1998. You can contact him at 305 599-3649 or via the internet at AntaMartialArts.com
"
Comments