When people think of kickboxing, they often associate it with MMA fighters covered in blood, beating each other to a pulp. If you’re simply taking a fitness kickboxing class as a great cardio workout, you won’t become the next Anderson Silva in class and suffer a gruesome leg injury. Here are 5 misconceptions people have about kickboxing:
- Women get “ bulky”
A lot of women are afraid of doing kickboxing on a regular basis due to the fear of “bulking” up. Although kickboxing helps to build and tone muscle, you won’t become a bodybuilder simply by going to kickboxing classes on a regular basis. Kickboxing actually has an opposite effect on women – instead of bulking up, it enhances your feminine curves and gives you a boost in confidence.
- You get injured easily
Fitness kickboxing classes aren’t like what you see in the movie “Fight Club” – you won’t get a black eye or break a limb from attending the class. Since the classes are non-contact and take place in a controlled environment, you’re more likely to hurt yourself walking on the street rather than in a fitness kickboxing class.
- It promotes violence
Kickboxing doesn’t promote violence. Yes, if you practice it competitively, it is a full-contact sport. But like other forms of martial arts, kickboxing actually promotes focus and discipline. Professional MMA fights may look violent, but keep in mind that these shows are designed for entertainment purposes.
- You have to be super fit
Fitness kickboxing may look like an intense cardio workout, but at Urban Martial Arts, the classes are designed to accommodate all kinds of people, including beginners. You can go at your own pace to slowly build up your stamina. If you go too hard in the first class, you may become traumatized by the exhaustion and muscle pain and never go back to class again.
- It’s full of “sweaty men”
Some TV shows and movies may portray kickboxing as a “man’s sport” by showing a bunch of half-naked, sweaty men battling it out in the ring in dirty old gyms, but nowadays there are plenty of clean and modern facilities (like Urban Martial Arts!) that offer fitness kickboxing classes for men and women. Kickboxing actually has numerous benefits for women, as it is a great stress reliever and you can get a lean and toned body from the workout.