Sore. Sweaty. Thirsty. Tired. Bleeding. Satisfaction.
These are all adjectives that immediately came to mind after I finished my first kickboxing lesson. I felt like I had accomplished more in that hour than I have accomplished in the average week, and I had a small pond of sweat in the spot I was working out in to prove it. My clothes clung to my sweaty frame, and since I had no wraps or gloves, my knuckles were bloodied from the bare-handed bagwork I was doing.
For anyone who is unsure of the martial art I was doing, I was doing Muay Thai - what most people know as kickboxing. I'm not looking to start a street fight (I've been in enough to know they're not something you ever want to look for), I'm just an ordinary guy trying to learn a few skills to protect myself and my loved ones. In addition, it's a great fat burning workout! You're constantly throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, interspersed with pushups, situps and stretches.
I recommend any kind of martial art to those trying to lose weight. Fighting need not be the primary concern of an aspiring martial artist - the real advantage are to body and mind. Tai Chi, Wushu, Yoga and Tae Bo are all useful for relieving stress and improving one's physical condition, and can be utilized by anyone, even the elderly.
What I take, Muay Thai, is not the optimal choice for everyone. It is a striking art and is ideal for a stand-up street fight. It also relies on brute strength and physical conditioning, rendering it completely unusable for anyone who isn't in shape.
So my advice to anyone trying to lose weight, improve themselves or learn self-defense skills is to select a martial art that suits you. Remember, you're unique - you need to find the martial art that suits you.
Just one word of advice though - skip karate. As a former karate student, I can say that it is completely useless in practical application.
These are all adjectives that immediately came to mind after I finished my first kickboxing lesson. I felt like I had accomplished more in that hour than I have accomplished in the average week, and I had a small pond of sweat in the spot I was working out in to prove it. My clothes clung to my sweaty frame, and since I had no wraps or gloves, my knuckles were bloodied from the bare-handed bagwork I was doing.
For anyone who is unsure of the martial art I was doing, I was doing Muay Thai - what most people know as kickboxing. I'm not looking to start a street fight (I've been in enough to know they're not something you ever want to look for), I'm just an ordinary guy trying to learn a few skills to protect myself and my loved ones. In addition, it's a great fat burning workout! You're constantly throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, interspersed with pushups, situps and stretches.
I recommend any kind of martial art to those trying to lose weight. Fighting need not be the primary concern of an aspiring martial artist - the real advantage are to body and mind. Tai Chi, Wushu, Yoga and Tae Bo are all useful for relieving stress and improving one's physical condition, and can be utilized by anyone, even the elderly.
What I take, Muay Thai, is not the optimal choice for everyone. It is a striking art and is ideal for a stand-up street fight. It also relies on brute strength and physical conditioning, rendering it completely unusable for anyone who isn't in shape.
So my advice to anyone trying to lose weight, improve themselves or learn self-defense skills is to select a martial art that suits you. Remember, you're unique - you need to find the martial art that suits you.
Just one word of advice though - skip karate. As a former karate student, I can say that it is completely useless in practical application.
