Before we delve further into the answer, here are two very brief and to the point statements for the answer: There really is no requirement to possess any level of flexibility when you start a kickboxing program.
Beginners will look at a kickboxing match where a lot of head kicks are performed and will assume they need a high level of flexibility to take part in a kickboxing class.
The amount of flexibility you need will depend on the style of kickboxing you are taking part in.
In today’s gyms, the most commonly taught kickboxing art is Muay Thai which puts more emphasis on low and mid-line kicks.
Kickboxing arts such as savate and full contact karate have greater emphasis on head kicks but they are rarely taught in gyms because most gyms are more Muay Thai and MMA centric.
The controversy of high kicks in a kickboxing class really is not something that should be controversial at all.
You might even become equally amazed at how great of a kickboxer your turn into once you tap into your body’s full range of motion.
A Brief Look at Different Styles of Kickboxing The art of kickboxing has a far greater and lengthier history than most people realize.
Kickboxing maintains unique roots and origins in various cultures and the popularity of the sport has had its peak at different points in history.
Savate: Savate is the national sport of France and it remains one of the most interesting of all kickboxing systems.
K-1: K-1 is known today mostly as an MMA promotion but in the 1990’s it was among the hottest kickboxing promotions in Japan.
The rules were similar to Muay Thai but many different styles of kickboxing were represented.
MMA Striking: Not a pure form of kickboxing by any means, MMA striking does include quite a bit of kickboxing in it and it is designed to work within the framework of the totality of mixed martial arts.
The Bridge Between Kickboxing and Self-Defense A common refrain you will hear from self-defense gurus is that kickboxing is not a good art for street self-defense.
While there are huge differences between training for the ring and training for self-defense, many of the tools and attributes from kickboxing remain the same.
First, you need to realize that modern kickboxing is more Muay Thai and MMA influenced than it was in the past.
In modern kickboxing, greater emphasis is placed on the boxing component which means you will be taught to use your hands in a much more effective manner.
All of these skills can be easily learned without having to change the core martial art of kickboxing.
Rather than fall prey to conventional wisdom, it would be wiser to look at how kickboxing can help self-defense skills from an unbiased perspective.
Once you do this, you will realize how valuable kickboxing can be for self-defense training.
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