Kickboxing is a win-win

Kickboxing is a win-win

Kickboxing is very popular with those people from ConneXu who attend classes led by Joanne Gibson, a black belt practitioner. Six months ago, Jo found there were people wanting to learn kickboxing, so she set up a class in Te Awamutu teaching basic skills of kickboxing within a more flexible class style.

The kickboxing class has been a tremendous success, and already Jo is looking for volunteers to help her run more classes. Jo says there have been multiple benefits for the students.

Confidence has bloomed as the students master techniques step by step, working towards the goal of performing a new move. One young man who had previously been very reserved, even in his own flat, has gained immensely more confidence in every aspect of his life after a month of kickboxing classes. He contributes more confidently to conversations, and Jo has been delighted to hear him laughing along with the rest of the class.

The classes are lively, sociable and fun, as class members who are strangers at the beginning of classes become friends by the end of the session. As well as peer engagement, students forge new links with their community, and everyone is enjoying getting to know each other.

When a new student started recently, Jo could immediately see how much the fitness, strength and coordination of her students had improved. Many of the techniques require concentration – jabs, uppercuts and kicks, which also develop good balance, as well as coordination between the hands and feet. Warm up stretches have helped with the students’ flexibility, and everyone is benefiting from loss of weight resulting from all the exercise. Overall, as Jo expected, the physical and social benefits have been clear.

Of course, so as not to injure each other, kickboxing as a type of exercise needs restraint. On the other hand, enjoying a round with a punch bag is an effective way to work off excess energy, and even pent up anger after a tough day, as a couple of the students have found. If they are obviously unsettled when they come into class, Jo sends them off for a session with the punch bag before beginning the normal routine. That’s an idea that will appeal to many parents!

As with many sports rooted in tradition, kickboxing has its own codes of behaviour which everyone practising the sport must learn. The initial bow signals the beginning of class and settles the students into the quiet listening mode needed to learn and memorise information and sequences. The patterns of movements, names of fellow students, and techniques require concentration – a skill which improves with practice, and another benefit of attending kickboxing class.

One of the students is already training for the Special Olympics swimming team, and found the strength gained from kickboxing has markedly increased her swimming speed.

Above all, fun is the driving motivator that keeps Jo, volunteers and students fully engaged in the kickboxing class. Jo gets a kick out of seeing the enjoyment her pupils get, as well as sharing their satisfaction when they improve. Volunteering for Jo is a two-way street, unlike a proper kickboxing tournament, it’s a win-win for all.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in the kickboxing class, contact us.