When you’re serious about dedicating time to the gym and fitness classes, one question always comes to mind: Is this really a good workout? If you’ve never tried a kickboxing class before, but are considering taking one, this question is very likely at the top of your mind. While there’s a lot of general information about the benefits of kickboxing workouts out there, they don’t always give you the data you need to make your decision. Fear not, we’ve compiled it here:
One fundamental weight loss principle is to burn more calories than you consume, creating a deficit. According to the American Journal of Physiology, aerobic exercise (like kickboxing!) is better at reducing belly fat than resistance training - it burns a whopping 67 percent more calories. In fact, in a 50 minute kickboxing workout, you can expect to burn 430 to 600 calories. And depending how the class is structured, your calorie burn won’t stop there: a class that follows the High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) methodology will “prolong the burn” for hours after you finish working out.
We don’t all have time to train for a marathon and we don’t all want to (but if you do, power to you. Kickboxing is a great cross-training opportunity.). An efficient workout may be a more realistic option that you can stick to over time. If you can spend an hour in a kickboxing class, three days a week, you’re looking at burning an extra 1500 calories in less than three percent of your waking hours.
Just as kickboxing offers an efficient calorie burn, it also provides an efficient way to work out your whole body. While it may be obvious that a kickboxing workout will target your arms and legs, the moves you perform also work your core and back. You’ll be focusing on form with punches and kicks but reaping the benefits all over. You’ll also see better balance (from all that core work) and improved coordination.
Physical activity is known to reduce stress across demographics, and the punches and strikes of a kickboxing class don’t disappoint. One key is the impact of exercise on releasing endorphins - those happy hormones that make you feel great, even during an intense workout. They’re the ones responsible for the “runner’s high” you might have heard about.
In addition to the general endorphin release you’ll experience, you’ll get an extra boost from working out in a group: researchers at the the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology found that group exercise actually increases the effect of endorphins.
So, is kickboxing a good workout? You’ll certainly burn calories, get fit, relieve stress and have fun, but you don’t have to rely on theoretical data to find out - instead, get out there and try a kickboxing workout!
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