Kick Your Way To A Fit And Healthy Body

By Author: Josh Brennon
Total Articles: 37
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Although it has been practiced in Asia for more than a thousand of years; the sport of kickboxing as we know now it only started in the 1970s. Before, it was limited to being a form of competitive sport. These days, kickboxing is more than that. One of the current trends to lose weight and promote health is cardiovascular kickboxing.

Also called aerobic kickboxing, it offers total body workout and toning. This does not hurt anyone -- except yourself when done carelessly, as you don't need a partner to exchange kicks with. Just make sure that you do your routines with force to feel the effects of the moves.

This is usually composed of 30 minutes to an hour of kicks, punches, knee and elbow strikes, and other self-defense moves. Often, kickboxing workouts include jumping jacks, abdominal crunches, leg lifts and other traditional exercises to achieve overall body conditioning.

The Pros and Cons of Kickboxing
Cardio kickboxing derives its name from the fact that it targets cardiovascular fitness. Aside from that, it improves your coordination, balance and endurance. This is great for weight loss, too, ...
... as it can burn up to 400 calories per hour. As has been discovered by the Asians a long time ago, kickboxing de-stresses you and gives you a sense of calm and freedom.
You must be careful when doing cardio kickboxing, though. As this could be a high-intensity exercise, muscle soreness and joint injury may be incurred when the moves are done incorrectly. Also, just like in all other exercise programs, 10-15 minutes of warm-up and cool-down sessions are important to prepare the muscles and avoid injury.

Get the Most from Kickboxing
To get the full extent of the benefits of cardio kickboxing, remember that patience is vital. Do not jump on advanced kickboxing programs when you have not tried the beginner's level yet. Unless you have been doing other forms of exercise, it is important to introduce your muscles to the routines before subjecting them to this high-impact program.

If you can't join classes due to conflicts in schedules, find the best workout videos that you can use at home. Cardio kickboxing does not require too much of space and can be done right in your living room. This is also a good option for those who are afraid or too shy to try it in class for the first time.

Whether you do cardio kickboxing in a class of 20 or alone at home with a video, remember to keep your eye on the goal and just continue throwing your punches and kicks towards a fit and healthy body.
Getting healthy can be fun. Try anything from Tony Horton he is the most fun personal trainer I've used. The PX90 is one of his cool videos.