Kickboxing: From Initiation To Knockout

Knowing how to box is not enough if you want to call yourself a kickboxer. Since kickboxing combines kicks and strikes, we will now look at the three basic kicks: the front kick, roundhouse kick, and side thrust kick. Which kick you use depends on your position, on your distance to the target, and on what you are trying to accomplish. The benefit of a kick over a punch is that you can reach any target on your opponent's body. While the hands can be used for punching to the head and body, the legs can be used for kicking to the head, body, and legs. In this sense, kicks are more versatile than punches. All kicks can be thrown with the lead or rear leg. In general, your lead leg is used much like the jab: to gauge distance. Since your lead leg is closer to the target than your rear leg, it is faster and needs less movement. Your rear leg, by contrast, has the potential to create a more powerful kick. Throughout your training, we will explore those kicks that are the most practical for competition kickboxing, and learn their application from beginning to advanced stages. Kickboxing: From Initiation To Knockout comprises a series of short books with focus on learning specific techniques and strategies for the exciting sport of competition kickboxing. With plenty of pictures, each book breaks the material down into bite-size pieces that allow you to practice to perfection.

Kickboxing employs some devastating lower and upper body attacks. The cut kick (also called a leg kick), is designed to "cut" through the target, immobilize your opponent, and destroy his foundation. A kickboxer who can't stand can't fight. Therefore, upon the successful completion of the cut kick, the fight ends. Two of the most powerful strikes you will ever use in kickboxing are the knee and the elbow. The knee is capable of inflicting severe damage. Since some kickboxing tournaments allow elbow strikes (generally, if pads are worn), it also benefits the kickboxer to learn fighting according to Muay Thai rules. The beauty of the elbow strike is its devastating power and the difficulty defending against it. The small, hard bone of the elbow translates into a devastating striking weapon. The elbow's proximity to the body makes this primarily a short range technique. The sweep is yet a good short range technique you can use to unbalance your opponent and set him up for the finishing strike. A sweep is essentially a low kick to your opponent's leg. Separating his legs with a sweep opens his centerline to strikes. On the centerline are some of the most vulnerable targets: nose, chin, chest, and solar plexus.