When it comes to kickboxing, the physical body benefits are easy to see, even for someone who has never tried it. As a stand-up combat sport that involves punching, kicking, and footwork, kickboxing is the ultimate calorie torcher that results in some serious sweat and body strength!
But what about what’s happening underneath the surface? The hidden benefits of kickboxing classes? Whether you are practicing kickboxing for general fitness, self-defense, or fun, kickboxing classes are an opportunity to enhance your mental attributes just as much as your physical ones, along with other vital skills.
If you are thinking of signing up for kickboxing classes, Dallas has got you covered. But you should read about these four hidden benefits of kickboxing anyway because they might help make up your mind once and for all. Keep on reading to reveal the hidden benefits of kickboxing classes!
Benefits of Kickboxing Classes
Kickboxing classes improve your cognitive function
To help understand why this is, let’s think about everything that’s going on while you’re kickboxing. During kickboxing, you are not only acting faster but thinking faster. In fact, it’s your mind that is one step ahead, helping you to problem-solve in milliseconds before you make your next move. You are also learning to think a few steps ahead of that as you anticipate things before they even happen. All of this enables you to become more focused and alert, not just as you are training but outside your kickboxing classes as well. Those who train regularly can process information and carry out decisions more quickly.
The hand-eye coordination you build is also a big part of kickboxing. Learning how to simultaneously use your hands and eyes to carry out your next move is a constant and critical element of kickboxing – something you shouldn’t expect to stop at all from the time you show up to a class to the time you leave. You are continually using and enhancing your mental and visual acuity, all while maintaining a super high energy level. By consistently bringing together and practicing these elements, what you end up with is a clear mind and better overall cognitive function.
Kickboxing classes boost your self-confidence
Kickboxing is confidence at its core, meaning the confidence you build through kickboxing classes can take you far – whether it’s your training, personal life, or both. But even with confidence being one of the essential aspects of kickboxing, you don’t have to show up with it – you build it along the way, and it is one of the most significant benefits you can achieve from this sport.
First and foremost, no matter what type of exercise you’ve done before, we are confident, too – confident that kickboxing will get you into the best shape of your life. And honestly, there are not many greater feelings than that. It’s not just about appearances or physique, but when you feel strong and healthy, it makes you feel confident in your skin. You will likely notice after no more than a few classes that you have begun to carry yourself differently, learning to give yourself the self-respect you have always deserved.
Once you start to notice improvements in your skills, such as your strength, stamina, and ability to focus like a laser, more confidence will come then too. The problem-solving and anticipation skills you gain may also bring out some leadership and communication skills within you may not have realized even existed.
The incredible thing about kickboxing is you will soak up all these skills in the ring or in class and gradually notice as they manifest whenever you walk out the door. As your mind and body become more in sync, you will learn more about yourself and feel confident in who you are, embracing more decisiveness and succumbing less to social pressure. Plus, you are learning to defend yourself effectively on a physical level, too, helping you be more aware of your surroundings and feel confident in your ability to look after yourself.
Kickboxing classes teach you self-defense
Yes, we just mentioned self-defense, which is so essential not only for your confidence but primarily for your wellbeing. We will keep this point brief because nobody enjoys thinking about these things but learning to defend yourself is a huge benefit of kickboxing. While we hope that nothing ever happens, there is no question that, as with anything in life, it is better to be prepared. There is always the possibility that your safety could be at risk at some point in your life, but even just an enhanced sense of alertness should keep you away from trouble. And then, if you need to, you will be prepared to defend yourself or someone else, and kickboxing teaches you both.
Kickboxing classes help relieve stress
Did you know that almost 90 percent of illness is related to stress? You could exercise every day of your life but still have poor health if you let stress get to you regularly. You might be thinking then, doesn’t exercise impact my ability to manage stress? And the answer is yes, 100%. But sometimes, we need a little bit more than a jog outside or a set of bench presses at the gym. Sometimes we need kickboxing!
Kickboxing is a healthy and effective way to release feelings like stress, anxiety, frustration, and anger. These are all essential feelings to release because they can really take a toll on our mood, productivity, and concentration, to name a few things. Kickboxing as a form of stress and anger relief is not just about showing up to kick and throw punches because if that is what you prioritize, it could honestly enhance your anger.
The great thing about kickboxing is that you do release negative energy in this way, but the reason it truly works is that you are focused on your jabs, hooks, proper all-around technique, and, of course, having fun. As you release your stress through your feet and hands, you do let go of pent-up anger in the process, but these stress-relieving benefits are mostly about where your focus is. Kickboxing is the ultimate practice of being truly present, leaving little time to be anxious or sweat the small things in life and more time to simply sweat.