Take boxing lessons with a coach in Leeds

Finding the Perfect Kickboxing Tutor

If you know what boxing is, you probably already have a good idea of what kickboxing is; a combat sport where both punching and kicking are permitted. What you mightn't know is that kickboxing was created in Japan in the 1950s and took inspiration from both karate and boxing.

By the 1970s, kickboxing had become incredibly popular in the USA and by the 1990s, it was laying the foundation (along with some other martial arts and combat sports) for mixed martial arts or MMA.

Like many other martial arts and combat sports, kickboxing is practised in competition and also as a discipline for fitness and self-defence.

Kickboxing is the term used for the sport invented in Japan over half a century ago as well as an umbrella term for related martial arts and combat sports that involve kicking and punching such as savate, muay Thai (Thai boxing), and some styles of karate.

There are plenty of good reasons to practise kickboxing so let's see what they are, the challenges faced by those who do kickboxing, the advantages of learning how to kickbox from a private tutor or coach, and how you can find qualified and experienced kickboxing tutors and coaches in Leeds.

Why You Should Do Kickboxing

It can take years to become a master of kickboxing, which means there's a lot to learn. While this might put some off, the sheer amount of what kickboxing can teach you is one of its biggest advantages.

By doing kickboxing, you'll gain a level of discipline you can only get from intense training. It takes determination and drive to get good at it so through regular training, you'll inevitably gain these qualities.

Much like doing sports, kickboxing comes with a lot of health benefits, too. The intense training required will get your heart racing, burn calories, and improve your overall fitness. Burning calories can lead to weight loss or make managing a healthier weight easier.

As a combat sport, kickboxing training also includes strength workouts. This means that kickboxing will also help you to build and tone muscle and improve your strength.

There are also mental health benefits from doing martial arts and combat sports like kickboxing. Exercise is shown to improve your mood for several hours and help participants to sleep better and getting a good night's sleep has been shown to come with plenty of health benefits, too!

For the vulnerable members of our society, kickboxing is a good way to learn self-defence. Martial arts are often taught as a way to defend yourself rather than to attack. It can also improve your self-confidence as a result.

Challenges in Kickboxing

We mentioned that kickboxing requires years of training and this is the first challenge that novices will face. Are you willing to commit years of your life and hours every week to your kickboxing training? Keep in mind that there is no final destination when it comes to training but rather an ongoing journey that you'll commit to for a long time.

Since you'll be spending so much time doing kickboxing and time is money, you'll need to consider the cost of doing kickboxing. While there isn't a lot of equipment or gear required to do kickboxing, the cost of regular classes or private tutorials can add up and you'll want to make sure you can afford to take up kickboxing before you do.

Kickboxing, much like all combat sports and martial arts, has an element of risk to it. Even if you're not participating in a competition or any kind of combat, there's still a level of danger involved in performing the techniques and you should always make sure that you're able to do kickboxing before you start learning. If you have any doubts, you may want to discuss it with your GP or a medical professional.

Private Kickboxing Tutorials

A great way to learn how to kickbox is with your very own kickboxing tutor or coach. Private tutorials or classes allow you to learn exactly what you want and when you want. Of course, your tutor won't have you trying techniques reserved for black belts in your first class but they will allow you to focus on particular techniques or goals.

While you're one of several students if you decide to join classes in a gym, sports centre, or dojo, in a private tutorial, it's just you and your tutor or coach. This means that your instructor can ensure that every minute of the session focuses on your personal development and getting the most out of your training.

Private kickboxing tutors can adapt classes to you, your strengths and weaknesses, your preferred learning style, and your level. You won't need to start from scratch if you have experience with kickboxing and similarly, you won't miss anything from a beginner's class if you start partway through the year.

Finding Kickboxing Tutors

For those in Leeds or West Yorkshire looking for kickboxing tuition, just search on Superprof. Browse the profiles of the tutors in the area, compare their rates and experience, and read what their students have to say about them.

A lot of tutors on the platform offer the first hour of tuition for free. These free sessions are a good opportunity to try out different tutors and see who you get along with the best. All of us learn in different ways so it's a good idea to find instructors that you get along well with and have a teaching style that works for you.

You might also want to ask them about their specialism, too. As mentioned earlier, kickboxing can refer to the specific martial art invented in Japan or a series of other martial arts and combat sports that include kicking and punching. Whether it's kickboxing in the truest sense, muay Thai, or MMA, you should check exactly what the trainer teaches before signing up for a course or private tutorials.

On a budget? Get a few friends together and ask potential tutors about group sessions. While you won't enjoy the freedom you get from one-on-one sessions, these tend to work out cheaper as everyone can share the cost of the instructor's time.

If you can't find any kickboxing coaches or trainers in Leeds or West Yorkshire to your liking, you might want to consider online tutoring. While this usually works better for academic subjects, if you already have experience with kickboxing and need a good training routine, an online instructor could provide you with one, for example.

Whether you want kickboxing lessons for self-defence, fitness, or to learn how to kickbox competitively, it's never been easier to find the perfect private kickboxing tutor to help you!