Why is Kickboxing Good for your Health?

Kickboxing or any martial arts based training is a fantastic way of keeping in shape and offers a great full body workout. What people don’t realize is that in addition to the specific skills you need to learn in kickboxing, the level of cardio fitness you need is also very high. But that’s not all, as there are so many health and wellness benefits in kickboxing as it works your body and mind. Here’s just five reasons why kickboxing is really good for your health:   

1.It’s great cardio exercise! 
Kickboxing is an incredibly efficient, high-energy workout guaranteed to burn calories and fat and get you in shape fast. The cardio element of kickboxing is one of the most effective ways to burn fat, especially that stubborn belly fat that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.  Regular cardio exercise is important for your health as you’ll know and you can burn anywhere from 750 to 900 calories an hour kickboxing.  Who doesn’t want that?  

2.It can improve your circulation 
Kickboxing will get your heart rate going and increase overall circulation in your body, with an increased heart rate during kickboxing helping to burn fat and calories for you to lose weight.  When your heart pumps in full force, your heart rate lowers, heart muscles relax and your blood pressure flows evenly and smoothly. Good circulation to areas of your body will help promote cell growth and organ function and  your skin will also benefit from the increase too.   You will quite literally be glowing inside and out.  

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3. It gives you confidence and makes you feel better all over 
Like with any form of exercise, increased strength and performance will increase your confidence.  This is never truer than with kickboxing, as it’s learning a form of self-defense so you can hold your own, giving you a much needed confidence boost.   Furthermore, a rigorous kickboxing session releases endorphins, a natural mood booster to also improve your self-esteem and just make you feel better all around.  

4.It makes you stronger
The punching and kicking you do with precision and power in kickboxing helps to build upper and lower body muscles.  Your hamstrings will become stronger as you master the art of kicking properly.  Abdominal muscles are strengthened from the various positions involved in many of the moves and core strength will be improved significantly as you balance to perform the routines.  As we know, strength equals health!  

5.It reduces stress! 
And don’t we all need this! Kickboxing is a great way to relieve mental stress by releasing all those pent up frustrations as you kick and punch it all out.   Also, when kickboxing, you’ll find your concentration levels will gradually improve, enabling you to focus on stressing less!  

Other benefits include improved posture, better energy, improved balance, and co-ordination and many more. 

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Credit: Originally from Iraq, Rafat Shawe is a Dubai based professional MMA fighter, international karate champion, advanced personal trainer and nutritionist.  He has been based in the UAE for 15 years, fighting professionally in MMA for the past 6 years and most recently as part of Desert Force on MBC.   In addition to his professional martial arts career, Rafat is also an advanced personal trainer, nutritionist and runs fitness classes across Dubai. For more information visit www.rafatshawe.com.   You can also keep up-to-date with his latest news on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RafatShaweTrainer) and Instagram @rafatshaweMMA.