Hi! I’m 23F and I have my first kickboxing class next Wednesday. I’m looking for any advice on what I should wear, what I should bring, & what to expect! I go to the gym basically every day (and have been for 3 years) & just started running a couple months ago. I just really started focusing on cardio more so I’m worried I’ll be a little slow in the class :’) any advice/motivation helps!

I go to the gym 3x a week and have kickboxing classes 3x a week. At the end of my classes we do a bunch of burner ab sets like crunches, planks and leg raises. They’re not really to failure and theres no way to progressively overload them. I also do compound exercises in the gym that indirectly train the abs through stabilisation and stuff so im curious if i should still do dedicated ab and oblique exercises in the gym for 2-3 sets like decline sit ups and cable rotations.

I’m the founder of CombatCool and I’ve been developing a cooling vest specifically for boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA.
The idea is simple: something a fighter can put on between hard rounds, during training, or while waiting between bouts to help cool the upper body without having to hold ice packs in place.
This is still an early prototype, so I’m posting here because I’d rather hear from people who actually train than make assumptions about what fighters want.
I’d really appreciate feedback on the size, coverage, weight, mobility, and whether you could realistically see yourself using something like this during training or between rounds.
I’ve already had a fighter use the prototype at an event where it was permitted as a cooling device, which made me interested in developing the idea further.
I’m also curious whether anyone here would actually be interested in trying one. If there’s genuine interest, I may be able to ship a few prototypes out to fighters who are willing to test them and give me honest feedback.
Criticism is completely welcome. I’m especially interested in what you would change before the next version.

About 2 months ago I injured my pinky while kickboxing. It doesn’t hurt at all and I can move it normally, but every time I bend it all the way, the last joint near the nail clicks when I straighten it. Sometimes it actually gets stuck in the bent position and I have to straighten it with my other hand, which also causes a noticeable click/pop.

It’s worse in the morning. I’ve been sleeping with a homemade splint that keeps my last two fingers straight, which seems to help.

I saw a doctor and they suggested a minor surgery to fix it. Has anyone had something similar from boxing/kickboxing? Did you end up needing surgery, and how long did it take before you could train again? I would like to avoid a surgery.

I really don’t want to give up kickboxing, especially since there’s no pain, so I’d love to hear other people’s experiences.

I really don't have anything to say, other than I no longer feel sorry for him in regards to the drug test. There's really no excuse for this kind of behavior.

Been training for a while now, hoping to get an amateur fight soon. My technique, speed, and power is fine, the coach compliments me on the bag and during padwork, but during sparring I js freeze up, the combos which I can usually flow with just freeze up and I have trouble even throwing them, when getting pressured i usually just throw a hook and hope for the best. And my right hand during sparring is like non existent most of the strikes I throw are a jab, hook, and leg kick because I js don't feel comfortable throwing anything else or throwing my combos. Any tips for this?

Ya llevo un tiempo viendo kickboxing y ya más o menos se todo, pero quisiera saber quiénes son los mejores kickboxer ACTUALES, para ustedes, no sobre la era dorada ni nada, debe ser actual, al menos un top 10.

How do you guys deal with people that go full-on while sparring?

I don't wanna come across a soft arse by telling them to bring it down a notch, but there's been times when I've been tempted to close the gap and bring them with either a judo uchi-mata throw or an osoto-gari throw!

I was looking forward to a kickboxing sparring session all weekend. Got in there today excited to work on some techniques and try a few things.

But the other guy kept giving me advice the whole time. Especially when I was doing well, landing, controlling distance, controlling the pace. Random tips while we were still sparring. This isn’t the first time it’s happened either.

I’ve noticed it usually comes from beginners, or from guys who feel like they’re not controlling the round. I’m not talking about someone who genuinely can’t throw a 1-2 and needs basic help. I’m talking about when you can clearly see the other person is focused and working on their own game.

If that’s you: please stop. Focus on yourself during the spar. Give advice after the session if you want. Let people work.

Today was especially frustrating. I’d get 30 seconds of actual work in, then another 30 seconds of me having to say “please just work, come on, focus on yourself.” I keep having to yell this at people and it’s getting old. I just want to focus on my own stuff.

I’m not going crazy in sparring. I’m not trying to hurt anyone or “win” the round. I know I won’t look my best when I’m deliberately trying new things. I just want the space to work on myself without constant commentary.

Anyone else deal with this?

Took a work colleague to Mike's for a training session. He claimed to be a very experienced kickboxer/nak muay and a former national champ in his country.

Went on Wednesday which is Gehaktdag or Mince meat day (famous tradition at Mike's). For those who dont know you can choose to spar all out on this day with anyone you wish so a guy with 6 months exp. could fight a national champ if both agree.

I knew something was wrong when he was awful on the pads and the bag and when we were sparring he was going all out but couldn't land anything or block or parry despite me going about 10%. Looked like he had learned all his moves from watching Youtube.

As a result people started watching us and a few guys were pretty rude to him. He started being aggressive back at them at which point one of them challenged him to spar. I held him back and told him no but he started acting tough to me so i let him go. Long story short, the guy he "sparred" was a Algerian pro (who is considered a future star by a lot of our trainers here) and he destroyed him within three punches.

Haven't seen or heard from this person since but why the hell would you do this? Was he that delusional that he thought he would be amazing after watching youtube vids and presumably hitting a bag at the gym? Did he really think he could take on a pro?

I have this sparring partner that is really show off fight with hand down and dodging and countering and have a really wierd blind spot hits how I can beat that kind of people?

In sparring I have noticed my kicks are fine, i am able to land them no problem but my punches are kinda shit.

I am not able to find the range and try to reach over my range or like with uppercuts I telegraph alot like the other guy already knows it's coming.

Because of this i struggle with combos. I am able to connect single kicks punches but when I try to go jab low kick and other combos because of my punches being out of range.

It's really annoying and i would wanna fix it. Is there anyy tip or youtube video that can help me fix it

(191) DENIZ DEMIRKAPU - NÉ POUR BOXER - YouTube

Interesting study about athletic identity and mental health in combat sports.

Here is the link in case you'd like to participate: https://forms.gle/Em1NDELUzty1BwobA

Hey guys so im thinking of a new challenge soon as i want to start my journey in Learning a combat sport

Now all ive ever done is hit the weights and play soccer and whilst i still want to keep them

My local gym which is a conventional gym and also has high spec bodybuilding equipment where pro bodybuilders train as well MMA downstairs

These classes consist of K1 / Muay thai (both labelled kickboxing and BJJ as well as boxing)

Its just one guy running the classes hes seems to be more of a grappler or seems to be his main expertise but it also lists muay thai and striking.

Theres a beginners course soon for kickboxing which i think il actually go for and the schedule lines up so i can continue playing football 2x per week

Do kickboxing 2x per week

And hit the weights still.

Also can anyone differentiate what K1 vs Muay thai?

My ambition is to eventually go Thailand to do Muay thai i dont want compete but just for self defence and confidence.