Workout of the Week

by Nicole Wilkes

Photography courtesy of Pe Wu on Creative Common on Flickr

A typical kickboxing workout might include short 2-3 minute bursts of high-intensity movement (similar to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts). During these burst, you engage in a single repetitive movement, like punching a punching bag or kicking a target pad.

Health Benefits

Because of its similarities to HIIT, kickboxing is a killer aerobic workout. Aerobic exercise is known to release floods of endorphins, which make you feel happier and more confident after a workout.

Kickboxing targets the arms, abs, quads and glutes, making it an efficient total-body workout. By targeting the abdominal muscles, kickboxing also improves coordination and posture. This is ideal for anyone prone to slouching at their desk or just looking to stand a little taller.

The intense pace and powerful movements makes this workout the perfect blend of strength and cardio, so it burns fat and builds lean muscle (therefore increasing your metabolism) at the same time. In fact, studies have shown that workouts like kickboxing and HIIT can increase your metabolic rate for hours after you’ve finished exercising.

Best For

Torching the maximum amount of calories in the shortest amount of time. If you are serious about getting your workout in but don’t have all the time in the world, kickboxing is for you. It can even be done at home with the help of an instructional video, no equipment required. With that, kickboxing is a great form of cross training, making it an exciting alternative for anyone tired of their current fitness routine.

Where To Find It

Boston Athletic Club—Boston, MA 02210

Healthworks for Women—Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Redline Fight Sports—Cambridge, MA 02139