how do you rate kickboxing?

G

getnfit@38

Cathlete
Hi guys, just wondering how many of you rate kickboxing as "just" cardio and how many rate it as cardio+leg workout? Now I'm sure some kickboxing is milder than others, but thinking in terms of intensity such as Cardio Kicks and Kick Itt 2000, would you consider high intensity kickboxing a leg workout as well as cardio?
All input appreciated, I'm asking because I want to develop a rotation for myself using the LBS concept, and the only leg floor work I presently own is PS-L&A, so if kickboxing counts as a leg workout, I can figure in kickboxing as a floor workout rather than repeating just the floor section of PS-L&A too many times.
Thanks for all opinions and suggestions, Donna
 
My most initial reaction to your question was No Way! Nothing will replace weighted squats and lunges. Then I saw that you are only referring to substiting floor work. That sort of changes it for me.

Once a week or so I will throw in a step tape that has lots and lots of "leg lifts". I will lift my leg across my body for the inner thigh, out to the side, ham curls, leg lifts back, etc. I consider this my "floor" work.

I have only done CTX kickboxing and the original Tae Boe kickboxing. Kickboxing doesn't really get the inner thigh, but otherwise I guess it is floor-work-like. It seems like side and back kicks would get, well, the side and back of your legs, and that place where the thigh ties into the butt.

Good question. Would you use ankle weights with floor work? If so, maybe it isn't equivalent.

Perhaps I should mention that my legs are probably my best feature. Maybe someone who has had to work at them more has more advise.

(I can not seem to ever write a short answer!! Sorry everyone) Jeanne
 
IMHO- Kickboxing is in the cardio category just as step is. Both tend to emphasize the legs moreso than hi-lo, but are no substitute for isolation and/or weight work.

You still use momentum and compensating muscles in the cardio activity. Isolation work and weight work get into the muscle much more for toning purposes.

Note: You take someone that had never done iso/weights that suddenly starts kickbox/step, yup, you'll see toning and strenght gains. Just saying that I wouldn't personally substitute it for the toning/strenght gaining category if you are in a position to do both.
 
I figured as much, but thought I'd ask anyway. Guess I'll be breaking down and buying Crosstrain Xpress, I hear the legs tape is one mean tape! :)
Thanks for the feedback, Donna
 
Hey Donna,
It is tough, but there's no floor work on it.
If you are looking for floor work, some reccomendations are Karen Voights Great Weighted Workout, The Original Buns of Steel with Greg Smithey, and The Wedding Video by our own little Cathe!
Wendy
 
Good question.I always wonder the same thing.Personally I believe it is both but predominately cardio.I run and do alot of kickboxing and my legs are very large,in fact people say I need to work more on my upper body.I find I do so much leg work that my legs are tired when it comes to PS week or S&H. so I sometimes leave the legs out.My trainer friend sayS I do not need to do legs with all the kickboxing & running I do.We are all different.
 
I consider kickboxing a moderate cardio workout. Unfortunatly, I don't really like kickboxing that much and my HR doesn't get up as high as step workouts. But it's nice for a change. During CardioKicks, I get an okay workout, but do feel like I'm using different muscles- not a strength workout replacement though.
 
cardiokicks is awesome... kickboxing is all what you put into it... put a lot into it and its a great work out...

it's a lot of fun too :)
 
RE: Not very highly

Hi, Donna! (My inspiration! :) )

I don't know about anyone else, but I find that when I've done kickboxing (admittedly not much, and only Cathe's routines), I do get an intermediate-intensity cardio workout BUT I also get a BIG BOOTY. I don't know if I'm just overly endowed with nascent gluteal muscles, but just a few sets of those rear and side kicks and my jeans and skirts are fitting tight! Interestingly, I do a ton of barbell squat / lunge work as well as long-lever leg work with ankle weights and do not get the same booty-blossoming that I do with KB.

No disrespect to the adherents of this mode, but I think kickboxing is vastly overrated in terms of benefits, and vastly underrated in terms of injury potential to the knees, low back and shoulder joints. I like how Cathe choreographs her routines, but in all honesty it will never be a regular part of my gig.

Just my $.02.

Annette
 
Cathe Friedrich changed my mind about kickboxing! Until her Cardio Kicks and the kickbox she incorporates into her CTX, I hated it. Basically due to Billy Blanks, I grew to loathe it.

Cathe's Cardio Kicks is an absolute must in my rotations and I think it is a great ab, leg, cardiovascular, and upper body workout.

My only hope is that Cathe does more Kickbox videos in the future. She's a natural and gives GREAT safety tips.
 
Just a personal opinion.....I happen to like kickboxing, and I try to do it at least once a week. Have for 2 years now. I happen to like Taebo, and I like Cathe's Cardio Kicks. I would not count it as a leg workout. There IS one Taebo tape which is nearly all leg work....Advanced Live #5, and I think you could certainly count that as leg work. Personally, I think it helped pare down my saddlebags.

It's nice to pull out a KB tape and not have to haul out a lot of equipment....just play the tape and follow along. http://www.plaudersmilies.de/person/znaika.gif
 
Honeybunch,

Kickboxingsure toned my legs and obliques for the better.

I agree that Kickboxing works the body in ways that you don't get with heavy weights, running (yuck), floor, or step cardio, or even with dancing (I do competitive ballroom dance whenever possible).

While I do not like Billy Blanks and some do, I LOVE Cathe's kickboxing videos and when I am doing Circuit Max and Power Circuit, I "can't wait" to get to the kickbox segments!
 
Amy--Cathe says one of the new tapes she plans for 2002 is another kickbox. I am (now don't be too hard on me) a Cathe lemming, and I will even try the yoga tape she says she is doing.
 
Lynda,

YEAH! Cathe is doing another kickbox video? Then consider it sold to me!

Yoga......I have never gotten into yoga -- did Lilias years ago....my dance instructor teaches Yoga and his classes stay full, but I don't feel I can "afford" the time of Yoga. Many of the people in my dance class love Yoga, but I usually need to feel like I've really worked out....I need to break a good sweat and get my heart rate up to feel worked out.

I would not mind a Cathe Yoga if she would combine it with Cardio -- like CTX - Cardio followed by Yoga. I would definitely buy that!

I am glad you see the humor in the Lemming thing. I am very much a clown and am not really the malicious person people fancy I am.

I just like to have spirited debate -- not for the sake of debate, but to hear a variety of opinions!

Anyway, THANKS for the info about the 2002 Kickbox DVD!

Can't wait......
 
One more thing....I dragged out a Taebo tape (Ripped series, blue box - advanced) and did PS back after that. My back is SORE today, and it usually isn't. I'd forgotten what a good upper body workout Taebo is.....lots and LOTS of kicks, too, which I like. I think this is the toughest cardio tape he's put out. A real favorite of mine.

For what it's worth.
 
Big Boo-tay!

Gee, I find that if I do too much kickboxing vs. step-ups and squats, my butt is slim, but flat! Send some of that boo-tay my way!! :)
 
Well, I say "there's kickboxing and there's kickboxing". There are a lot of "cardio-kickboxing" workouts around that I'd say are mostly cardio, with some ab and leg benefits. On the other hand, if you get into more "combat ready" kickboxing (like Powerstrike), I think you can get at least a moderately good toning workout, for both arms and legs. I know when I put everything into a workout, my arms and my lats are sore the next day, just as if I'd done a weight workout. If you punch out and pull back fast (which takes a while to develop--I'm much faster than I used to be, but it took me a couple of years), you're using muscles to "brake" your punches, and those muscles are working against the resistance of the muscles that are used to throw the punch out.

I wouldn't completely give up weight work, but I can see how some martial artists can get away with a minimum of weight work.

Of course, working out on the heavy bag is even more of a resistance workout.
 
Two Words: HATE IT

Ok, a few more words. It is my personal least favorite form of excercise. Just not my cup of tea. It has always felt awkward to me and it might be because of my stature. I am just 5' tall and I don't seem to perform the movements very well (or pretty I might add)

Donna
 
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