- (Image by Josa Jr via Flickr)
It’s amazing how much I love kickboxing. Just amazing.
I can walk into a class with a million stresses and frustrations. Today I did. I walked into class frustated and upset and looking for a release. I knew I needed kickboxing for more than just the cardio boost. I needed kickboxing for an emotional release. And I got it.
I’d be surprised if I didn’t scare other participants while I was in there. I’ve got a mean hook and my cross is super strong. Every punch I threw had power behind it and I imagined myself hitting the things I wish I could get rid of in my life. I punched, kicked, shuffled and did high knees and even jumping jacks!! I let every bit of frustration and aggression out of me through those moves. I beat myself up basically, making sure my body would feel it after I was done. I pushed myself to the peak of what my body can do and let it do its thing. It was freaking awesome.
A litte note about jumping jacks.… I can’t even remember the last time I did jumping jacks. Maybe in 9th grade gym class because I was forced too? I hate them and have avoided them for years because of it and because they are a bit rough on my knees (I’ve got sucktastic knees). But today when the option was offered in class I took it. I decided that if I could punch and kick hard I wasn’t going to be scared of doing jumping jacks. So I did them. And I did some more. And I realized they aren’t that bad anymore. They might still be bad for my knees but I can do them. And I will keep doing them.
Ah, I feel so good and sooo much better after kickboxing. There is nothing else of worth I can even off you today. All I can say is kickboxing rocks. If you have never tried it – you should. It might be just what you need. It sure was what I needed.
Update: I went to a half hour cardio interval class and I did more jumping jacks! For a whole minute! I’ve officially done more jumpin jacks today than… ever? or a really, really, long time.
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I have so wanted to do kickboxing!!! Great for the bod too!!! Aggressions too!!! :-)
I am this crazed person that likes earlier than early workouts on no food or I feel sick… BUT, One day I am going to do it. Right now, no extra $$.
Sounds like you had a great workout and CONGRATS on those jumping jacks!
PS: Just testing your comment luv. Over at Diane’s site, my post only shows up if I do a second post… very weird! :-)
Oh my gosh…good for you! I haven’t done kick boxing, but I bet it would me amazing stress relief. And, jumping jacks? Great exercise…they make me feel like a kid again.
Sorry, guess it does not apply here.. now I have wasted 3 comments! UGH! ;-)
You’re a fitness force to be reckoned with, Mary! I have been so impressed by the amount and variety of physical activity you have been taking part in the last couple months!
@Jody
Oh crap. Yeah I had comment luv which worked with my last theme but apparently it doesn’t show up with Thesis? I hadn’t even noticed that! I will look into it. Oh, and they aren’t wasted comments! I was totally stoked to see so many comments. Comments make me happy… so I love it!
@Joanna
It is. It’s amazing. I totally reccommend it. Jumping jacks are fun!! All I gotta do now is get a cartwheel in and it’s like i’m a big kid.
@Hilary
Thanks! i freakin love that!! A fitness force to be reckoned with!
I LOVE any type of boxing! It’s toning and high intensity cardio all at the same time, you get lots of angst out and you feel freaking powerful afterwards! Honestly, I finish a session and I walk around the rest of the day feeling like a total bad ass. LOL
And good on you for doing the jumping jacks (we call them star jumps here..). I was never a fan of them either because I hated how my knees hurt and other body parts flopped and jiggled. But I love your thinking… if you can punch and kick then you can star jump. :) There is nothing like taking a hated exercise and making it your bitch. hehe (push ups are mine. They still own me but I am geting better)
Enjoy that endorphion rush!! :)
I really enjoy my kickboxing class (every Tuesday!) do you get to use the punching bags in yours? We don’t because ours is turbo kickbox, and because mine is a free class at the 24 hr fitness I belong to, and there’s barely enough space for people, much less the bags (and I’m sure no $ to buy them either). My knees have gotten significantly worse in the past few months, and by the end of a class like kickbox, I’m only kicking with my right leg (which is better than the left) and just doing the punching. But whatever. It’s still fun and I love laughing at myself when I mess up!
You’ve been bitten by the kickboxing bug!! I love it :-) And I love KB for all the same reasons. The dojo where I practice is so full of positive energy and wisdom, too.
Sounds fantastic! You rock.
You’re motivating me to try more classes. Maybe that will be my December goal, after I get through the 30 Day Shred Challenge.
Jumping jacks – horrid. They make me have to pee. So, i’m learning to do them with my legs half crossed. Probably bad form…. :)
I’ve never tried kickboxing. Sounds like you be in the “zone” when your doing it. LOL
Good for you Mary. I use to do Tae Kwon Do many years ago and now I would be lucky to kick to my waistline. I wish I was a morning person. The energy you get after the workout keeps me going for several hours alone.
@Annie
STAR JUMPS!! I had no idea they were called that! Hehe. I might start calling them that and see if it catches on. hehe.
@Merri
Bah! I hate our knees! Our class is equipment free, but I would LOVE to try a class with bags.
@Karen
I have! It’s addictive!
@Adrienne
That’s awesome! Glad I could help motivate you! Trying new things is fun and if you don’t like it you don’t have to go back. But if you find out you do like it you have a new workout! … Really? I’ve not had that experience with jumping jacks, haha.
@Melissa
It helps to be in “the zone” when you do it, because you get a kickass workout, but you don’t have to be. I’ve gone plenty of times where I wasn’t feeling it but still got a great workout. But yeah, days in the zone are awesome!
@Barry
I used to to TaeKwonDo too! I sucked! Hah. Morning person? What’s that? Not me! I’ve tried working out early am… the best I can do is 9 am… most days I wait until 11 before doing anything. :)
I’m glad you were able to get your frustrations out, and push yourself with the jumping jacks! That’s so awesome! Most jumping jacks ever is a definite victory!
I love shadow boxing. I fight myself in the mirror. I fight doorways. I fight punching bags when I’m around them. It’s a great release.
you and DIETGIRL huh?
I need to get back to a class….I tried it once and love it but havent made time to return.
ooooh or I could create a class at the domicile with the child? :)
I think I would love kick boxing…wish there were a class close by…hmm maybe I should just buy a punching bag and if there is sucha thing as a DVD workout for it…Gonna check into that. :)
So happy we “chatted” LOL
You rock Mary!! I would really love to take a kickboxing class, but I am entirely too cheap to do so. :-) You are motivating me though.
Ahhh I miss kickboxing. I used to go to this awesome female-only gym where they had the best group kickboxing class. It’s not the same at the gym I go to now :( It just makes you feel so powerful and TOUGH! Way to go on the jumping jacks!!
I agre the kickboxing is a great way to lose weight. But if you do not have the time, there are plenty books that will help you achive the similar affacts. Great blog post!
I was saying to Craig that we really need a punching bag in our new house… good for the upper body and for stress release. I think the benefits are evident, but he says I will only use it once or twice… Obviously I need to be more persuasive!
oh i didnt know if the photo up there was about your specific class. id love to do one with punching bags too. it seems like it’d be very satisfying to be punching and kicking something so solid.
i hate jumping jacks. i hate feeling all my fat wobble and sway so hard. eurgh. *repulsed* i am too scared to do kickboxing incase i find it too hard or can’t do it.
love that you enjoy it though. kudos. <3
One of my good friends absolutely adores kickboxing, and has joined a studio where she attends classes 3-4 times a week. I myself love when I do the boxing on my Wii Fit. It’s so much fun! I told my trainer how much I enjoyed it, and he brought his own boxing gloves to our workout a few weeks ago – so much work, but sooooo much fun. I think once I’m well again, I’m going to have to try a cardio kickboxing class that’s offered at the gym. Thanks for the inspiration!
I just found an AMAZING website for kickboxing classes across the country!!
Check this out…
http://www.ilovekickboxing.com
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