History of Kick Boxing in Kenpo
In our kids karate classes in Sydney, we have taught kick boxing techniques since day one. Kenpo has a long history of combining the traditional techniques and forms with kick boxing. The great Joe Lewis, one of the first world champion kick boxers, introduced it to the American Kenpo system in the 1970’s, and it has been taught ever since. Kick boxing in America evolved from full contact karate.
Techniques are Powerful and Can be Combined Easily
Boxing’s punches, such as the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut are combined with the kicks of karate, such as the side kick, wheel or roundhouse, and snap kicks. Boxing punches build on each other to form super fast and powerful combinations, which can stop an attacker dead in their tracks. Add the thundering kicks of karate and you have an art that is effective at every range.
Techniques are Super Easy
The techniques of kick boxing are dead easy. The punches are much simpler to master and remember than complex forms or self-defence techniques. Put a couple of punches and kicks together and you have a very effective means of protecting yourself. For kids this is especially important as they lack the cognitive abilities of adults.
Kick Boxing Can be Easily Practiced
How do you practice eye pokes or kicks to the knees? It is very difficult to spar using traditional martial arts techniques that can maim a person. However, kick boxing, with the proper safety equipment, lends itself to sparring like no other art. With strict rules in place, kids can practice all their kicks, punches, and blocks against others in a safe environment, successfully mastering them well enough for proper self defence.
Our tournament team, Kenpo Freestyle Sydney, has produced its share of full contact champions. These young warriors have successfully used their kick boxing skills in the ring.