Kids can practice kickboxing techniques safely with the proper equipment and supervision
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.
Great article..I hope you dont mind me sharing your words on FB..I think they make for a very interesting read, & others may enjoy them too!..Well done Matt…Great club Great Team…
Thanks Rachel. Have not seen it on FB, but I’ll be on the lookout.
Hi Matt,
I remember Orned “Chicken” Gabriel’s great groin kicks… He loved to fire up opponents while kick boxing in the schools. Something one cannot really practice in any full contact or mma matches.
I’ve always thought a good school fighter with a liberal application of old school semi-contact rules with groin shots open – could stand toe to toe with anyone.
This came to mind when you pointed out kick boxing could easily be taught. Good post!
Thanks John! Didn’t mean to leave Chicken’s contribution out of the equation. Chicken was a legendary point and full-contact fighter for Kenpo, and had a big impact on kickboxing skills taught in the schools. One of the funniest and most charismatic guys you will ever meet. I learned an encyclopedia’s worth every time I sparred with him, or watched him spar. Are there any others I should add for their contribution to kick boxing skills, John? You were around there before me so I would appreciate your input.
Yes John the old school rules made sparring realistic, and after going through it you were confident you could handle anything–in the ring or the street.
Hi Matt,
Larry McCraw was another great competitor that transitioned well to full-contact.
The big three I came up against in the studio taught me a lot about fighting, Terry Crook, John West and Lap Napoleon!
Thanks John, these guys were well known in the Kenpo scene. Never sparred Larry, John or Lap, but can sure tell you Terry was a handful! Their influence created a generation of full contact karate/kick boxers. Of course, Todd McEllhinney, my sensei, always stressed the importance of it (and was very good at it). Appreciate your feedback on the kenpo/kick boxing connection, John!