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Home » Blog » Kids Kick Boxing: Is it Effective?

Kids Kick Boxing: Is it Effective?

November 12, 2010 By Sensei Matt Klein

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kids doing kickboxing

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.

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Filed Under: Teaching Martial Arts to Kids

Comments

  1. Rachel Taylor-Meath says

    November 13, 2010 at 8:01 am

    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…

  2. Sensei Matt Klein says

    November 13, 2010 at 9:14 am

    Thanks Rachel. Have not seen it on FB, but I’ll be on the lookout.

  3. John W. Zimmer says

    November 13, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    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!

  4. Sensei Matt Klein says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    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.

  5. John W. Zimmer says

    November 15, 2010 at 9:50 am

    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!

  6. Sensei Matt Klein says

    November 15, 2010 at 10:02 am

    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!

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July 16, 2021
Hey Kenpo Freestylers, we are up and running on our kids karate online Zoom classes. Our first class is tomorrow morning. Please go on to iKarate to sign up. Our instructors need your support to get through this difficult time, and we appreciate your help in getting this club through to the other side. The […]

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Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Mihir's story.
09/01/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Mihir's story.
09/01/2014
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Friendly yet disciplined approach towards karate at Australia’s Youth has helped enormously. It enabled Mihir to build a sense of belonging and improved his motivation to excel. It’s amazing how learning the Martial Arts helps build confidence and improve overall personality.
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I like Karate because it is really fun and I love going on the weekend to see all my friends and Senseis. Karate makes me feel safe because I don’t worry about bullies at school because I know they can’t really hurt me.Tyvian-Macfarlne-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
Tyvian Macfarlane

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Tyvian's story.
09/08/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
The confidence karate has given Tyvian is amazing. He is takes pride in himself and he has matured. The focus, confidence and discipline he has gained through karate has transferred to other areas of his life such as educational tasks, looking after younger children both in and out of his family and demonstrating empathy for others.Robert-Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane, father of Tyvian Macfarlane
09/08/2014
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I owe my confidence, strength, fitness and leadership skills to Karate. It has taught me to persist with everything and that the only way to improve is to try harder.Adam-Loader-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
Adam Loader

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Adam's story.
09/01/2014
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Look at what you have achieved Matt, we can’t thank you enough for your contribution to shaping these two young men. We are often complimented about the maturity of the boys and we know their Karate has played an important part in developing that maturity. Brings a tear to my eye!
loadersRobert Loader, father of Adam and Jacob Loader
09/01/2014

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