7 Principles of Kickboxing:
A Former World Champion Reveals the Rules of the Ring!
7 Principles of Kickboxing:
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When you think of formulas and principles, you don’t normally envision kickboxing. If you’re like me, you probably think of chemistry or physics—subjects few of us know much about. Well, you can dump all those preconceived notions about formulas and principles being too complex to wrap your mind around and too intricate to use, because kickboxing has its own set, and they’re essential to success in the sport. If you learn them, you’ll flourish. If you don’t and your opponent does, you’ll be doomed. All kickboxing tactics are based on seven principles: distancing, defense, feinting, timing, power, endurance and sparring. In the following article, I’ll explain what they are and how you can improve them. Whether you’re a kickboxer or a practitioner of some other martial art, they’re guaranteed to improve your game. 1. Distancing When you’re ready to attack, you must be able to accurately judge the distance between you and your opponent. If you’re not close enough when you throw a technique, you’ll end up reaching for him and you won’t generate any power. If you’re too close and try to kick, he’ll jam your leg. That’s why a good, scientific fighter has full knowledge of the distances (full, half and close) and outstanding skill in each one. When your distancing skills are sharp, you’ll be able to measure your opponent and make split-second decisions that can make or break the bout. Time for a refresher: Full distance is the range at which you can reach your opponent with your legs fully extended; half distance is the range at which you can strike with your arms partially or fully extended; and close distance is the range at which you can hit him with uppercuts and hooks. To improve your skills at these distances, have your partner put on mitts and dance around. He should move in and out and side to side. Your job is to decide which types of kicks and punches you should throw. 2. Defense To become an elite martial artist, you must be an effective defensive fighter. If you lack defensive skill, you might be able to defeat mediocre opponents, but you probably won’t get past tougher ones. If you find yourself facing a powerful puncher, rest assured he’ll be looking for a target. If your defensive skills are good, you can make it difficult for him to find that target. The following are some standard kickboxing maneuvers for defensive use: Parry: You deflect a technique without stopping its momentum. For example, you redirect a punch with your hand. Block: You stop a technique cold. You can execute a block with your arms or legs. It can be a single action or a series of measures, but regardless of the specifics, it will limit or eliminate the technique your opponent is throwing. Dodge: You move all or a portion of your body away from your opponent’s weapon. You need not make contact with him. Dodging an attack is better than parrying or blocking because your hands and legs remain free to counterattack. Return: After you execute a parry, dodge or block, you throw your own technique before your opponent has a chance to return to the guard position. Rolling With the Punch: To lessen the impact of a blow, you move away from your opponent’s weapon in the same direction it’s traveling. Sidestep: You move out of the path of the attack. One example is to pivot on one of your feet. The movement enables you to avoid his technique and retaliate. 3. Feinting A skilled kickboxer is like a chess player: He uses feints to set up techniques so he can easily score on his opponent. Feinting is a vital tool of deception and can be a critical weapon in your fighting arsenal. It can keep your opponent guessing, fill him with false anticipation and disable him psychologically. For a feint to be effective, it has to be thrown convincingly and with power. Otherwise, he won’t fall for it. Skill at feinting requires lots of practice. Here are two tactics you can add to your repertoire the next time you spar: • To draw your opponent’s attention to his midsection, throw a hard jab to the body. Immediately afterward, fake the same punch and throw a straight right to the chin. • Throw a hard jab to the face. Then feint the same motion and throw a left hook to the head.
4. Timing No offensive or defensive technique is successful without proper timing. You can have the greatest move in the world, but it won’t do any good unless your timing is on. Timing requires speed, a good sense of distance and direction. To develop your timing, stand about two feet away from your partner and slowly throw punches at him. He should utilize the various defenses described above. Continue for three minutes, then switch roles. Do two or three rounds. As you improve, pick up your speed. This drill will also improve your reflexes and blocking skills, get you accustomed to having punches come at your face and hone your sense of direction and distance. For the best view of his entire body, watch your partner’s solar plexus, not his face.
5. Power Although everyone loves power, overwhelming force isn’t the name of the game in kickboxing. Sure, knockouts are exciting—they thrill crowds and deify the winner—but you just can’t neglect technique. That doesn’t mean, however, that power isn’t important. The following are two tips for throwing more powerful shots: • Get your entire body behind the technique. Chances are, you’ve heard that concept explained numerous times in your martial arts class. • Get a good stance. It’s important because it provides mobility and stability, which you need if you want to be effective. I teach two basic training stances—only two because I figure you’ll develop your own stance as you progress. The first is the kick stance. It’s one of the most commonly used stances in kickboxing because it lends itself well to kicking and allows for greater mobility and stability. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take one step back with your right foot and orient it so your feet are at right angles to each other. Your left leg should be relaxed, with the majority of your weight on your right foot. Keep your body straight but maintain the same angle. Your hands should be in the guard position, and you should hold your elbows forward so they protect your ribs. When you kick from this stance, always aim for your opponent’s upper chest. However, your field of vision should encompass his entire body. To improve your power, use this stance to kick a heavy bag. Make sure you pivot properly so you can generate maximum punching power, as well. The second stance is the punching stance. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart. Pivot on the balls of your feet so your heels and toes are turned slightly inward. Distribute your weight evenly on your legs. Your knees and torso should be slightly bent. Clench your hands, hold your fists at jaw level and keep your elbows forward so they protect your ribs. Practice switching stances swiftly with and without a partner. As you improve, you’ll be able to change instantaneously, and that ability will come in handy in the ring. Good footwork enables you to attack and defend with speed, economy and balance.
You can’t win without endurance. If your conditioning is sub-par, you may be able to survive on tenacity, but sooner or later you’ll discover that mental toughness is not enough. You definitely need to be tough, but you also need stamina. When you combine the two, you’ve got a winning formula. Fighters who aren’t in supreme condition will likely suffer from a lack of confidence because they know they can’t go the distance. When they get fatigued, their form may also degrade, and they won’t have as much power as they should. Furthermore, they’ll begin telegraphing their moves, they’ll slow down and they’ll start fighting flat-footed. The result? They’ll find it increasingly tough to get out of the line of fire. When you’re in shape, however, you’ll have speed, power and rhythm. Your lateral movement will be good. You’ll be less likely to get hit. And you’ll have the confidence to perform mentally and physically. There are a number of ways to get in shape for the ring. One of the best is to hit a heavy bag three times a week. Do as many three-minute rounds as you will do in your fight. Supplement that with five days per week of running. After you warm up, sprint for a quarter mile, then run easy for a quarter mile. Repeat until you’ve covered three miles. For variation, occasionally run greater distances. You should also spar three times a week. Again, do as many rounds as you’ll do in your fight. Your daily workout should also include stretching, kicking, shadowboxing and defensive drills. Start with one three-minute round. As your stamina improves, add a few more. 7. Sparring Freestyle sparring is the final and most meaningful part of your preparation. It involves stepping into the ring and throwing kicks and punches at will. Beginners shouldn’t try it until they’ve mastered the aforementioned principles and sampled the other training methods. Sparring is essential because you must make contact to develop your sense of distance. If you never make contact in training, you’ll probably be in big trouble when you need to do it for real—whether in the ring or on the street. About the author: Louis Neglia is a former world kickboxing champion who has run a karate and kickboxing school in Brooklyn, New York, since 1972. This article was originally published in the April 2006 issue of Black Belt. 
Bill WallaceKickboxing by Hector Echavarria (DVD 8249-59-69) Championship Kickboxing with Kathy Long (DVD 3089) |
