Posted 08 May 2008 - 06:01 PM
Kicking a heavy bag is good at developing technique and power, but bags do not hit back people do.
If your training for self defense by just hitting air, pads and bags it would be kind of pointless because you do not get used to the aspect of going against another living and resisting opponent, i doubt your assailant will just let you hit em unless they enjoy it.
Kick boxing is good for fitness but if you want to train for self defense you should really sparr, sparring is a very vital part of learning martial arts and self defense it helps you get used to getting hit and the more you fear pain less or you just get used to it. Also don't worry any reputable kick boxing club wont let newbies get torn up the first couple of classes or until you get some experience.
As for kick boxing for fun and fitness theirs a thing called aerobic kickboxing its pretty much useless for self defense in my opinion because it lacks realistic sparring. You dont have to be competitive but i really think you should sparr because you fight how you train and if you never really attacked a person in a rather "civil" manner what makes you thinking your capable of handling your self in teh deadly streetz?
But if you really want to learn some self defense that does not lead to beating the other peron into a coma or atleast into unconsciousness you should look into grappling arts such as BJJ, Judo, Sambo, GOOD Hapkido and something along the lines of tomiki aikido. theese arts have emphasis on a "gentle" aspect of fighting either choking or snapping the other dudes limbs.
Also Self Defense and Martial Arts are what you make it and take from it, if you wanna be the biggest baddest SOB then you must train hard, often and most importantly intelligently bruised shins and swollen insteps are not the best buddies to have 7 out of 12 months of the year.
Basically have fun train hard and if your training to get some self defense from your class spar because techniques are just tools sparring is were you put those tools to use in order to build a complete picture on were you stand mentally, physically, and technically once you do these things you can have a better perspective on were you would stand if you were assaulted.
on a last note avoid arts that do not spar and claim to teach you the deadly dim mak(AKA Ninjers)
May God have mercy upon my enemies, because i wont.
