Is Kickboxing Easy to Learn?

Written by Jeff Campbell in Kickboxing Last Updated November 15, 2022

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Kickboxing is fun, intense, and highly popular. Some use kickboxing for fitness, while others use it to compete. But either way, is kickboxing easy to learn?

Here’s what I saw doing a little of it:

The moves in kickboxing are easy to learn, especially compared to martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-jitsu or Karate. However, shin conditioning takes time and can be painful. But the basics can be learned in 6 months, practicing 3 times per week.

It’s indeed a riveting and powerful martial art because it’s a combination of some of the most effective techniques in Boxing, Karate, and Muay Thai.

So, it’s ideal for fitness and self-defense.

In this article, we’ll check out if it’s good for beginners and what is the best age to start learning Kickboxing. But we’ll also consider if 40 is too old to start Kickboxing. And lastly, we’ll explore what the hardest part of learning kickboxing is.

Let the fun begin…

Is kickboxing good for beginners?

Kickboxing is good for beginners. It can be highly demanding for those not physically fit, as the sport itself is a form of a full-body workout. But, practitioners will be getting fit and also learning self-defense skills at the same time. 

Just be prepared for shin conditioning which can be painful at first.

One does not need many years of experience before learning kickboxing. A good school will push you hard without breaking you. And that’s exactly what you need.

The instructors were beginners at a point in time. In fact, everybody starts as a beginner. So, they’ll gradually introduce you to the sport.

No matter how fit or unfit you are, whether you know anything about martial arts or not, kickboxing can be awesome. You simply need to be devoted and consistent as you practice.

Of course, a person who is physically fit or who has mastered another martial art would most likely master it faster than a total beginner.

What is the best age to start kickboxing?

Many kickboxing classes start at age 13, but most schools offer martial arts programs for kids as young as 5 or 6 where they learn the basics of martial arts including some kickboxing training. But kickboxing classes geared for fitness only are often just adults.

And for kids, the training is tailored to suit them, so there’s nothing to worry about.

Kickboxing is fun. So, it’s an activity kids would enjoy and grow to love. Getting them to start early gives them an edge as they would have had years of training should they decide later that it’s something they want to take to the next level.

Even if they decide it’s not for them later, they would have gained a lot in terms of increased self-confidence, fitness, self-esteem, and self-defense skills.

But once someone enters the teen years, that’s often when the training gets serious.

But the starting age depends a lot on whether the school or class you found is geared just towards fitness or if it’s geared towards MMA or competitions. The fitness classes are going to be mostly for adults.

Say you’re thinking of signing up for Karate or Kickboxing, which one’s better?

Go for kickboxing. Why? It’s a combination of Boxing, Muay Thai, and Karate. It’s a distillation of the most effective moves in these different martial arts, resulting in a more effective system for defending yourself.

In a recent article, I shared more reasons why kickboxing is the way to go. I revealed the most effective martial art and whether a Kickboxer can beat a Karate fighter.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Is 20 too old to start kickboxing?

20 is not old to start kickboxing and, in fact, is an ideal age. At 20, most people are still in good shape, have not developed ingrained bad habits, and have high levels of energy and flexibility. 

Kickboxing can help channel this so that one’s level of confidence is increased, becomes fit, and is also able to defend oneself.

The 20s are great because one is in peak physical condition.

Of course, there could be a subtle tendency to go to the “dark side” as one becomes disenchanted with the realities of adult life. If not curtailed, this could have disastrous consequences — such as taking drugs and adopting a nihilistic worldview.

Taking up kickboxing at this age is not only wise, but it’s also a blessing because it helps focus the energies that could easily be diverted. Kickboxing makes you fit and able to defend yourself.

But there are also “soft” skills such as discipline, working with others, focus, and grit that increases the likelihood that you’d be successful in other facets of life.

Torn between Kickboxing and Muay Thai? I understand.

Muay Thai is better than Kickboxing because it offers you more weapons, as it were. It’s an 8-point system, while the latter is a 4-point system. I explained this and a lot more in a recent article of mine.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Is 40 too old to start kickboxing?

40 is not too old to start kickboxing. Unless a person is crippled by a major injury or illness, there is no age limit when it comes to kickboxing. A 40-year-old can reap immense benefits by learning kickboxing. It positively impacts their self-image, health, and fitness and can kickstart a “rebirth.”

Let’s face it. You’re not as strong as an average 20-year-old, and you may even have a pot-belly and love handles to show you’ve had a taste of the “good life.”

But, because kickboxing offers several benefits, it’s a great sport to pick up even if you’re 40 or 40 plus.

At 40 or 40 plus, some of us experience the proverbial mid-life crisis. If it’s not addressed, it could devolve into depression, or at least anxieties, which could have adverse effects on other facets of our life.

Picking up kickboxing is a great way to be “reborn.”

It’s a way to be introduced to our real selves. As you go through the drills and master the techniques, you become more disciplined.

And as you see a more physically attractive you in the mirror, you regain that energy and enthusiasm that came naturally when you were a lot younger.

Kickboxing vs. MMA, which one’s better?

MMA is better because it is a more well-rounded sport, and it almost always involves kickboxing.

But, it’s more ideal if you’re thinking of competing professionally, while kickboxing is awesome for fitness and it has some self-defense applications. In a recent article, I shared more reasons why MMA is the way to go.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What is the hardest part of learning kickboxing?

The footwork in kickboxing is the part many learners find highly challenging. It is a part many do not see, but it’s an integral part of being a first-class kickboxer. Shin conditioning is also very challenging due to the initial pain.

But, like most things, those can be learned and mastered in time.

The punches and the strikes we see and enjoy, just as in boxing, have to be coordinated with having great footwork. This ensures that the fighter has strong balance and that they can easily find angles that enable them to reach their rival whenever they want.

It’s critical for offensive and defensive moves.

Fighters who are hip to masterful footwork are flexible and nimble (think of Mohammed Ali). They can throw their weight behind their kicks and punches and can easily dodge kicks and punches launched by their rivals.

It’s hard to master because it’s a skill that has to be intuitive — you can’t be overthinking about it, or you’ll be hit! It has to be swift and fluid.

Is kickboxing bad for your knees?

In a recent article, I explained why it’s not bad for the knees.

Properly practiced, it can make the knees stronger. The following are some of the themes I also explored: how to protect your knees, kickboxing’s effects on your joints, and exercises to avoid if you’ve got bad knees.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

KICKBOXING FUNDAMENTALS: Basic Kickboxing Techniques

Conclusion

We checked out if it’s good for beginners and what is the best age to start learning Kickboxing.

We also looked at whether 20 and even 40 are too old to start kickboxing. And we wrapped things up by checking out what is the hardest part of learning kickboxing.

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