Have you ever been so mad at someone or caught in a nasty situation that you feel as if you could punch something? Perhaps you even did, taking out your aggression on a pillow or your couch cushion.
However, there is an even better way to utilise your physical action to keep stress levels at bay. And that is with kickboxing.
What is kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a form of martial arts that is derived from karate. As its name suggests, this stand-up combat sport is a mixture of kicking and boxing. Besides karate, kickboxing also borrows moves from other martial arts including Muay Thai and boxing.
Where did kickboxing originate from?
Kickboxing was historically believed to have originated from Japan in the 1960s. Within a decade, it gained recognition in America and its popularity was further symbolised with the first World Championship being held in the United States by the Professional Karate Association.
Today, kickboxing is highly popular across the world and even in Singapore. It has evolved into a sport that is suitable for all ages and is a great group exercise activity as well.
Benefits of kickboxing
With its high energy vibe, kickboxing has gained traction among many sports enthusiasts and even among the general public.
Besides the health benefits that kickboxing brings about, undertaking a kickboxing workout at least once a week can help you feel re-energised and out of an exercise rut.
Here are more reasons why kickboxing is such an amazing workout:
Burns mega calories
As kickboxing combines martial arts techniques with heart-pumping cardio, it will definitely rev up your metabolism and is guaranteed to burn calories and fat. According to Women’s Health magazine, it is reported that an hour of kickboxing can burn between 750 up to 900 calories!
The cardio-conditioning aspect of kickboxing is highly effective in burning fat, especially stubborn belly fat that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Helps to reduce stress
Sometimes the best way to release stress is not to rant at someone or indulge in binge-eating, but intense physical activity. Kickboxing offers a healthy alternative for you to release some of your day’s frustration out of your system, in turn improving your mental clarity and allowing you to sleep better at night.
Kickboxing helps in releasing endorphins, which are your “feel good” hormones. Not only does the high-energy workout help to keep stress levels at bay, it also helps to give your energy levels a much needed boost.
Tones your entire body
The constant movement in kickboxing forces you to engage all your muscle groups in your body, which helps to tone every single part of your body, from your shoulders and abs right down to your legs and glutes.
Kickboxing also helps to improve your overall posture. As each movement requires a lot of core power to execute each coordinated move, it enhances your flexibility and fine-tunes your reflexes as well.
Equips you with valuable self-defense moves
While most may turn to kickboxing for a high-energy workout, the self-defense aspect of kickboxing is also a perk for many. While kickboxing may not necessarily be as good as other martial arts for self-defense, having the knowledge and ability to protect yourself if you were in a dangerous situation is a valuable asset.
Sign up for a sweat sesh at these kickboxing gyms and classes in Singapore:
Gym |
Evolve MMA |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://evolve-mma.com/ |
Address |
|
Contact | Tel: 65 6288 2293
Email: info@evolve-mma.com |
Operating Hours | Varies by outlet |
Gym |
UFC Gym Singapore |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://www.ufcgymsingapore.com |
Address | 1 Raffles Link #B1-47 Singapore 039393 |
Contact |
Tel: 65 6219 3364 Email: info@ufcgymsingapore.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 9am – 9pm
Weekends & PH: 10am – 7pm |
Review | Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality Great gym! The staff here, right from the membership sales department to the front of house counter know what they are doing and go the extra mile in a friendly yet professional manner. Not only for their top notch service, the gym cleanliness is superb. Members are well cooperative when it comes to personal hygiene etc. It is definitely a gym that is worth mentioning! Keep up the excellent effort at UFC Gym CityLink. – Stanley Tan |
Gym |
Savate Club Singapore |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://www.savateclubsingapore.com/ |
Address | PESEB Stadium yo:HA @ Evans, 26 Evans road 259367 Singapore |
Contact | Tel: 65 94 89 77 57
Email: savateclubsingapore@gmail.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 8pm – 9.30pm |
Gym |
UBX Training |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://ubxtraining.com/ |
Address | 46a Lor Mambong, Singapore 277696 |
Telephone | 65 8399 5528 |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri 6am-10:30am & 5pm-9pm
Sat: 8am – 12pm |
Gym |
CruBox |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://cru68.com/cruboxing |
Address | 68 Duxton Rd, #04-01, Singapore 089527 |
Contact | Tel: 65 6509 0804
Email: info@cruboxing.com.sg |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 6.30am – 9pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm Sun: 10am – 6pm |
Gym |
Zesty Kickz |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | http://www.zestykickz.com/ |
Address | 6A, #02-25 Shenton Way, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815 |
Telephone |
65 9800 5009
|
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 9pm |
Gym |
Impact MMA |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://impactmma.com.sg/ |
Address | No.3 Shenton Way, #03-06A Shenton House, Singapore 068805 |
Contact | Tel: 65 6223 8275
Email: enquiries@impactmma.com.sg |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 12.15pm – 9.45pm |
Gym |
WAKO Kickboxing |
Speciality |
|
Pricing |
|
Website | https://www.wakosingapore.com/ |
Address |
47 Beach Road, #03-02/07, Kheng Chiu Building, Singapore 189683 |
Contact | Tel: 65 8363 5661
Email: info@wakosingapore.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 12nn – 9pm
Sat: 11am – 2pm Closed on Sundays |
Gym |
Active Red |
Speciality |
|
Pricing |
|
Website | http://www.activered.sg/ |
Address | 47 Beach Road, #03-03 Kheng Chiu Building, Singapore 189683 |
Contact | Tel: 65-97615523
Email: info@activered.sg |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 12nn – 9pm
Sat: 11am – 2pm Closed on Sundays |
Gym |
Juggernaut Fight Club |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website | http://juggernautfightclub.com/ |
Address | 275 Beach Road #01-01, Singapore 199549 |
Contact | Tel: 65 6535 2501
Email: outtajuggernaut@gmail.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 12.30pm – 9.30pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm |
Gym |
Fitness First |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website | https://www.fitnessfirst.com.sg |
Address | Multiple locations here |
Contact | Tel: 65 6713 9120 |
Operating Hours | Varies by location |
Gym |
JR Muay Thai |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://jrmuaythai.com |
Address | Various locations here |
hello@jrmuaythai.com | |
Operating Hours | Varies by location |
Gym |
Onyx MMA |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website | https://www.onyxmma.com/ |
Address |
|
Contact | Tel: 65 8727 2788 / 65 8168 0661
Email: train@onyxmma.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 7am – 10pm
Sat: 8am – 4pm Sun: 8am – 2pm |
Gym |
Singapore Kickboxing Club |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | http://www.singaporekickboxing.com/ |
Address | Maximum Wellness, Pioneer Junction, #05-24, 3 Soon Lee St, Singapore 627606 |
Contact | Tel: 65 9225 5263
Email: info@singaporekickboxing.com |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 10am – 10pm |
Gym |
9Round Fitness Gym |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://www.9round.sg/ |
Address |
|
9roundsingapore@9round.sg | |
Operating Hours | Varies by location |
Gym |
Vanda Boxing Club |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | https://www.facebook.com/vandafitsg/ |
Address | 108 Robinson Road, Finexis Building, Singapore 068900 |
Contact | Tel: 65 6305 2288
Email: info@vandaboxing.com |
Gym |
Dance Arts Singapore |
Speciality |
|
Pricing |
|
Website | http://www.dancearts.com.sg/genres/kick-boxing/ |
Address | 520 North Bridge Road, Wisma Alsagoff, Level 4, Singapore 188742 |
Contact | Tel: 65 6338 2124
E-mail:enquiry@dancearts.com.sg |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 3pm – 8.30pm
Sat: 9am – 5.30pm Sun: 12nn – 5.30pm Closed on PH |
Gym |
Xpert Martial Arts |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | Contact for class prices |
Website | http://www.xpertmartialarts.com |
Address | Flexible |
sales@xpertmartialarts.com |
Gym |
The Ring |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website | https://thering.sg |
Address |
|
Contact | Tel: 65 6385 1488
Email: info@thering.sg |
Operating Hours | Mon – Fri: 7am to 8:30pm
Sat: 8am to 5pm Closed on Sundays |
Gym |
Spartans Boxing Club |
Speciality |
|
Pricing | View membership rates here |
Website | https://spartansboxing.com/ |
Address |
|
Contact | Tel: 65 8921 2600
Email: thegardens@spartansboxing.com |
Operating Hours | Varies by location |
Factors to consider before signing up with a kickboxing gym
Keen to sign up for your first kickboxing lesson? Here is what you need to know before you take your first kickboxing lesson.
Fitness level
Kickboxing is a high-energy and relatively high-intensity workout. However, if you are not used to such levels of cardio intensity, it might be worthwhile to take the lessons at a slower pace.
As there is a lot of hand coordination involved, as well as kicking and jabbing, the high intensity of the workout may leave you short of breath. Assess your fitness level to determine the pace at which you want to take up the lessons before seeing real results.
Figure out the class for you
Most kickboxing classes involve equipment such as heavy punching bags and mitts. If it is a bag or mitt class, boxing or MMA gloves are typically used. However, if it is a cardio kickboxing class, there is usually no equipment required. Nevertheless, it is always best to check with the gym studio whether you are required to bring your own equipment prior to the class or will the necessary equipment be provided.
Certain studios also bring specialised equipment into the studio while others may have a separate area for kickboxing. If you are looking to burn more calories, perhaps a kickboxing class that uses heavy bags and mitts would work for you. On the other hand, if you prefer to take things a little slower, it may be better to sign up for a general cardio kickboxing class.
Commitment level
As with any exercise routine, you will need to truly commit your time in order to reap the benefits. The same goes for kickboxing. In order to see results, you need to be able to commit to attending classes regularly.
After your kickboxing lesson, you can expect…
To sweat
Kickboxing is definitely fun, but it is still an exercise workout. While most classes will begin with a warm-up and end off with a cool-down, you can expect a lot of high-intensity movements in between. This includes punching, jumping and kicking along with other plyometric exercises such as jumping jacks, burpees, and push ups.
If it is your first time attending a kickboxing class, you may find it challenging. However, be patient and go at your own pace. With practice, you will definitely get better physically and mentally.
Soreness
Whenever you engage in a new exercise, you are bound to feel soreness within the next 24 hours. Kickboxing is no exception.
To minimise soreness, it is best to rehydrate yourself with plenty of water and stretch after the workout. The good news is that the more kickboxing you do, the stronger you will get and the easier it will feel!
Editor’s Note:
While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.
If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at enquiry@mm.com.sg. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.