# Should I try kickboxing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 17, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830 "2001-08-17T23:40:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Spoonbender](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spoonbender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoonbender)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830/1 "2001-08-17T23:40:14Z")

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There’s a kickboxing course being offered at a local community college that I’m thinking of trying. I’m 30, male, in reasonable shape (I do cardio stuff and lift weights) and I’m looking for something challenging. On the other hand, I don’t do much stretching so I’m not very flexible, and I’ve never done any type of boxing or martial arts before. My questions are: Exactly how rough is the sport? Are injuries common? Am I going to get my ass kicked by 20 year old kids? Will I show up for work next day looking like Edward Norton in _Fight Club_?

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**Author:** ![Shera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Shera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shera)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830/2 "2001-08-18T00:20:36Z")

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I am not sure what kind of structure your class is going to have, but the one that I took didn’t invovle actually fighting with anybody. It had more of an areobics with punches and kicks thrown in type of attitude. I hated it, I looked like a freak becuase I am highly uncoordinated. I only went once. I also do know what your class would be like, but mine was entirely women, not a man in sight except for the teacher. You might see this as a good quality though.

As far as whether or not you should take the class, Sure. If you don’t like it, you can always drop it.

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**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830/3 "2001-08-18T01:10:37Z")

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I’ll second in that you should take the class. If you dont like it, then dont go anymore.

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-kickboxing/76830/4 "2001-08-18T16:37:16Z")

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Most “kickboxing” classes these days are more like aerobics with sloppy kicks and punches thrown in (thanks to Billy Blanks)- take it for excercise, not self defense. If you’re looking to learn how to defend yourself, gain confidence and self discipline, and still get in decent shape, take a martial arts class at a traditional school.