Learning boxing and kickboxing at once?

[bowlie]

I am going to start training soon and the gym i want to go to has boxing at lunch some days and kickboxing in the evening. Depending on my timetable i might have to mix and match, will this set me back? I want to compete in boxing first, but i would like to do both eventually. Will doing two standup arts at once be confusing or bad?

 

[crossFTW]

It would be too confusing to learn both at the same time. Stick to one until you get the fundamentals because your coaches are gonna tell you different things which will contradict each other, and you also have you stand differently for each one.

 

[Genki Pseudo]

I disagree. do both.

 

[spannered]

Firstly, don't make the beginner mistake of saying you're going to compete before you've even walked in the doors. I've been to a few gyms over the past 18 months, and people generally fall into 3 different catagories; those that stick it out, get to an intermediate level and use it as a hobby; those that step up training and eventually go onto fight, and those that flutter off after a few weeks.

The 3rd catagory make up probably 75% of people, 20% make up the first catagory and 5% end up competing. The idea of it fighting is often a lot different to the reality.

See how you like it, how your athleticism holds up and decide if you will compete further down the track.

As for the boxing/kickboxing combo, it really depends on what your goals are. I decided to be a hero and learn all facets of MMA straight away, taking BJJ, boxing, Thai Boxing and wrestling classes.

I ended up overtraining, getting injured and not learning anywhere near as much as I wanted to in each disciplin.

Boxing and kickboxing are actually very different, each coach will pick you up on applying to much of the others technique, and you'll increase the learning curve simply by having to adjust yourself with the fundamentals with each class.

Saying that, they do compliment each other in a freestyle fighting perpective, so if MMA is something you'd like to eventually train, by all means, take both classes.

 

[TheBOO]

Do both.

 

[bowlie]

Ok thanks. I have already done boxing for 6 months, BJJ for another and am currently just doing TKD untill my arm is better. I train because its fun, and the one BJJ comp i have done so far was amazing so i want to compete. sadly i cant do ground fighting any more due to injurys, but i figured that shouldnt stop me competing in a standup sport if i can. Boxing is something i definatly want to compete in at least a few times, and i would like to kickbox to be a more rounded athlete so boxing is my priority, but i thought if i can do both why not.

 

[aries]

I think what you'll find is that at the start it will be harder to get half decent at both but later on you'll reap the rewards if you want to be able to incorporate them both together. It's like starting off fighting orthodox and southpaw. It's going to be slower to get to the same standard as someone who has trained just one of them for the same amount of time but long down the road eventually you'll have an advantage.

 

[Momentum]

Hi Bowlie: It sounds like you've made your decision, but here's my two cents:

Do both. It may be difficult, starting out, to focus on the rules or the intricacies of both sports at once, but learning the fundamentals of both can only help you in the long run. Especially when you're talking about boxing and kickboxing, because they are not mutually exclusive sports and they bleed into eachother so well.

I agree with Spannered regarding competition. Train because you like learning the sport. Compete as a means of testing your training. Training to be a fighter only adds pressure to your training that you don't need. Do it for the love of the fight, not the thrill of the competition spotlight.

 

[NedDiaz]

do both. theyll flow together, thats kinda the point of kickboxing

 

[EWhite77]

I think it's really about the kind of person you are. If you like the tactical cerebral approach to things and focus on learning when certain techniques are good and when they are not so good you can probably make it work but it's gonna take some mental discipline for sure.

If your learning style is to get really deep into one thing at a time until it becomes natural then taking both classes might not be the best idea.

If you already have some martial arts training to mentally refer to it would probably make it easier to understand two new disciplines at once.

I personally love variety in technique. I usually take a muay thai, kickboxing, and jui jitsu class back to back to back every friday.

 

[KennisTheMenace**]

If you want to compete in boxing, you should just focus on learning how to box. Kickboxing has a different stance, and a mentality that involves kicking. I don't see how a kickboxing class is beneficial for an aspiring boxer.....you're gonna be in your boxing match wanting to kick the guy.

 

[Aaron Perls]

Firstly, don't make the beginner mistake of saying you're going to compete before you've even walked in the doors. I've been to a few gyms over the past 18 months, and people generally fall into 3 different catagories; those that stick it out, get to an intermediate level and use it as a hobby; those that step up training and eventually go onto fight, and those that flutter off after a few weeks.

The 3rd catagory make up probably 75% of people, 20% make up the first catagory and 5% end up competing. The idea of it fighting is often a lot different to the reality.

See how you like it, how your athleticism holds up and decide if you will compete further down the track.

As for the boxing/kickboxing combo, it really depends on what your goals are. I decided to be a hero and learn all facets of MMA straight away, taking BJJ, boxing, Thai Boxing and wrestling classes.

I ended up overtraining, getting injured and not learning anywhere near as much as I wanted to in each disciplin.

Boxing and kickboxing are actually very different, each coach will pick you up on applying to much of the others technique, and you'll increase the learning curve simply by having to adjust yourself with the fundamentals with each class.

Saying that, they do compliment each other in a freestyle fighting perpective, so if MMA is something you'd like to eventually train, by all means, take both classes.

This.

Do them both, figure out what you like.

A big part of striking is getting hit/beatup, and you're not going to stick with it to compete unless you really enjoy the sport. To that end, give yourself as much exposure as possible. You may find out what you thought you'd like is different than what it turns out you like.

 

[Blond]

I suggest learn pure boxing for some time (At least half a year) and then start training kickboxing. I never crosstrained in my life but i'm pretty sure it is not the type of training for complete beginners.