Self Defense and Kickboxing at WNY MMA and Fitness

Self Defense and Kickboxing at WNY MMA and Fitness:

Kickboxing isn't just a way to get in shape, it can also have benefits for those interested in self defense. If you're studying self defense, a kickboxing class can be a great supplement. Kickboxing at WNY MMA and Fitness can help you learn the physical basics of reacting to an attack, including how to stand, move and fight.

Kickboxing Explained

Kickboxing is a type of sport that combines boxing with kicking. In competition, the fight does not continue once the opponent has reached the ground. Kickboxing can be practiced competitively, for fun or fitness, or as a type of self defense.

There are a number of styles of kickboxing. American kickboxing was invented in 1970 by martial artists who combined Karate with boxing moves.

How to Study Kickboxing

If you'd like to study kickboxing for fun, competition or self defense, you should take a class from a qualified teacher. Find a teacher who's willing to give each student the individual attention she needs. Your teacher should make sure you warm up at the beginning of each class and that you've learned each basic step and technique thoroughly before you move on to others.

If you're studying kickboxing for self defense find a class in which you'll be required to spar with the other students. Sparring in this manner is the only way to prepare for an attack situation.

Improving Self Defense Skills

Studying kickboxing will teach you how to stand and move so that you can be on your guard and react quickly in an attack situation. Kickboxing classes offered at WNY MMA can help you learn to maintain your poise and balance even while you're being attacked, so that you can fight back more effectively. Kickboxing can also teach you how to kick and punch to protect yourself and fend off an attacker. You'll learn the proper position in which to hold your hands during a fight, and you'll learn how to block your attacker's moves when he tries to punch, kick or grab you.

Sparring during kickboxing classes can help you learn how to react to an actual attacker, which is something you won't learn from performing aerobics exercises or punching a bag. Sparring matches teach you to anticipate your opponent's next moves and protect yourself from his attacks. Only sparring with other students in your kickboxing class can teach you what it's like to fight for real. You'll learn how to react quickly to your opponent's attacks, to defend yourself effectively against his grabs, kicks and punches and to make effective grabs, kicks and punches of your own.

Kickboxing will also make you stronger. Kickboxing classes offer an intense cardio workout that will improve your endurance by strengthening your heart and respiratory system. You'll build your core muscles and the muscles of your legs, arms and shoulders, so you'll have added strength to help you in a self defense situation.

Kickboxing Kangaroo: Buffalo Kickboxing

Kickboxing Kangaroo: Buffalo Kickboxing

Think you would have a chance against a kickboxing kangaroo? So did this guy.

Better luck next time! Better get yourself into WNY MMA & Fitness for some Buffalo Kickboxing classes and maybe, just maybe next time you'll stand a chance!

DISAMBIGUATION ABOUT 5 STYLES CALLED KICKBOXING: Buffalo Kickboxing

DISAMBIGUATION ABOUT 5 STYLES CALLED KICKBOXING: Buffalo Kickboxing

For somebody who has been practicing kickboxing since before it was given this name I find somehow irritating when people confuse it or, worse, deliberately misuse its name for commercial reasons. (martialwhat.com) Most martial arts, despite attracting some time interesting numbers of keen followers, failed to attract the real interest of the masses in terms the education systems, TV coverage and commercial sponsorships.  The only exception, over the last decade or so is the growing popularity of MMA. 

If we can thank Bruce Lee for creating a huge awareness and interest for martial arts thanks to his movies in the 60ies and 70ies we could thank Jean Claude Van Damme for helping Kickboxing becoming a main stream martial art and sport thanks to his movies of from the late 80ies and early 90ies.  So while if you are practicing Tang So Do or Wing Chun you still have to explain to people what you do when you tell people to be training Buffalo Kickboxing most of them will have at least a clue of what you do.

For this reason many organizations are promoting their martial arts as Kickboxing even when they are practicing something else and they should really keep its original name.  I will list below the 5 martial arts to me known that are all confusingly called Kickboxing while just one of them should be it.

AMERICAN KICKBOXING

Original called Karate Contact to differentiate from the no-contact karate competitions that still take place nowadays.  This martial art was initially practiced as a form of freestyle karate that allowed contact during sparring and competitions; it then developed into adding more appropriate boxing punches and combinations of kicks and punches.  Targets for all punches and kicks are the front part of the body and face, no low kicks are allowed.  American Buffalo Kickboxing is practiced with full protection kit, boxing gloves, mouth guard, groin guard, sheen pads and foot pads. The uniform usually includes a t-shirt or jacket and long trousers.

MUAY THAI

Muay Thai, also called Thai Boxing or Thai Kickboxing is a form of sport fight originated in Thailand and it allows one of the most complete and harsh fighting scenario for a sport bout.  Muay Thai allows punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes to all parts of the body.  While training is usually performed while wearing a reasonable level of kit such as gloves, mouth guard, groin guard and sheen pads, fights are performed without any leg protection.

JAPANESE KICKBOXING

The origins of Japanese Kickboxing are rooted in Muay Thai. It all started in th 60ies when a Japanese Karate master, after seeing a Muay Thai fight decided, to adopt a similar style fight full contact sparring.  Japanese Kickboxing has now evolved into K1 a world popular fighting sport that looks similar to Thai boxing, excluding elbow strikes; that means it allows punches, kicks and knee strikes to all parts of the body, excluding groin.   K1 has regular followers and practitioners in Japan, Europe and USA with TV coverage and large sponsorships. Typical uniform for Japanese Kickboxing is just shorts and perhaps a vest.

SAVATE

Also called French Boxing (or Boxe Française) is a French version of fighting sport with a number of differences compared to the rest of similar martial arts. In Savate both punches and kicks are allowed but they limit the target for the formers to the front of body, above the belt and face, e.g. similar to IBA boxing; quite confusingly kicks are instead allowed to hit the whole body, including back and legs.  The uniform used for Savate is also very typical as it’s a Lycra fabric full body suit and they wear boots instead of foot pads.

SANDA OR SANSHOU

Sanda, also called Chinese Kickboxing, was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon the intense study and practices of traditional Kung Fu and modern combat fighting techniques; it is a full contact form or Buffalo Kickboxing usually practiced as a fighting application of various kung fu styles like Shaolin or Wu Shu.  Its freestyle philosophy embraces a sport fight with little rules, where kicks and punches to any area of the body (excluding groin) are allowed; throws are also possible but the fight gets stopped as soon as the fighters hit the ground (e.g. no grappling and submission).

So in my opinion just American and Japanese Kickboxing have the legitimate right to be called Kickboxing while the remaining three are getting free publicity by the big popularity that the name Buffalo Kickboxing has gained over the last 20 years or so.  This list is the most accurate to the best of my knowledge; it relies on my over 30 years experience in martial arts and research I did online, both on Wikipedia and other sources.  If you have any suggestions for amendments please leave a comment.

New years resolution assistance

   If you are one of the many Buffalo kick boxing junkies then you may have set a new years resolution to maybe "get your first fight" or "get your first win" or maybe "win golden gloves".
   I have a gift for you! For those of you in Buffalo kickboxing I found a video that helped me with my resolution and I would love to share it with you. Maybe you get that W now.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=672719279452499
 

oops!

If you are a part of Buffalo Kickboxing then you will get a kick out of this fun video. Also remember to stay humble because this could end up being you someday.

http://latinrapper.com/blogs/?p=2246

Brief History of Kickboxing: Buffalo Kickboxing

Brief History of Kickboxing: Buffalo Kickboxing An article from columbia.edu

The true roots of Buffalo Kickboxing can be found to date back 2000 years ago in Far East Asia, where Muay Thai Kickboxing was commonly practiced as a self-defense discipline. However it gradually became more of a sport over the years. Thai boxing soon became the most common and popular fighting sport in Asia. MuayThai - Kickboxing was controlled by the Thailand government, under the name of WMTC (World MuayThai Council). The main proponent that gave way to the rise of Kickboxing was Bruce Lee, making the link with the United States, making way for the future of International Kickboxing. By the late Twentieth century the sport Kickboxing was starting to take its own original form. The strong urge for a Full contact sport, overtaking the rigid rules and boundaries of Karate, led to an all- new evolved version of Full contact Kickboxing.

Joe Lewis, the first Professional Karate Association PKA World Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion, was a pioneer of full contact karate and fought in the prototype full contact bout in Long Beach, CA in Jan 1970. It was Lewis who contacted karate innovator Mike Anderson with a view to organizing and promoting the new sport of full contact karate, as it was called in those days. Full contact karate, now called kickboxing, was officially born in Los Angeles in September 1974 when Anderson, together with Don and Judy Quine, formed the first world sanctioning body for the new sport and named it the PKA. They promoted the first full contact World Professional Karate Championships. This was the beginning of modern Buffalo kickboxing. 

George Bruckner from Germany, who was a close friend of Mike Anderson, pioneered full contact karate in Europe. In 1975 Bruckner together with other European martial artists formed the World All Style Karate Organization WAKO. First European Kickboxing Championships were promoted by Bruckner in 1976 in Germany. Full contact karate, or kickboxing, was by this time spreading globally and had become an international sport.

In USA a number of other kickboxing sanctioning bodies came into being, namely WKA (World Karate Association) , ISKA (International Sport Karate Association), KICK (Karate International Council of Kickboxing), PKC (Professional Karate Commission) and WAKO-Pro (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations - Professional).The WKF (World Kickboxing Federation) was established in London in 1987. With the formation of these sanctioning bodies, promoters in the USA and elsewhere began to promote world title fights as well as international kickboxing bouts. Kickboxing had started to gain in popularity all over the world, even Buffalo kickboxing, to the point where it had become both an internationally recognized sport and martial arts discipline. 

11 Great Gifts for Those Who Love to Punch & Kick: Buffalo Kickboxing

11 Great Gifts for Those Who Love to Punch & Kick: Buffalo Kickboxing

An article by Katalin Rodriguez Ogren  

Let me help you find the perfect gift for anyone you know that loves to punch and kick.  If you know someone that is taking a boxing class at their local health club, doing Krav Maga at a licensed training center, Buffalo kickboxing at WNY MMA & Fitness or doing Muay Thai at a martial arts school, you should check out these 10 gift ideas.   Although I have been training for 30+ years, I still need new training gear all the time. I have provided a wide range of gifts. Many of these gift ideas are awesome stocking stuffers and very affordable.   I have recently bought most of these items over the past couple months for myself.  Keep in mind, that every martial arts practitioner needs new clothes, gis, and gloves. These items also make great gifts, but they are very personal and unless you know a person's exact gi size and style, whether they need training verse sparring gloves, you may find it easier to choose from these types of gifts.

Here is the list of each gift, check out the pictures .

1.  Private Lessons $25 to $95 a session.  Everyone wishes they could get some extra training and improve their form. WNY MMA & Fitness offers great instruction and most importantly has been around for years and can be trusted.

• WNY MMA & Fitness

2.  Forearm Shields are $39.99 each.  They are lightweight and super easy to sanitize.  They are ideal for beginners of Buffalo Kickboxing and women.  They are 11.5 X 15.5 X 2.5 inches in size.  They can also be used for kids.  I actually like using them for throwing elbows knees, punches and kicks.  Although traditional thai pads are durable, they are heavy. This product is much easier for a woman to hold.

Sold individually.

3.  Dynamic Mouthpieces for $19.99 by  Fight Dentist ,  These mouthpieces also come in sizes for the smaller athletes.  It has a convertible strap making it suitable for other sports other than the combat sports.  They are designed by dentists, so they are flexible.  They are ergonomically designed to shape and mold better inside of the mouth making them more comfortable for Buffalo Kickboxing.  It also has great suction so it is easier to breathe and talk when the mouthpiece is in.  The best part is that they come in crazy designs which also makes it super fun to use.  The best alternative if you can not afford to have your dentist make you a custom mouthpiece.

Wide variety of styles.

4   Revgear Transformer  Training Bag for $59.99, Everyone that trains needs a good bag for their gear.  This awesome bag transforms into a backpack.  It is very durable and features two-way zippers that are heavy-duty and a zipped mesh pocket for items like keys, phones and mouthpieces.  It is padded on the bottom and has two wet pockets on the sides,  for sweaty clothes and gear.  It is 3 lbs and measures 27" L x 12.5" W x 13" deep.

Transforms into a backpack.

5.  Muay Thai Shorts for $24.99,  There are so many great designs for muay thai shorts.  However, they range in price from $29 to $79.  I like this pair because they are affordable.  Thay are made out of the typical nylon fabric and has the extra wide waist band.  They are great on their own and afforadable enough to combine them with a private lesson or other items to make a combat sports training gift bag.

6. Short Textured Foam Roller for $23.98.  So many companies make foam rollers.  This tool is excellent at preventing injuries. Often they are several feet long.  This shorter version takes up less room.  It offers a deep massage with its bumpy surfaces which are rounded and not pointy. I prefer the rounded bumps because it bruises less.  This is an ideal tool for lower bag and legs.  A great way to lengthen the muscles for Buffalo Kickboxing.

Has a bummy surface.

7. Sandbells range from $15 to $106 (depends on weight).  This is a great functional training tool.  Develops grip and forearm strength.  It is a neoprene disc that is filled with sand. You can purchased with pre-filled. They are many videos and exercises online to show various exercises and ways to acclimate into your existing program.  Adding these exercises is great way to also avoid injuries to your hands and fingers during Buffalo Kickboxing.

Comes in a variety of sizes and don't take up much room.

8.  Medicine Ball Storage Rack, $109.98.  This powder-coated steel rack fits 3 medicine balls.  It can used for any size ball.  I added this rack because if you use these balls in your home gym, this is an ideal storage unit. This rack also comes assembled.

Fits 3 balls.

9.  Dual Grip Xerball ranges from $45 to $120.  This is one of my favorite medicine balls. Like all balls they come in various sizes and  you pay more for more weight. It is still made of rubber and can bounce a bit.  I like using the handles to minimize strain in my wrists and the ability to move dynamically without losing my grip on the ball.

You can purchase 6 to 20 lbs.

10.  Hand Wrap Bag with Clip, $9.99.  This is one of the best bags I have seen on the market for handwraps.  It fits up to 8 pair of hand wraps.  I actually found it on Amazon and therefore can be purchased right  now for as low as $4.00.  It has very strong mesh on both sides of the bag. But I like that it is square and can clip onto ,my Buffalo Kickboxing training bag so it is easy to find.  I prefer not to throw my wraps inside of my gear bag, because they tangled and they stink up my bag.  Clipping them to the outside allows them to dry more quickly.

Can wash and dry with this bag/ Back side.

Front view of bag,

11.  DVD on Basic Focus Mitt Training, 18.99  So ,I added this gift idea late.   But those who train in any of the stand up sports like boxing or muay thai know that focus mitt work is the key to a great training session.  This DVD will improve your work out from both positions.  Taught Ryan Hoover, Co -Founder of Fit to Fight.