In last month’s column, I addressed the importance of teaching a kickboxing introductory class and why the introductory instructor should focus on three primary objectives: safety, building rapport and making sure students have fun.These three objectives are most important, but don’t treat your fitness kickboxing student like second-class martial arts students. Take the time to teach your students some basic techniques, which will add to students’ enjoyment of their classes.
It’s also important that you don’t try to perfect their technique. Your goal is to make sure they acquire a basic understanding of how it is done and that they don’t hurt themselves.
When teaching kickboxing punches, you should use the same terminology as boxers. Instead of a backfist, reverse punch and ridge-hand strike, it should be a jab, cross and hook punch.
When you teach punches to introductory students, use only those from the traditional style of boxing. This means that their left legs are forward in a fighting stance.
During regular kickboxing classes, students should switch feet and work both sides, so they can develop strength and coordination on both sides of the body. During introductory classes, teach all of the punches with the left leg forward. It’s too confusing to keep switching them.
Teaching the Jab
The jab is a speed technique that comes from the lead hand, with very little body movement behind the punch. The jab is designed to set up power punches, such as the cross and hook. Remember, when teaching a student the jab:
1. Keep the elbow down and twist the thumb down during the last three inches of the extension of the punch.
2. Explain that the jab is a speed technique, designed to set up a combination. Use the analogy of snapping a fly from the air. To catch a fly, you must relax and snap.
Teaching the Cross
The cross is considered a power technique. The power of the cross is generated by the rotation of the heel/hip/shoulder and shifting the weight forward. Think of the 50/50-weight distribution in a fighting stance changing to a 70/30-weight distribution at the full extension of the punch. Remember, when teaching the cross:
1. Make sure the punch travels in a straight line. Do not allow students to confuse the cross with the hook punch.
2. Make sure the elbow stays down as the arm comes across the body and twist the thumb down during the last three inches of the extension of the punch.
3. Make sure students are not turning the palm down at the beginning of the punch because it will cause the elbow to extend and put excessive stress on the shoulder.
Teaching the Hook
The hook punch is probably the most challenging punch to teach and the most misunderstood. Most of the time, you’ll teach the hook punch to come from the lead hand.
To teach the hook punch, ask your students to extend their arms and bend them to a 90-degree angle with their elbows up and their palms down. Their left fists should be in line with their left shoulders. Instruct them to punch across, so their fists are now in line with their right shoulders. Their left forearms are parallel to the ground. That is the striking range of a hook punch.
Once students understand the basics of the hook punch, you will want to comment that this does not feel very strong. Power is added by rotating the forward heel/hip/shoulder, while shifting the weight back during the execution of the punch. Just like the cross, the 50/50-weight distribution changes to 70/30 with the majority of the weight shifting to the back leg.u
