| Kickboxing is a sport that is somewhat similar to | | | | best moments. Using a punching bag does not help |
| boxing but allows the use of kicks. This simple | | | | you learn to kick at the right moment, but using a |
| change creates many more variables and changes | | | | human partner does. Your partner should move like |
| the way a fighter must fight. Kicks can be very | | | | he would in a real match and use arm or hand |
| devastating, but also tend to be slower than punches. | | | | mounted pads to absorb your kicks. These pads |
| Many of the world's best kickboxers can deliver | | | | serve as targets for you to hit, and your partner will |
| lightning fast kicks, and this is how they become the | | | | essentially be a dynamic punching bag that actually |
| top fighters in their weight class. Your kickboxing drills | | | | reacts like a human would. |
| should stress speed and timing along with raw power. | | | | Your training partner can also feign strikes at you. |
| Even if power must be sacrificed, you should always | | | | This helps you learn to time your attacks along with |
| strive for well-timed kicks that actually land on target. | | | | your blocks and dodges. As your training partner |
| A very strong kick that is blocked wastes your | | | | throws a punch you can duck it and then respond |
| energy, inflicts little damage, and scores no points | | | | with a kick or punch. The goal is to land the strike |
| with the judges. Fast kicks that hit their target do a | | | | before his punching arm has time to get back to |
| lot of damage even if there is not much power | | | | block. Your training partner should then either absorb |
| behind the kick. Also, the judges score based on the | | | | your strike with his other arm's pad, or wear a full |
| number of landed strikes, not how strong you are. | | | | body pad to absorb strikes that come too quickly for |
| Your kickboxing drills should have specific targets that | | | | him. This kickboxing drill helps you learn how to react |
| you can kick at full speed. The use of a training | | | | to an opponent and his timing rather than just |
| partner and pads is the best way to improve your | | | | learning your blocking and striking separately. In a real |
| accuracy while boosting your speed. When in a match | | | | match, striking and blocked are interwoven, not |
| your opponent will have a certain timing to his | | | | separate. Your eventual goal should be that your |
| movements. It is important to learn how to read the | | | | partner will have to wear full body pads because his |
| timing of an opponent and throw your kicks at the | | | | hands cannot keep up with your strikes. |