More Boxing Combinations Applied to Cardio Kickboxing

This is the third in a series on martial arts striking combinations used as choreography in cardio kickboxing. As said, a key difference between a trained martial artist and a streetfighter is that the martial artist reflexively hits in sequences of three or four moves. The instinctive reaction isn't just a one-move event - it's a more effective practiced sequence of strikes. One punch or kick is easy to defend against, but three or four thrown in a row can be very difficult to deal with.

This reflexive reaction of hitting in sequences is only learned through lots of repetition and drills, performing sequences over and over until it is an automatic reflex. Cardio kickboxing is an ideal way to do this. In fact many of the patterns in cardio kickboxing are drawn from such drills.

In this article, let's start with looking at some variations on a simple boxing sequence. We are going to see that a lot of variety can be had from a single sequence. Start out using a boxer's stance position, feet shoulder width apart and with left foot forward. The sequence is -

Jab, Jab, Jab, Cross

Now add some spice. Instead of three straight jabs, vary the pattern to -

Jab-up, Jab-down, Jab-middle, and Cross

Repeat 4-8 times. Now add some movement - Going back to a straight jab, look 90 degrees right and shuffle right leg first three steps to the side -

Right Jab Shuffle, Right Jab Shuffle, Right Jab Shuffle, and Left Cross

Immediately face and shuffle left with the same sequence on the other side -

Left Jab Shuffle, Left Jab Shuffle, Left Jab Shuffle, and Right Cross

Repeat shuffling back and forth four or eight times. An optional variation would be to add four forward punches after the cross on each side. I say punch because after the shuffle-cross, your legs will be square to the front so there isn't a difference between a Jab and a Cross. With the added punches, the sequence is -

Right Jab Shuffle, Right Jab Shuffle, Right Jab Shuffle, and Left Cross. Right punch, Left punch, Right punch, Left Punch

Then reverse and do the same sequence build mirrored to the left. Depending on the level of the class it might be good to introduce the sequences half time then double them up to tempo. Devote equal time to right and left-leg forward positions.

Now lets look at what can be done with another basic sequence, this one from Kickboxing. The second basic sequence also starts from boxer's stance with, in this case, the left leg forward -

Jab, Cross, Jab, Guard

Do four times then change the Guard to a Knee -

Jab, Cross, Jab, Lead-leg Knee

Do four times then change the Knee to a Front Kick -

Jab, Cross, Jab, Lead-leg Front Kick

Now shift 45 degrees to the right, do the sequence once, then shift 90 degrees to the left (45 degrees to the left of the front) and do once, then shift 90 degrees to the right and do once, shift left and do once, and so on. The trick here is to turn during the kick. Depending on the class you might want to go back to a knee instead of a kick for the turn. Cue the shifts verbally (turn to the right corner of the room, turn to the left corner) and by, just before you start moving 45 degrees off angle, pointing in the direction you are shifting to.

After doing this four to eight times tell people 'we are going to keep going' and instead of switching back and forth, continue in one direction, after 4 shifts winding up where you started. Circle this way four times.

Then reverse your stance and repeat the sequence on the other side.

A simple variation on this would be to change the third strike from a Jab to a Lead Hook -

Jab, cross, lead hook, cover
Jab, cross, lead hook, lead knee
Jab, cross, lead hook, lead front kick

Again it might be appropriate to introduce the sequences half time then double them up. Devote equal time to right and left-leg forward positions. The basic standing versions of all of these sequences work equally well on the bags. After you get the progressions down, start inter-mixing the combinations together in different patterns to present something different every class.

Kickboxing Combinations Applied to Cardio Kickboxing

This is the second in a series on martial arts striking combinations used as choreography in cardio kickboxing. As said, a key difference between a trained martial artist and a streetfighter is that the martial artist reflexively hits in sequences of three or four moves. The instinctive non-thinking reaction isn't just a one-move event, its a more effective practiced sequence of strikes. One punch or kick is easy to defend against, but three or four thrown in a row can be very difficult to deal with.

This reflexive reaction of hitting in sequences is only learned through lots of repetition and drills, performing sequences over and over until it is an automatic reflex. Cardio kickboxing is an ideal way to do this. In fact many of the patterns in cardio kickboxing are drawn from such drills.

Useful for cardio kickboxing choreography, here are some real-world combinations culled from the martial art sport loosely called Kickboxing. What came to be known as competitive kickboxing is a constrained system common to a number of martial arts. The original brand of "Kickboxing" was developed in Japan in 1950 by boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi as a style/ruleset for beating Muay Thai fighters. In classic competitive Kickboxing opponents are allowed to strike with both the fists and the feet, hitting above the hip. However, unlike Muay Thai, using elbows or knees was forbidden and the use of shins was also often not allowed.

Kicks are generally more powerful than punches and so are a valuable tool. But in practice it is a good idea to set up a leg kick with handwork first. A jab or two will make your opponent think about your hands...then you step and kick. Or jab/cross/right kick, with the cross either being more of a fake and push (which allows you to kick really hard) or a hard right that sets up a right kick It's more difficult to kick hard with this combo, but if you drill the guy with a good cross he'll be knocked back a bit and then you step in...

Here are the combinations:

Jab, cross, lead hook, cover

Jab, cross, lead hook, lead front kick

Jab, cross, rear leg front roundhouse kick, cover

Introduce the sequences half-time, then depending on the students, double it up. For the last sequence above make sure to tell the students to bring their rear foot back to the rear-foot starting position after the roundhouse kick (instead of alongside the other). In practice the cover happens simultaneously with bringing the foot back.

Of course for every rule (punch before kick) there is an exception. This sequence works particularly well on the bags.

Lead leg side kick, feet together, rear leg step back

Lead leg side kick, feet together, cross with rear leg step back

These combinations can be repeated individually or in sequences either on the floor or with a heavy bag. Devote equal time to right and left leg forward positions. Most are oriented around smooth rotation around the spine, swinging the body so that each punch or kick winds up for the next. After you get the progressions down, start inter-mixing the combinations together in different patterns to present something different every class.