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Fusion Combat Training Center

Kickboxing Terminology: A Beginner’s Guide to Common Strikes and Stances

December 31, 2018

Stepping into your first kickboxing class at Fusion Combat Training Center can feel like stepping into a vibrant new world, full of energy, dynamic movements, and a specialized vocabulary. For beginners, understanding the kickboxing terminology for common strikes and stances is the first step to feeling comfortable and confident on the mats. At Fusion Combat Training Center, right here in Denver, Colorado, we’re dedicated to making kickboxing training accessible and empowering for everyone. This guide will demystify the essential terms you’ll hear and use, giving you a solid foundation for learning the powerful punches, kicks, and defensive techniques that define this exciting combat sport. Ready to begin your martial arts journey? Find the perfect training path at Fusion Combat Training Center!

Kickboxing student performing pad work with a demonstration of a roundhouse kick.

The Foundation: Essential Stances in Kickboxing

Before you can throw a single strike, you need to know how to stand. Your stance is your base – it provides balance, power, and the ability to move fluidly.

  • Fighting Stance (or Combat Stance): This is your primary ready position.
    • Orthodox Stance: If you are right-handed, your left foot will be forward, and your right foot back. Your lead (left) hand will be in front, and your rear (right) hand will be near your chin.
    • Southpaw Stance: If you are left-handed, your right foot will be forward, and your left foot back. Your lead (right) hand will be in front, and your rear (left) hand will be near your chin.
    • Key elements: Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight evenly distributed (or slightly more on the lead foot), hands up protecting the face, chin tucked, elbows down.
  • Guard: The defensive posture of your hands and arms, kept high to protect your head and body. A good guard is dynamic and moves with you.
  • Footwork: The way you move your feet to advance, retreat, pivot, and create angles. Efficient footwork is crucial for both offense and defense in kickboxing.

Unleashing the Hands: Fundamental Kickboxing Punches

Kickboxing incorporates powerful punches adapted from boxing. Mastering these fundamental hand strikes is crucial for creating combinations and maintaining offensive pressure.

  • Jab: A quick, straight punch thrown with your lead hand.
    • Purpose: Used for measuring distance, setting up more powerful strikes, disrupting an opponent’s rhythm, or light attacks. It’s often the first strike in a combination.
  • Cross (or Straight Right/Left): A powerful straight punch thrown with your rear hand.
    • Purpose: This is your power punch. It generates force by rotating your hips and shoulders, delivering maximum impact. Often follows a jab.
  • Hook: A semi-circular punch delivered with a bent elbow, targeting the side of the head or body.
    • Purpose: Effective in close to mid-range, often used to bypass an opponent’s guard. Can be thrown with either the lead or rear hand.
  • Uppercut: An upward, vertical punch aimed at the chin or solar plexus.
    • Purpose: Highly effective in close quarters, often used to break through an opponent’s guard and lift their head for follow-up strikes.
  • One-Two (1-2 Combination): A fundamental combination consisting of a jab followed immediately by a cross. This is the bread and butter of kickboxing striking.

The Power of the Legs: Essential Kickboxing Kicks

What truly sets kickboxing apart are the dynamic and powerful kicks. These allow you to strike from a greater distance and target different areas of the opponent’s body.

  • Roundhouse Kick (or Thai Kick): A powerful, arcing kick delivered with the shin or instep, targeting the legs (low kick), body (middle kick), or head (high kick).
    • Purpose: Highly versatile and devastating. Requires strong hip rotation and pivoting on the supporting foot.
  • Front Kick (or Push Kick / Teep): A straight, linear kick delivered with the ball of the foot or the heel.
    • Purpose: Used for maintaining distance, pushing an opponent back, interrupting their attacks, or targeting the body/face.
  • Side Kick: A powerful linear kick delivered with the heel or blade of the foot, often used to create separation or push an opponent back.
    • Purpose: Known for its pushing power and ability to stop an advancing opponent.
  • Axe Kick: An uncommon but visually impressive kick delivered by swinging the leg upwards and then chopping down with the heel or blade of the foot onto the opponent’s head or shoulder.
    • Purpose: A more advanced technique often used to bypass a high guard.

Close-Range Combat: Knees and Elbows (Style Dependent)

While not always present in every kickboxing rule set, knees and elbows are vital in disciplines like Muay Thai kickboxing.

  • Knee Strike: A direct upward or diagonal strike delivered with the knee, highly effective in the clinch or at close range.
  • Elbow Strike: A sharp, short-range strike delivered with the point of the elbow, capable of causing significant damage (especially in Muay Thai).
  • Clinch: A close-quarters grappling position where fighters grab and control each other’s upper bodies, primarily to deliver knees and elbows. A defining aspect of Muay Thai.

Beyond the Strike: Other Important Kickboxing Terms

  • Bag Work: Training by hitting a heavy bag, focusing on power, endurance, and technique.
  • Pad Work: Training with a partner holding striking pads, allowing for realistic combinations and target practice.
  • Sparring: Controlled practice fighting with a partner, applying techniques under realistic pressure. This is crucial for developing timing and strategy.
  • Combination: A sequence of two or more strikes thrown in quick succession (e.g., “Jab-Cross-Hook-Low Kick”).
  • Defense: Techniques used to avoid or block incoming strikes (e.g., blocks, parries, slips, rolls).

Starting Your Kickboxing Journey in Denver

Understanding this basic kickboxing terminology will significantly enhance your learning experience at Fusion Combat Training Center. Our expert instructors in Denver are skilled at teaching beginners, breaking down complex movements, and explaining the purpose behind each technique.

Whether your goal is to boost your fitness, learn practical self-defense, or simply experience the exhilarating world of kickboxing, our welcoming community is here to support you. Knowing the language of the ring is a powerful step towards building your confidence and mastering this dynamic martial art. Join us today and discover the full potential of kickboxing training!

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