KICKBOXING LESSON

Before the lesson starts, I am busy preparing the materials that we are going to use that day. 'Good evening, I am here for a kickboxing lesson' is what I hear when someone walks in for a trial lesson. I introduce myself and have a short chat with the trial participant about any experience in martial arts and expectations they have about the lesson. Slowly, the other members start coming in. They immediately begin to get ready for the lesson, which is about to begin.

Then the lesson starts, first the warm-up and then a bit of stretching, and then everyone puts on their boxing gloves and shin guards. We begin with a simple combination and we gradually build it up. Then there are strength and conditioning exercises, and we finish with sparring and kicking on the pads. The lesson is over, and I say goodbye.

Immediately after the lesson, all conversations break loose, everyone is busy talking about how it went with that one combination or how someone managed to evade a nice attack. Meanwhile, I walk over to the trial participant and ask what they thought of the lesson. 'Fun,' he says while he is still trying to catch his breath. 'Physically, it was tough, but I didn't expect I would have to think so much.' I can't help but laugh a little. This is a reaction I often hear after a trial lesson. Many people think it is all about aggression and strength. Although strength is certainly a part of it, it is much more about conditioning, technique, and control. The wonderful moment when someone realizes this is something you as a trainer do not want to miss for all the gold in the world.