Kick Boxing: You'll get a kick out of this......

"Wow, this is like Zumba with muscles!" I thought as we went through some of the routines in Kick Boxing. After you have visited as many classes at the YMCA as I have, which by the way is all of them now, comparisons become inevitable. I was the only guy unfortunately in this well-attended class with mostly younger women, and that is a shame since in many ways this seems like a guy's kind of class. There is the rhythmic music that gets you going of course and this punctuated by powerful punch and kick movements that I really liked. I had just came off a 13 mile cross-country ski race so I was about as fit as I can get and I was glad because this class, like several others I have attended, can really put you through the ringer. My heart was in the working zone (65-85%) of max for half of the time and above this for the other half.

While there aren't too many Olympic-style skate skiers this far south, this class more than any other I have attended seemed to match some of the demands of my favorite sport. The cardiovascular demands of this class is exactly what I need. I realized in the race that despite my efforts I hadn't done enough in this regard since in the race my heart rate was at 98% and above for over two and a half hours. Additionally, the powerful side kicks that we repetitively did in Kick Boxing are not that different from the powerful side thrust (much like ice skating) that I use in skate skiing. There is something really cool about the punching and kicking movements in this class. Maybe all these ladies in there have aggressive tendencies that they have been hiding otherwise because everyone was really getting into the activity.

Our instructor Karole was excellent at leading the movements and letting us know when there was going to be a change. This was particularly important to me, a first-time participant. We ended with some core-strengthening crunches, which I have learned to hate but know I need, and some stretching. Is it just me, or are women way more limber? All in all, this is a great class and anyone who joins will certainly get a kick out of it, particularly if they stand too close to the next participant!

Next: Final thoughts