Kickboxing lessons: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What kickboxing lessons is

Kickboxing lessons teach punches and kicks in combinations, using bags and pads, for fitness, self-defense or competition. People book them for a high-energy workout with real skills, to learn kicks they have never thrown, or to prepare for an amateur fight.

Signs you need it

  • You want a striking workout that uses both punches and kicks
  • Your kicks are weak or you lose balance when you throw them
  • Your punches and kicks do not link into combinations
  • You want to learn to kick and punch with control for self-defense
  • You are preparing for an amateur fight and need a plan for kicks and combinations

What the pro does

  • Checks your stance and footwork before you throw a kick or a punch
  • Teaches the jab, cross, hook and the front and round kicks, one at a time
  • Works on combinations on bags and pads, with timing and balance
  • Teaches defense, such as blocks, slips and checks against kicks
  • Covers sparring rules, protective gear and the gym's rules for partner work

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Group class or private session
  • Length of each class and the number of classes per week
  • Whether the class includes bags, pads, partner work or sparring
  • Whether gloves, shin guards and headgear are included or extra
  • Whether the gym has an amateur team or a competition path, and its fees
  • Your starting level and whether you are training for fitness or competition

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of classes, class length and the schedule
  • Whether gloves, shin guards and headgear are included or required
  • Amateur team or competition fees, if they apply
  • Class size and the number of coaches in the room
  • Policy for missed classes and cancellations

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What protective gear do you require for partner work, and do you provide it for the first class?
  • How do you teach a round kick so I keep my balance and my guard?
  • When do beginners start partner work or sparring?
  • Does your coach hold a certification in kickboxing, and from which program?
  • Do you have an amateur path, and what does a bout involve?
  • Do you teach children, and do you require a background check for coaches who work with them?
  • Can I try a class before I sign up?

Red flags

  • Lets students kick hard at partners without shin guards or other required gear
  • Pushes beginners into sparring before their stance and balance are in place
  • Promises a fight or a title after a set number of classes
  • Pressures you into an amateur team or extra training packages

What you can do yourself

You can build kicking balance at home by practicing kicks slowly while holding a wall or a chair, and practice combinations in front of a mirror. Shadow kicking and bodyweight rounds build conditioning. Hire a coach for kick technique, pad work and any partner or sparring work.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to teach kickboxing. Ask the gym whether its coaches hold a certification in kickboxing and whether the gym carries liability insurance. Check with your state or local licensing agency only if the gym or any bout operates under rules that apply to combat sports or to the facility.

Kickboxing lessons questions

Do I need to be flexible to kick?

Kicks improve with practice and flexibility builds over time. Start with the kicks your coach shows you, and ask for a plan that adds range and height in steps.

Do I need my own shin guards?

Most gyms lend gear for a first class. If you plan to do partner work, ask the coach what shin guards and gloves fit your training before you buy.

Is kickboxing safe for children?

Many gyms offer youth programs with supervision and no hard contact. Ask about the coach's training, the class size and whether coaches pass a background check before they work with minors.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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