FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Aerobic kickboxing doesn't involve kicking butt, but it does offer Pope Fitness Center members a break from the normal grind of everyday fitness routines.
New year's resolutions and colder weather bring an increase attendance to the gym. Early on, members looking to increase their fitness level are committed, but as the year rolls on, those who are not socially and physically connected to gym tend to lose interest.
Sometimes changing workout routines helps to keep it interesting for gym members, said Amanda Christianson, kickboxing instructor and group fitness manager for Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Deviating from the normal routine sometimes makes a big difference.
Christianson has instructed kickboxing on post since 1998 and trained many of the instructors here.
She teaches a class every Thursday at Pope FC, and incorporates many of the moves boxers use, combined with some martial arts techniques. The strikes include jabs, uppercuts, hooks, knee lifts and kicks all set to music. It is a rhythmic workout, but it is not dancing. Kickboxing is designed to tone and produce high impact workouts.
"I really have the best job in the world," said Christianson. "This is my favorite class. I teach because it is so physically demanding. It allows me to really push my customers," she said.
Kickboxing gives participants a workout that cross trains different muscle groups and the balance required to perform the moves helps tone core muscles.
"The gyrations, kicking and all the movements really hit your abs," said Brian Miller, a retired Airman. This workout really focuses on the different muscle groups without getting on the floor to hit those spots.
Additionally, the social connection of group fitness has several benefits. Participants are more likely to attend classes regularly. The group dynamics also pushes members to work harder.
"The kickboxing is one of my favorites because it lends more to my passion -- martial arts," said Tonna Brown, a Family member. "There is a little bit of me that likes to get my aggression out. I have to admit there is part of me that goes in and imagines it's somebody I want to take my aggression out on. But after I do that for a while, then, I can go back to being my nice friendly self again."
According to fitness magazine online, the average participant can burn anywhere from 500 to 800 calories in one kickboxing workout session.
"If you are doing a full out run on a treadmill for an hour, I could burn about the same amount of calories as kickboxing, but I'm not having nearly as much fun and I'm bored to tears," said Brown.
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