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A Healthy Mind

A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

 

Since ancient times it is well-known that there is always a healthy mind in a healthy body, as the Romans put into the words of wisdom:?Mens sana in corpore sano?. This is why, people has chosen to practice sport. Some of them, as my classmates, Bogdan Nicolae and Ionu? Nicolae has chosen to do kick-boxing.

Any human being has got as a gift from God, when was born, a healthy mind within a strong wealthy body. This gift from the Heavens must be preserved while living. Each human being shall keep his/ her perfect body in harmony with his/ her mind, united within a balanced whole.

To live in a healthy way means to live in a harmonious way with oneself and the others.

Living in harmony with oneself is a great achievement for anybody. This can be attained through practicing kickboxing daily, because this training builds a well-proportioned body, equilibrated movements, that is, a fitted powerful body.

The power built by practicing kickboxing also develops another kind of power, the inside one, because this sport requires also patience, concentration, depth of feeling and tranquility, that is, a strength of being oneself.

The power and the strength built for oneself goes further into developing good thoughts, positive emotions, empathy, the ability to communicate and cooperate with people. This sociability means mutual help, that is, good deeds, which can lead to friendship, understanding, and an enjoyable way to live together as human beings.

Kickboxing is not the only sport which can support a good way of living one?s life, as there are many other sports which can do it, such as, athletics, swimming, cyclism, weight-lifting, karate, tennis, ping-pong and gymnastics.

It does not matter what sport somebody does, as long as this helps the maintaining of the harmonious functioning of one?s body and the preserving of a healthy social relationships.

 

 

By Popescu Lavinia Adelina

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KICK BOXING

KICKBOXING

 

International rule set

 

Further information: International Kickboxing Federation

 

The "international kickboxing" rule set by the International Kickboxing Federation contrasts with the American kickboxing rules in that it allows also low kicks.

 

These are the rules for international rules kickboxing.

 

  • Opponents are allowed to strike their opponent with punches and kicks, including kicks below the waist, except for the groin.

 

  • Knees, elbows or clinching are not allowed.

 

  • Bouts are 3 to 5 rounds for Amateurs and 3 to 12 rounds for professionals, all rounds lasting 2 minutes each. Each round has a 1-minute rest in between rounds.

 

Other kickboxing styles

 

Semi contact:

 

See "IKF Point Kickboxing"

 

Semi-contact is a fighting discipline where two fighters fight with the primary goal of scoring greater points using controlled legal techniques with speed and focus. The main characteristics of semi-contact are delivery, technique and speed. The competition in semi-contact should be executed in its true sense with light and well-controlled contact. It is a technical discipline with equal emphasis put on hand and foot techniques from an athletic viewpoint. Techniques (punches and kicks) are strictly controlled. At each valid point (a point that is awarded, with a legal part of hand or foot to legal targets and with legal technique), the central referee halts the fight and at the same time as the two judges, shows with his/her fingers the number of points in the direction of the fighter who is being awarded points. Fighters will enter the tatami and touch gloves. They will then step back and assume a fighting stance and wait for the command FIGHT from the referee. The time will only be stopped on the command of the referee, by calling TIME toward the area control table. Time is not stopped to award points or penalties unless the referee feels it is necessary. A fighter may have one coach and one second in his corner during the match.

 

Light contact (or medium-contact)

Competition in Light Contact kickboxing should be executed as its name implies, with well-controlled techniques. In light contact competitors fight continuously until the central referee commands STOP or BREAK. They use techniques from full contact, but these techniques must be well controlled when they land on legal targets. Equal emphasis must be placed on both punching and kicking techniques. Light contact has been created as an intermediate stage between semi and full contact kickboxing. It is carried out with running time. The central referee doesn't judge the fighters, but only makes sure they respect the rules. The fight could be held in a tatami or in a ring.

 

 TECHNIQUES

 

Punching

Punching techniques are essentially identical to boxing punches, including

 

Jab

Straight punch from the front hand, to either the head or the body, often used in conjunction with the cross

Cross (Straight punch)

 

Hook

Rounded punch to either the head or body in an arching motion, usually not scored in points scoring

   

Uppercut

Rising punch striking to the chin

Short straight-punch usually striking to the chin

 

Backfist

Usually from the front hand, reverse-back fist and spinning back-fist both usually from the back hand ? are strikes to the head, raising the arm and bending the arm at the elbow and then straightening the arm quickly to strike to the side of the head with the rear of the knuckles, common in ?light contact?.

 

Flying-punch

Struck usually from the rear hand, the combatant hops on the front foot, kicking back with the rear foot and simultaneously extending the rear hand as a punch, in the form of "superman" flying through the sky.

 

Cross-counter a cross-counter is a counterpunch begun immediately after an opponent throws a jab, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position

   

Overhand (overcut or drop)

A semi-circular and vertical punch thrown with the rear hand is usually when the opponent bobbing or slipping. The strategic utility of the drop relying on body weight can deliver a great deal of power

   

Bolo punch

A combination of a wide uppercut/right cross/swing was delivered seemingly from the floor.

   

Half-hook

A combination of a wide jab/hook or cross/hook

   

Half-swing

A combination of a wide hook/swing

 

 

Kicking

 

The standard kicking techniques are:

 

 Front kick or push Kick/high Kick

Striking face or chest on with the heel of the foot

   

Side kick

Striking with the side or heel of the foot with leg parallel to the ground, can be performed to either the head or body

 

Semi-circular kick or forty five degree roundhouse kick

 

Roundhouse kick or circle kick

Striking with the front of the foot or the lower shin to the head or the body in a chopping motion

There are a large number of special or variant kicking techniques, including spinning kicks, jumping kicks, and other variants such as:

 

Hook kick (heel kick)

Extending the leg out to the side of the body, and hooking the leg back to strike the head with either the heel or sole

   

Crescent kick and forward crescent kick

   

Axe kick

A stomp out kick or axe kick The stomp kick normally travel downward, striking with the side or base heel.

   

Back kick

is delivered with the base heel of the foot.

   

Sweeping ? One foot or both feet of an opponent may be swept depending upon their position, balance and strength.

 

Spinning versions of the back, side, hook and axe kicks can also be performed along with jumping versions of all kicks

 

Knee and elbow strikes

 The knee and elbow techniques in Japanese kickboxing, indicative of its Muay Thai heritage are the main difference that separates this style from other kickboxing rules. See Ti Sok and Ti Khao for details.

 

 Straight knee thrust (long-range knee kick or front heel kick)

This knee strike is delivered with the back or reverse foot against an opponent?s stomach, groin, hip or spine an opponent forward by the neck, shoulder or arm

   

Rising knee strike

Delivered with the front or back foot, makes an explosive snap upwards to strike an opponent?s face, chin, throat or chest.

   

Hooking knee strike

Delivered with the front or back foot, makes a half circle spin and strikes the sides of an opponent

   

Side knee snap strike

A highly-deceptive knee technique used in close-range fighting, the knee is lifted on the toes or lifted up, and is snapped to left and right, striking an opponent?s sensitive knee joints, insides of thighs, groin

 

Defense

 

There are three main defensive positions (guards or styles) used in boxing.

 

Within each style, there is considerable variation among fighters, as some fighters may have their guard higher for more head protection while others have their guard lower to provide better protection against body punches.

Many fighters vary their defensive style throughout a bout in order to adapt to the situation of the moment, choosing the position best suited to protect them.

 

Slip

Slipping rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch passes harmlessly next to the head. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip" past. Muhammed Ali was famous for extremely fast and close slips.

 

Bob and weave

Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the inside".

 

Parry/Block

Parrying or blocking uses the boxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.

 

 The cover-up

Covering up is the last opportunity to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the guard. To protect the head, the boxer presses both fists against the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing outwards. This type of guard is weak against attacks from below.

 

The clinch

Clinching is a rough form of grappling and occurs when the distance between both fighters has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. In this situation, the boxer attempts to hold or "tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable to throw hooks or uppercuts. To perform a clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position, the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly dissipated by the referee.

 

 

Compilation by           Matei Ionut Nicolae  and  Baluta Nicolae Bogdan