Okay, so today I wanted to try out something new – Chinese Kickboxing, also known as Sanda. I’ve done a bit of Muay Thai before, but I’ve always been curious about this style. So, I signed up for a trial class at a local martial arts school.
Getting Started
First thing, I showed up a little early to get the lay of the land. The school had a good vibe, lots of people training, and it smelled like…well, hard work and sweat. I checked in at the front desk, and they pointed me towards the changing rooms.
The Warm-up
The class started with a pretty intense warm-up. We did a lot of jogging, jumping jacks, and some dynamic stretching. My lungs were already burning a little, but hey, that’s part of it, right? Then we got into some shadow boxing, throwing punches and kicks at the air. I tried to focus on my form, keeping my guard up and pivoting my feet.
Learning the Basics
After the warm-up, the instructor, a really friendly but serious guy, started showing us some basic techniques. We worked on:
- Jab and Cross: Standard boxing punches. I focused on keeping my elbows in and rotating my hips.
- Roundhouse Kick: This one felt a bit different from Muay Thai. I noticed the emphasis was more on speed and snapping the kick.
- Side Kick: Totally new to me! It felt a bit awkward at first, but I started to get the hang of it after a few tries. The key seemed to be turning my hips and pushing off with my supporting leg.
- Takedowns: The instructor showed us how to take down our training partner.
Sparring (Lightly!)
Then came the fun part – light sparring! We paired up and put on some protective gear (thank goodness). I was a bit nervous, but my partner was cool and we took it easy. I tried to use the techniques we’d learned, throwing some jabs and crosses, and even attempting a few roundhouse kicks. I definitely got hit a few times, but it was all part of the learning process.
Cooling Down and Wrapping Up
Finally, we ended the class with some cool-down stretches and a quick chat about what we’d learned. My muscles were definitely feeling it, but in a good way. I left the school feeling tired, sweaty, and pretty darn good about myself.
All and all,I learned a lot.
My takeaways
I’m going to keep practicing.I think it is so fun.
