Kickboxing Combos

Introduction & Assessment

Kickboxing blends punches from boxing with kicks from karate and Muay Thai into a full-body workout that builds strength, coordination, and serious cardio. Watch "Kickboxing for Beginners" by Heather Robertson on YouTube — she explains stance and footwork without assuming you know anything. Then stand in front of a mirror in a fighting stance: dominant foot back, hands up, chin down. Throw five slow punches. Notice which side feels more natural. You're ready for the next step when you can hold a proper fighting stance for 60 seconds and identify your dominant hand.

Foundation Building

The jab and cross are the foundation of everything. The jab is a quick lead-hand punch; the cross is a powerful rear-hand punch with full hip rotation. Watch "How to Jab and Cross" by Expert Boxing on YouTube — they have slow-motion breakdowns. Practice 50 jab-cross combinations in front of a mirror, then 50 more. Learn basic footwork too: the step-and-drag that keeps you balanced. Look up free kickboxing classes at Salt Lake County rec centers — they offer beginner sessions most weekdays. You're ready for the next step when you can throw a jab-cross-jab with full hip rotation and proper guard without losing balance.

Skill Development

Add kicks to your arsenal. The front kick (teep) pushes an opponent away; the roundhouse kick targets ribs or the head with the shin, not the foot. Watch "How to Roundhouse Kick" by Evolve MMA on YouTube — they teach the chamber position that makes the kick snap properly. Start slow: kick into a pillow held by a partner, or a heavy bag if you have access to one. Salt Lake's Gold's Gym and several martial arts studios let you drop in. Combine: jab-cross-roundhouse. You're ready for the next step when you can throw a roundhouse kick to waist height with proper chamber and return your foot to the ground in balance.

Practice & Refinement

Build three-round shadow boxing sessions: 2 minutes on, 1 minute rest. Mix jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, front kicks, and roundhouses into flowing 4–6 punch-kick combinations. Time yourself with the free Seconds Pro app. Film your shadow boxing and compare it to instructors on YouTube — you'll catch your own mistakes faster that way. Check out r/kickboxing for beginner tips and combination ideas. You're ready for the next step when you can shadow box three continuous 2-minute rounds and throw at least four different combinations per round without pausing to think.

Challenge Mode

Level up with defensive techniques: slipping (moving your head to dodge a punch), parrying (redirecting an incoming jab), and the check (blocking a leg kick with your shin). Watch "Boxing Defense for Beginners" by FightTips on YouTube. Find a partner and do light-contact combo drilling — one person calls out the combo, both execute. Try a beginner sparring class at a local Muay Thai gym in Salt Lake; most offer free or low-cost trial sessions. You're ready for the next step when you can slip a jab, parry a cross, and execute a counter combination without hesitation during a slow drill.

Mastery Demonstration

Design a 5-minute "signature routine" — a sequence of combinations that shows every technique you've learned. Include at least two punch-kick combos, one defensive move, and footwork between sequences. Record it and post it to r/kickboxing or a local martial arts Facebook group. Then teach the jab-cross combo to someone who has never tried it and coach them through 20 reps. You're ready for the next step when your recorded routine is clean enough that a stranger watching it can identify every technique you're throwing.