If anyone does martial arts/boxing type exercise I need some insight please?

[letsjog]

Probably a silly question so apologies.

If you're involved in some sort of boxing/martial arts/kickboxing class can you tell me if you're supposed to use your full strength to kick/punch the matts/pads the other person is holding?

I'm starting a fitness class soon that involves some kickboxing, In the class the participants take turns to hold the kick bags/punching pads whilst the other does the kicking/punching. I'd hate to be teamed up with someone and then hurt their shoulders/arms/back by trying to hit as hard as I can if its not necessary.

So do you kick/hit full force or is the point of the exercise to get the motion right?

TIA.

Only when the other person is strong enough to take the force. And you are still aiming at getting the technique right, it's pointless if you don't.

When I used to do kickboxing I used my full strength when paired with an equally strong woman or a tall man.
But if I'm at the gym and we do pad work (very rare) I don't dare use full strength unless I'm paired with a man who has also done martial arts / boxed. But they don't use full strength on me. I'm too old and out of practice to take a heavy blow these days.

Against pads? Sure full strength. If the person is getting hurt then they are either holding it incorrectly or you're using the wrong sort of pad for the task.

I do taekwondo and very much have to tailor it to the person I am working with i.e. we have children aged 7 years and over in the class and I could probably launch them across the room if I kicked at full strength but I cannot move the 6ft tall solid bloke even when going full strength.

The same back, I had a c-section so everyone was very careful with me for a while until I said I was back to normal.

I used to teach kickboxercise, still do wome toning work with frail elders (yes, really!)

When you are practising the technique you don't hit the pads very hard, you'd hurt yourself. Some sessions incude a lot of training to a 'stop' at the pad, top check strike position, others to a tap, to help gain control, especially not wobbling on the standing leg.

You also get lots of practice with stance and holding technique for all pads and mitts.

When you are more practised you start hitting harder. It will come naturally and the instructor will take pains to pair up matched couple - though I always caused issues during pro sessions as I am strong and fat and most kickboxers don't recgnie anything that wobbles as being useful

Nowadays I restrict myself to technique when with another person and full force on hung bags or my spring loaded one as I am still fat and string and quick(ish) whch still surprises people! As meg said, my best training partner can't then use full force on me as I am only 5'5" and things can get a bit silly!

Don't let any newbie train with @Bujinkhal

:) I may be tainted by the fact I'm the smallest in my class and we've all been training for years. Obviously if I'm teaching juniors the above condition does not apply.

I kickbox and we’re always told it’s light touch, so sting and back to guard. We’re not punching through unless it’s in the air. It makes pad holding much easier and less threatening when your opponent isn’t trying to batter it, particularly as I’m shorter than a lot of the rest of the class!

If the other person is significantly lighter than you, then a hard kick will lift them off their feet and isn't very considerate. If they're similar or bigger then a beginner will struggle to generate enough force to rock someone holding a pad correctly.

That said, although it can be fun to just wallop as hard as you can, it's rarely a good idea to rehearse sloppy technique. And you'll hit harder with correct technique than with wild windmilling.

And if you use poor technique, as a pp said, you're likely to injure yourself (broken fingers/toes, sprained wrists etc).

Although if it's a 'fitness class that involves some kickboxing' it's probably more about the aerobic exercise than about really chinning people.

yes you are supposed to. Part of learning martial arts is to learn to hold the pads and yourself regarding of the person you are teamed with.

I see some mixed responses...
Should I ask the instructor?

I watched a little bit of it as I was collecting DS from an activity at the same venue and most of the women seemed very close in age to me and with similar build if that helps. They did seem to do it a bit meekly IYSWIM but I don't know if that's just them or if that's what you're supposed to do.

Will hardly make a good impression if I wallop someone on the first day

Yes, ask the instructor. I do boxing but only as PT. I won't do any classes because of exactly the worry that I would feel the need to restrain myself. At full pelt I can deliver a hell of a punch which the instructor is expecting and asking for.

Really the instructor should tell you when you start that particular exercise, because it depends what you’re trying to get out of it- could be speed, accuracy or power. If one of the first two, you wouldn’t expect to be belting the pad as hard as you could every time, but you wouldn’t be tickling it either.
However you should also be pairing up with a variety of people of all ages, heights, and weights. If you use your time with somebody much smaller and weaker than you to boot them up and down the room on the end of a pad because you can, you’re a dick.

I did karate for years and it was a mark of honour amongst the women there that we’d use full strength. These were women at 1st dan or higher so technique well established and relatively evenly matched, we’d take it easier with the junior belts and help them with their technique but there’s few things more therapeutic than bag work at strength.

Should I ask the instructor? Before you start, sign up? Yes. Find out what sort of class it is, whether it sounds right for you.

During the class you should never have to, the instructor will tell you and will have paired you properly!

Talk to the person you're partnered with at the time. Make sure you're aware of their level and any injuries and make sure they are aware of yours. Most importantly be aware of your own level and injuries. The only times I've been injured in martial arts are when I've mis-hit (I don't fight).