Kickboxing - Grades?

**honesty** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 5:48am

So, I've just found out my gym has 3 kickboxing classes a week. I initially thought these were the usual cardio kickboxing class, but inquired about them anyway. I was assured by the gym manager that the classes are taught by a kickboxing professional, they spar, and some of the even enter tournaments, and also "the group works towards belts, gradings..."

Now, having not does kickboxing before, I don't know, but belts? Gradings? Are these things normal?

**Asriel** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:07am

Its fairly normal in the uk for kb schools to have a grade system. I wouldn't let that automatically put you off. If they spar at a decent contact level and have a fight team, I'd say its definitely worth a look.

**honesty** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:13am

Yeh that's what I was thinking, plus I'm pretty sure it's included in my gym membership anyway. Will have to go to a class and see what it's like.

Being in Taunton though I'm just hoping its not ran by this moron: http://www.bullshido.net/forums/show...ight=kicksport

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:13am

What's the organisation? There's a lot of aikido-knife-disarming, semi-contact stuff calling itself 'kickboxing' in the UK.

**honesty** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:15am

Dunno, I've queried with the gym and I'm waiting for the name of the instructor.

**honesty** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:23am

Instructor is a guy called Mark Monk, who seems to have been an European silver medallist in 2005 and also competed at the WKA world championships.

Interestingly he seems to be calling what he does Korean Kickboxing (some old info here:http://groups.msn.com/KoreanKickboxingTaunton ). So whats that, TKD?

**honesty** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:54am

Foudn his silver, was in "Men Continuous Advanced -80kg" under WUMA. Never heard of this fed. but then again I dont know kickboxing federations...

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 6:56am

Originally Posted by honesty

Instructor is a guy called Mark Monk, who seems to have been an European silver medallist in 2005 and also competed at the WKA world championships.

WKA competitions range from point-fighting to full thai rules. Can't seem to Google up which one(s) he fought in. Best to go along to his class and ask. Also, see if they hit each other.

Edit: Just saw your last

Originally Posted by honesty

Foudn his silver, was in "Men Continuous Advanced -80kg" under WUMA. Never heard of this fed. but then again I dont know kickboxing federations...

Hit-too-hard-and-get-DQd point fighting. It's certainly possible the guy can scrap anyway, though.

The tournaments seem to be open rather than in-house things at least:
http://www.wuma.uk.com/Tournaments/B...Srules2008.htm

His medal is on here:
http://www.wuma.uk.com/Tournaments/E...esult2005.html

**Eddie Hardon** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 7:44am

For a comparison, you might want to check with the Paragon gym/system, anyway, it's run by John Lawson and his brothers Alex and Stuart, if memory serves. A colleague of mine (2nd Dan Trad JJ and BJJ Blue) trained with them and was highly complimentary. They have a structured syllabus and this will give you a good steer.

Sorry for lack of link but you'll probably get it with Google.co.uk.

Cheers

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 11/26/2008 7:46am

John lewis has a black belt in some kind of MT w/belts system. I forget the name.

Marky Monk was in the Fonky Bunch, right.

P.S. I'm still waiting for Goodwill Hunting II: Six Quarks For Marky Mark