Key ingredients to Smash Hit Kickboxing's original beginners' classes

The popularity of kickboxing/boxing programs are booming! Celebrities and fitness experts alike credit these workouts as some of the most effective for participants of all ages and abilities.  In addition to the incredible natural calorie burn, these class styles also offer an unequaled stress relief element. Smash Hit’s proprietary classes not only maximize these elements, but also capitalize on even more health benefits for its members. One key example is that with each punch or kick thrown you develop precise coordination, and a sense of focus that can harness inner power, taking you from fitness enthusiast to advanced athlete in a short time.

Below are a sample of some of the key ingredients we have honed over the past 20 years and successfully passed on to students:

SAFETY IN MOVEMENTS: Safety is our first priority for our members. We have done extensive research on the American Council on Exercise and other major fitness organizations’ recommendations for the best ways to avoid injury.  We teach students how to properly and safely execute moves throughout every class.
​
WARM UP: Combines music and aerobic warm up with a means to an end in a memorized routine. We use the warm up as a rehearsal of various kickboxing moves that are thrown relaxed and fluid. Through this repetitive warm up these moves become second nature and are easily incorporated into practice.
​
REAL MOVES, REAL BENEFITS: We don’t just throw our arms and legs to feel like we are kickboxing or boxing. We are actually practicing the sport and self defense aspects! Yes, it might take a little more learning and concentration at first, but it’s worth it. 
​
SELF-DEFENSE COMPONENT: Let’s face it, most people don’t want to think about fighting or having to defend themselves. That said, because we teach proper fighting form, if you were ever in a situation where you had to defend yourself, you would have the knowledge to do so. 
​
SPORT COMPONENT: Kickboxing and boxing offer incredible stamina and strategy building that can be applied to any sport. You will work your mind and body in every class.
​
HEAVY BAGS TO BUILD FOCUS, MUSCLE TONE: Proper form on the heavy bag increases speed and power which in return will provide your muscles with the same overload principle used in light load endurance weight training to build muscle mass. This will also build bone density and help out even those with arthritic conditions.

BUILD POWER, SPEED & ACCURACY IN MOVES: We hone these three important elements that fit together as one to create real fight ability, for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of every move. If you are going to throw thousands of strikes and kicks in every class, you might as well do it right for the fight!

SYSTEM OF GOALS: We use a set number of movements set to combinations that have a reason and rhyme. The goal of memorizing is reached without worry or stress. Every class will build and solidify your technique as you reach milestones every time. We provide the goal. For instance, the Art of Invisibility- you achieve it over time and come to realize completion.

SAFE MOVEMENT FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES: All moves in kickboxing/boxing are controlled, focused moves. They are designed to work from a stance that allows for proper bio-mechanics and ease of movement from point A to point B. The student learns to have an inherent boundary that eliminates hyper extensions and other forms of injury. Moves are basic enough for participants to work at their own pace.

FLOOR WORK: Abdominal drills that simulate ground fighting increase core strength from a fighter’s guard position that is similar to wrestling and MMA athletes’ conditioning level.  Arm work is developed from prone position movements.

STRETCH: While not spending an enormous amount of time on stretching, the class will increase flexibility. Just practicing in our warm up; the controlled “iso-kick” stretch and strengthen move that prepares the student for kick practice will double your leg flexibility within a month. Kick practice enhances this as well. 

BLENDS SERIOUS DISCIPLINE WITH FUN & RELAXED ATMOSPHERE: Style of teaching is important. While we take each move and its proper execution seriously, and emphasize its importance in fight situation, we may mix the tone of discipline and concentration through a “drill sergeant” tone, with “dance and sport analytical coaching,” and be comical at the same time.  Formal moves without formal rituals.

FAT-BURNING FORMULA: The class format uses both high Intensity and low Intensity exercise
Beginners start off with low intensity and build duration. This will kick in the fat burning, while developing technique through repetitions, and preparing the body for more advanced training. Theses advanced combinations and intervals provide peak anaerobic performance. This kicks up the metabolic burn even more. The primary goal is to build up to a 45-minute, low-intensity heart rate mixed with short high intensity rates, that is most effective for burning fat. We encourage you to maximize the calorie burn during your workouts as long as you keep it within your own physical limits and don't risk injury.

​SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT: To further show how our moves are real kickboxing/boxing techniques we offer non-contact partner drills. These add to camaraderie and fun social engagement with others in class while empowering participants to see firsthand the skills they are gaining.

---