Boxing for Kenpo Students?

[David Hume]

Has anyone takeng both Boxing AND an MA such as Kenpo Karate? What are the benefits or drawbacks from studying both?

From my earlier days in TKD I remember that my hands haven't always been my strong point. I'm looking to get away from so much reliance on kicks but my punches just aren't that great, and my left arm sucks really bad.

Any thoughts?

-David Hume

[Szczepankiewicz]

The problem with any crosstraining is keeping things straight. If you are an advanced practicioner with a solid foundation, or if your simply a genius like Bri Thai, crosstraining comes naturally and it is not very often you get confused.


However, if you are dim like Szczepankiewicz, then you have to work really hard to keep boxing boxing and kenpo kenpo. I suggest one thing at a time until you get proficient and can separate your knowledge well enough to know how and when to combine the different topics of study.


All Hail Don Guiseppe

Spanky

[Guest]

But seperating everything out for the sake of it is counter productive. You need to decide why you are learning martial arts. If it is to learn to fight, then "absorb what is useful" from each, and don't bother trying to seperate it.

Of course you should not break the rules in either art (i.e. don't start kicking in a boxing sparring session), but that should be easy enough to remember.

All this "you must be profiicient in one art before studying another" is a misnomer, usually put about by people that want you to spend your money in their club.........

As an aside, I would suggest mixing a predominantly striking art with a predominantly grappling one, to ensure a more all round development.

[Szczepankiewicz]

What happens when a student is confronted with contradictions in their training? The boxing coach says punch like this, the kenpo instructor says punch like that.

It's easy if you mix two styles that compliment each other. BJJ and MT are a perfect example. But if you go with two different striking styles or two different grappling styles, they may not be so easily integrated.

If you are attending a school that has already figured out the integrated approach, great, but if you are attending two separate schools you could be in for some problems.


I studied Judo for awhile. For the most part it integrated into my jujutsu, however I picked up some bad habits from the sport training that interfered with my self defense training. But then again, I am not the Genius you are, hence the point of my whole argument ya purple bastard!

SPaNKY

[ryanhall]

From my earlier days in TKD I remember that my hands haven't always been my strong point. I'm looking to get away from so much reliance on kicks but my punches just aren't that great, and my left arm sucks really bad.

i would forget kenpo and just box. but that's just me. boxing will be full contact (just punching obviously), it is the most clinical punching system on the planet, and usually turns out people who fight pretty well (in punching range). i don't know much about kenpo, but if it is anything like most karate systems, it may be counter productive. very, very seldom do traditional martial artists beat boxers. just something to think about.

ryan

[Guest]

"What happens when a student is confronted with contradictions in their training? The boxing coach says punch like this, the kenpo instructor says punch like that. "


Decide which way is best for your purpose. And leave the other. If you still think that you want to attend both classes, then do it the way each one says in their class. But do plenty training at home, concentrating only on the best of each.

[dzl256]

i agree with ryan take boxing

[David Hume]

Why take boxing? Have you taken boxing before?

[ryanhall]

i have never formally trained in western boxing (i practice a lot of it on my own), but a couple of my friends have. they are all fairly capable fighters. only good in the punching range, but still pretty capable. much better fighters than my trad ma friends. just my experience in sparring them.


ryan

[Xtreme J]

As a Kenpo instructor under the AKKI ( www.akki.com ), I have to disagree with some of you here. One of the first things my white belts learn is the jab and cross.

American Kenpo is built off the way the body naturally moves, using economy of motion, forward projection, and body mechanics. Boxing mechanics are built along the same ideas of natural body mechanics, and a jab-cross combination can easily lead into a good sequential flow of motion ( a barrage of strikes to dominate centerline, position, and all zones ). A proper Kenpo instructor will recognize that effective, natural movement is effective, natural movement, and base all his instruction and training on that.

Hope I have been of some assistance.

[robertlee]

Learning boxing hands will benifit your kenpo hand tools as you will become more proficient at geting them off and working. Many times when you train getting the kicks at a good level you fail to bring the hand tools up with the same training time. Boxing hands will be a little different then your kenpo hands but fall in the same aprouch later for you. Try it it canot hurt. Or just talk to your instructor and get a little ome on one to improve your hands.

[David Hume]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm a yellow belt in Kenpo. One thing that is a little disappointing is still how awkward it feels to throw punches. Hitting the bags or sparring is only a fraction of the training. My left side is much weaker also. I realize that there's nothing preventing me from practicing more at home, but then I'm not really under any supervision to help me be sure I've got proper form in delivering the punches (elbow strikes, kicks, etc.)

There is one experienced boxer in our class who is only a purple belt and he kicks ass. Unlike everyone else he knows how to take a punch (if you're lucky and hit him) and he's very skilled at not getting hit. There's a noticeable difference in his attitude as well, which he credits to his boxing experience.

So that's why I thought to raise the issue.

Thanks
Dave

[jbkenpo]

how does he fair against head and groin kicks?

jb