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Kick Some Ass, Baby
 Fancy
burning up to 800 calories per hour on the high end of the fat-burning
scale as compared to a mere 300-400 calories in a typical one-hour
aerobics class? Purple Lips goes through the 'ups and downs'
of kickboxing with freelancer She Rue, a qualified local fitness
instructor and finds out if all that vigorous jabbing and kicking
is worth your time, money and well, perspiration.
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By Linda Lee
<eastciti.com, september 8>
 If
you've already decided that you would rather spend a relaxed and
'sweat-free' weekend loafing around at home playing couch potato
and dozing off with a packet of chips, think twice, thrice and many
times in fact, before considering taking up kickboxing classes.
 I
met freelance trainer She Rue, recently for a trial session at The
Substation Fitness Studio - and lived to tell this tale. Petite
and non-threatening as she may look, 22-year-old. She is a figure
of energy, power, versatility, agility and 'oomph' when she started
to guide and lead the class into a physically (and mentally) challenging
and yet fulfilling workout.
Kickboxing
originated from Muay Thai or Thai boxing. This popular Thai sport
has probably existed since the Thais emigrated from the south of
China. It is now getting increasingly popular in many countries,
especially Japan. This sport is currently known as a Japanese martial
art internationally.
 She,
who holds a diploma in banking and finance, decided that a 9-to-5
deskbound job was not for her after working for a few years, so
she became a full-time fitness instructor. In fact, She is so keen
on aerobics that she even went overseas at her own expense to pursue
courses related to fitness workouts. She is currently certified
by both the ACE (American Council of Exercise) and AEA (Aquatic
Exercise Association).
In
addition, she also trained under Joe Lewis, the middleweight boxing
champion who put the key aspects of boxing into fitness as he created
the kickfit Kickboxing programme in California, USA. She trained for
the tae kwan-do aspects under the PowerStrike Programme in New York
as well.
 Back
to the lesson: I went through a series of warm up exercises (which
consisted of stretching and some simple step coordination) before
gradually progressing onto more complex steps at a faster pace.
You had to hand it to the stout Chinese trainer (who keeps a blonde
afro-hairdo (read: short tight curls) nicely tucked under her head
bandana). She does such a good job of maintaining a lively and cheery
spirit in the class, all the while explaining and elaborating loudly
(so as to make herself audible above the loud dance-funk tunes)
on the purpose, importance and nature of each step.
Kickboxing
is not for you if you just want to 'take things easy'. In fact,
it is such a high-powered and energised fitness repertoire that
it forces you to pump up your heart rate and helps to tone up all
those untrained and long-forgotten muscles in your whole body. For
those of you weight-reducing enthusiasts, here's some great must-know
information about the workout - kickboxing also helps to reduce
the fat around your legs, hips, gluteus, and abdominals effectively.
 This
fitness programme combines both the kicks of martial arts with the
punches of boxing. Besides reliving stress and developing strength,
flexibility and stamina, it is also a very enjoyable and fun activity.
It is very much an 'all-in-one' workout whereby the mind and body
must work and coordinate as one at the same time.
In
addition, the sport is also very popular among women because it
provides desirable self-defense benefits. It improves your reflexes,
heightens your senses and sensitivities or awareness in your surroundings
and develops a sense of self-confidence. Great for fending off lechers
at the pub.
As
kickboxing is a conditioning programme, it is not designed to turn
you into a kick boxer or martial artist. Instead, it grants you
the explosive combination of losing inches and building up your
threshold for strength and endurance as it takes you through a non-contact
training routine of the building up of your cardio-vascular and
torsos.
After
the intensive and strenuous one-hour workout, be sure to replenish
yourself with lots of water before preparing for yet another wonderful
self-indulgent session next week (there are altogether eight complete
sessions of kickboxing). Sweat it out, baby!
Contact
She Rue at 9747-7551 for more information about her training
programmes.
What
do you think of kickboxing?
>>
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