Kickboxing a Brief History
Kickboxing has evolved enormously since it was first created in the mid 1970's.
In the early days, kickboxing was simply an adaptation of freestyle karate and other martial arts but with the addition of boxing gloves.
Over 30 years of development and refinement has made kickboxing a unique sport in its own right and a highly respected martial arts discipline.
The PKA are the founders of American Sport Kickboxing in the UK under our principal Mr. Mike Haig
Our roots in pure American Sport Kickboxing, we are not ex-Karate or ex-Kung Fu practitioners but 100% Kickboxing trained.
PKA Kickboxing Guarantee
As the father of American Kickboxing in Great Britain and Europe, I take the responsibility of making sure that PKA-Kickboxing Instructors are of the highest quality, the best. For this reason I insist that all Instructors have Nationally Recognised Coaching Awards, Enhanced CRB checks, adequate insurance and attend regular training seminars to ensure that PKA-Kickboxing students consistently have the benefits of ongoing developments in the sport that they love.
Unfortunately due to the popularity of Kickboxing there are many bogus instructors about. As the PKA are the founders of American Kickboxing our members have the confidence and knowledge that they are learning the real thing. The PKA offers a pure American Kickboxing system, not something dreamed up by some second-rate martial artist trying to cash in on its popularity.
The PKA started American Kickboxing, it is here now and it will be here in the future. If you are ever unhappy about one of your Kickboxing lessons we will refund your training fee. Very few Martial Arts offers this guarantee and follow through with it. I also guarantee that you will find training in the congenial atmosphere of a PKA-Kickboxing club an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
You will learn new skills, meet new friends and enter a very rewarding phase of your life.
May I welcome you into the world of PKA-Kickboxing.
PKA Classes
We fine tune our classes to appeal to the masses rather than just hardcore martial arts practitioners. Only by training with us will you learn true Sport Kickboxing as it was intended to be, dynamic, varied, exciting and above all, safe.
The many benefits of Kickboxing include:
Children
- Improved focus and attention span
- Teaches respect and discipline
- Make new friends
- Improved confidence
- Improved fitness and strength
Teens & Adults
- Proven weight loss
- Improved cardio fitness
- Better muscle tone
- Greater strength and flexibility
- Improved self confidence
Although we have trained many great fighters, sparring and competition is completely optional, you will never be forced into doing anything you do not want to.
Derbyshire Kickboxing
Lots of our students enjoy sparring in class, but find the tournament a bit daunting, so let’s break it down!
On the day, the tournament is between students from the Derbyshire PKA clubs, and the Nottinghamshire PKA clubs! We put all of our students into categories - juniors have age categories and adults have weight classes. So even if you’re up against someone from a different club who you don’t know, you will be evenly matched!
Students can enter into semi contact (breaks after each point is scored), light continuous (no stopping, referees take points throughout) and juniors can also enter into the padwork competition.
Our tournaments are local, and are more about having fun, having a good go at some sparring matches than it is winning titles - we want everyone to enjoy themselves more than anything!
Our next tournament is on the 10th May at Clifton Leisure Centre. As we get closer to the tournament we will have more sparring opportunities in classes, so let one of the instructing team know if you’re interested!
See your instructor for details on how to enter 😀
In true Chuck Norris fashion and bring a smile to faces, one of my favourite legendary Chuck Norris “facts”….. when the Hulk gets angry, he turns in to Chuck Norris 😀💪 post your favourite below
Rest in peace. 👊 #legend
Grading for a kickboxing belt can seem daunting, but your coaches will have prepared you in class for every step of the grading. Here’s what happens on the day:
🥊 Shadow work: everyone shows off their shadow kickboxing moves! This is where you show what punches, kicks and evasion you know without a partner holding pads. We’re looking for flowing moves, a good guard and pivots on all techniques.
🥊 Padwork routine: The coaches will give everyone a demo of a short padwork routine to work on in pairs. For higher grades, one of these will be a freestyle routine made up by you to show off your skills and how well you can hold pads. For some students, we might pair students with coaching team members.
🥊 Kickshields: You will be given both technical and power kicks to do on a kickshield. Keep your energy and guard up and give these kicks all you’ve got!
🥊 Grading sets: Our junior members will complete the first two foundation sets plus the two appropriate for awarding their next belt. Adults will complete all the grading sets across the whole syllabus in pairs. Don’t rush through these, we’re looking for energy plus great technique.
Bow out: After all your hard work, Mike Haig, founder of the PKA and association principal who oversees each grading to ensure they are all kept to the same high national standard, will bow you out.
What happens next?
Your kickboxing coach will receive feedback on how you did on the day and if you passed. If you did pass, you’ll be told if it was a Pass, Merit or Distinction mark and award your belt at the end of the your next class 🥳 You’ll also receive a certificate and important feedback notes to take forwards to your next grading exam
Good luck to everyone who has stepped up to take either their first or next belt 📆looking forwards to seeing you there 👍🥊😀
Please check and confirm your session time with your instructor - with over 125 belts being graded for, the day is extremely busy and late comers will not be permitted to start their exam
🔴 Juniors taking Red Belt = 09:00 to 09:45
🟡🟠 Juniors taking Yellow & Orange belt = 10:00 to 10:45
🔴🟡🟠Adults taking Red, Yellow and Orange belts = 11:00 to 11:45
🟢🔵🟣🟤 Juniors taking Green, Blue, Purple and Brown Belts plus Adults taking Brown Belt = 12:00 to 13:00
🟢🔵🟣🟤 Adults taking Green, Blue, Purple and Brown Belts = 13:15 to 14:15
Good luck everyone 🥊👍💪😀
