Kickboxing is a stand-up combat sport that is a combination of Karate, Muay Thai and Western Boxing. It combines powerful kicks from Karate and agile handwork from boxing, kickboxing is practiced as fitness, self-defence and as a contact sport. There are different types of kickboxing, each with different rules. For instance, American kickboxing uses the hands and feet to make contact, while Muay Thai allows the elbows and knees as contact points. Noncontact kickboxing and cardio kickboxing incorporate the same footwork, kicking, and punching techniques as other types of kickboxing, but you direct punches and kicks at weight bags and hand pads instead of at a workout partner. Kickboxing offers up several health benefits for people of all ages. We will look at these benefits next.