Kickboxing is an aggressive sport that is often on display in mixed martial arts competition. While you can use your fists, forearms, legs and feet to attack your opponent. However, hitting your opponent with powerful punches and kicks is only half the battle. You need to defend yourself as well if you are going to compete successfully in kickboxing.
Avoiding the Shot
The first way to defend yourself in kickboxing is the most obvious. When your opponent throws a punch or a kick at you, get out of the way. This is very effective with head shots. When your opponent throws a left hook, you should be able to duck underneath it. If he throw a straight right hand at your head, you should be able to move to one side or the other. If a series of punches and kicks come at you, you can try to sidestep them so you don't have to absorb the punishment.
Blocking the Punch
Block punches with your forearms or gloved hands. Take a strong defensive position that will allow you to block punches to both the head and the body. Keep your elbows tight to your rib cage. This will allow you to block punches that are aimed at your sides. Blocking heavy punches and kicks can hurt, but not as much as it would hurt if you absorbed the punch or kick with your body. When punches are coming at your head, your can raise your forearms to block those punches. You can also use your hands to deflect those punches that are coming at your head.
Kick Blocking
Use the leg block to block opponent's kicks. To perform this technique correctly, you must bend your knee and try to absorb your opponent's kick with the beefiest part of your leg. Make sure you take the blow on the side of your leg rather than the front of it. If you take a kick with the front of your leg, you may get seriously injured. To provide extra support when blocking a kick with your leg, drop your arm down low to either deflect the kick or catch the leg. If you can stop the kick by catching it, you are in position to deliver a devastating punch or leg kick.
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