Kickboxing creates confidence Instructor offers class to Upper School

By Kailey Bergstedt | Photo & Graphics Editor

Thwack ! Senior Molly McPhail’s gloved fist makes contact with the punching bag. McPhail participates in the almost weekly kickboxing classes offered on campus. Self-defense instructor Jessica Jasper started the classes this semester. In past years, a kickboxing instructor taught classes in the fitness center. After noticing students’ interest in the sport, especially after teaching it to the seniors in self-defense class last year, Jasper decided to offer classes to the Upper School.

“I’ve been doing different striking sports like boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai forever,” Jasper said. “I fell in love with it when I was in middle school and have done it ever since.”

Juniors participating in JFlex can also take kickboxing classes before or after school or during a free period to fulfill their cardio requirements. Most classes last between 45 minutes to an hour, including a warmup.

“Kickboxing is so intense that it only really takes around 30 minutes of doing it to get a really good workout in,” Jasper said.

Classes begin with a quick warmup of anything from jump rope to ladder drills and usually include shadow boxing as well. After the warmup, Jasper demonstrates a technique and then students take turns practicing the technique with a partner. Typically one student holds the mitts while the other practices punching or kicking them. Students practice hitting the mitts for three minutes, then take a one-minute break and switch with the other student.

“I think one of the hardest things about kickboxing is your endurance,” McPhail said. “If you’re really using a lot of power, it can get tiring very quickly.”

During the classes, Jasper teaches more Muay Thai style kicks including leg kicks, body kicks and push kicks, also called front kicks. Leg and body kicks are a little more challenging to do than front kicks because they require students to pivot their foot to kick at an angle. Jasper also teaches punches like straight, uppercut and hook shots.

“Kickboxing has a lot to do with balance, core strength and especially technique,” Jasper said. The classes start off the semester by focusing more on offensive techniques, then transition into defensive ones. Learning offense first means students can typically defend against it better.

“It’s very difficult to be good at offensive without being good at defensive and vice versa,” Jasper said.

Kickboxing is open to everyone and anyone is able to get good at it with practice.

“My favorite thing about kickboxing is the confidence it gives you and how empowering it feels,” said junior Julia Emery, who takes weekly kickboxing classes as part of her JFlex requirement. Other participants have enjoyed the camaraderie they found in taking the classes.

“I really love the community that kickboxing provides,” McPhail said. “Everyone is constantly uplifting and encouraging each other.”

Jasper encourages everyone to try this sport, no matter their skill level or experience.

“Martial arts is for everyone,” Jasper said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not very athletic, or fast or strong, you can still do martial arts.”

Students practice uppercuts during a kickboxing class. Each class begins with a warmup and transitions to practicing a variety of moves.

Senior Molly McPhail spars with Coach Jasper. After learning a new skill as a group, class members pair off with partners to practice.

Students train with the punching bag, working on perfecting their moves. The class begins the semester learning offensive moves before moving on to defensive techniques.

Senior Molly McPhail works on her punching skills. McPhail said the intensity of the class makes endurance essential.