Where do we train?

We train in several different locations throughout the week and terms, and you can find a list of all of our training locations here. Our Beginners Course this term will be held at St. John’s, in the Palmerston room.

How often is training?

We run several training sessions per week – you are welcome to train as much or as little as you would like.

What should I bring?

Wear loose clothing such as a t-shirt/vest and tracksuit bottoms/shorts that will allow free movement. If you own any kickboxing pads – shin/foot, gloves or gum shield – bring them along too. Bring along a bottle of water because it’s thirsty work! You can see a full list of kit that we use on our kit page.

How much does it cost?

An individual lesson is £5, for those looking to try out the sport. Our membership is £35 per term, giving the holder access to all training and sparring lessons of a term. (The cost of any individual lessons you have paid for is deducted from this fee.)

Do you guys actually punch and kick each other?

Kickboxing is a martial art based on real contact of most techniques. The contact is not necessarily at full power but most of the training sessions involve pair training where people try various techniques and combinations on a partner that is blocking them. An important part of the skill is being able to effectively block these techniques.

Will I get hurt?

The risk of injury is minimal as we pay maximum attention to safety issues to ensure safe and healthy training practices.

What rule set do you use?

We train in American-style kickboxing, involving kicking and punching above the waist. There are no leg kicks, sweeps, elbows, or knees allowed. Sparring is light continuous, with 2-3 rounds of 1.5-2 minutes depending on the venue. This means that the fight is not stopped after each hit and knockouts are not the aim of the fight. Instead, the focus is on demonstrating good technique and using combinations.

Do I need any martial arts experience to join?

Absolutely no martial arts experience is required to join us, and around half of the club joins each year as complete beginners. Our four-lesson beginners’ course will teach you all you need to know to join in with the rest of the class.

What is the beginners’ course?

Our beginners’ course lasts three lessons and it is meant to give to the students the very basics of the style: stances, guards, punches and kicks. After that beginners join the rest of the class. Different individuals will progress at different speed but each student is considered individually.

How often do you compete?

Our current planned competitions for 2024-25 include Varsity, against Oxford, and the University Kickboxing Championships in Leeds.

Do I need to compete?

No – you are free to choose whether to compete or not without judgement.

What can I do to properly prepare for a lesson?

The training will include a warm-up, so there’s no necessary preparation, but it’s a good idea to avoid eating or drinking anything except water for an hour or two before the class.

I wear glasses, is that a problem?

It is mostly possible but not ideal to train with glasses; we recommend you remove them for drills that involve striking near the face, or they may get damaged. It is not possible to spar wearing glasses. (Contact lenses, on the other hand, are safe.)