title: The effects of five weeks of kickboxing training on physical fitness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of kickboxing training on physical fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 subjects were randomized into a kickboxing-group (n=15) and control group (n=15). Each group trained approximately 1-hour per day, three-times per a week during five weeks. Muscle-power (upper-body: bench-press-test, medicine-ball-test; lower-body: squat-jump and counter-movement-jump-test), flexibility, speed and agility, aerobic (progressive maximal exercise test), anaerobic fitness (Wingate test) and body composition were assessed before and after the training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the kickboxing group showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in upper-body muscle power, aerobic power, anaerobic fitness, flexibility, speed and agility after training whereas body composition, squat jump and counter movement jump (height, power and velocity components) did not change for both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  kickboxing-practice was effective to change many physical variables. Thus, this activity can be useful for enhancing physical fitness, but complementary activities and/or nutritional interventions should be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit "Athletic performance and physical rehabilitation" of the Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education Kef, University of Jendouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ouergui
authors.affiliation: Research Unit "Athletic performance and physical rehabilitation" of the Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education Kef, University of Jendouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hssin
authors.affiliation: Sport Science Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Monoem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Sport Science, University e-Campus, Novedrate, Italy ; Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sports Performance Optimization" National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padulo
authors.affiliation: Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil ; Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: Research Unit "Athletic performance and physical rehabilitation" of the Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education Kef, University of Jendouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gmada
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ezzedine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouhlel
keywords: aerobic fitness; body composition; combat sport; muscles performance