Why Myths Persist
Kickboxing is one of the fastest-growing fitness and combat activities in India — and one of the most widely misunderstood.
The myths come from everywhere: Bollywood action scenes that bear no resemblance to real training, well-meaning relatives who think any fighting is “violent,” gym bros who dismiss anything that isn’t “real combat,” and adults who believe they missed their window.
At Om’s Martial Arts & Fitness Studio, we hear these myths every week. From prospective students, from skeptical parents, from curious friends. So we decided to address all 15 in one place — honestly, with facts, and without defensiveness.
Some myths have a grain of truth. Some are completely false. Some are outdated. Let’s sort them out.
[↑ Back to: The Complete Guide to Kickboxing]
The Myths
Myth 1: “Kickboxing is just violence.”
The Myth: It’s two people trying to hurt each other. It’s barbaric. It’s not a “real” activity.
The Fact: Kickboxing is a regulated sport with comprehensive rules, referees, weight classes, protective gear, and medical supervision. It is governed globally by WAKO (IOC-recognized) and nationally by the KFI.
More importantly, the training (which is what 95% of participants do) is not “violence.” It is:
- Hitting pads and bags (not people)
- Learning technique (not fighting)
- Building fitness (not causing harm)
- Developing discipline (not aggression)
A kickboxing class at Om’s looks more like a high-intensity fitness session with martial arts technique than a “fight.”
Verdict: Complete myth.
Myth 2: “You’ll get brain damage.”
The Myth: Getting hit in the head will give you CTE, like a boxer.
The Fact: This concern applies primarily to professional fighters who take sustained head trauma over years of competition. For recreational and amateur training:
- Beginners do not spar for the first 4-6 weeks
- All sparring uses head guards, mouthguards, and controlled contact
- Amateur rules limit rounds and enforce medical supervision
- A 2023 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that amateur kickboxing has a lower rate of head injury than amateur boxing, rugby, and American football
The risk exists in any contact sport. But in supervised recreational training, it is well-managed and very low.
Verdict: Myth for recreational training. Valid concern for professional fighters (as in any combat sport).
Myth 3: “Kickboxing will make me aggressive.”
The Myth: Learning to punch and kick will make me angry and violent.
The Fact: Research consistently shows the opposite. A 2022 meta-analysis in Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that structured martial arts training was associated with reduced aggression, improved self-regulation, and increased prosocial behavior.
At Om’s, the dojo code explicitly prohibits using skills outside the studio. Students who display aggression or misuse their training are removed from the program.
Verdict: Myth. Kickboxing reduces aggression, not increases it.
Myth 4: “Women shouldn’t do kickboxing.”
The Myth: It’s a men’s activity. Women will get hurt. It’s not feminine.
The Fact: Women make up approximately 40-45% of kickboxing participants globally. Women’s kickboxing is a full competitive discipline under WAKO. At Om’s, women make up 40% of our kickboxing student body.
Kickboxing builds strength, flexibility, confidence, and self-defence capability — all of which are empowering.
Verdict: Complete myth. And a harmful one.
[→ Related: Kickboxing for Women – Benefits, Safety & What to Expect]
Myth 5: “Kickboxing is not ‘real fighting.'”
The Myth: It’s sport. It’s choreographed. It won’t work in a real fight.
The Fact: Kickboxing is a full-contact combat sport. Fights are not choreographed. Knockouts happen. Fighters get hurt. The techniques (punches, kicks, knees) are real strikes that cause real damage.
However, this myth has a grain of truth: kickboxing does not include grappling, ground fighting, elbows (in K-1 rules), or weapon defence. It is a striking sport, not a complete fighting system. For a more complete skill set, combine kickboxing with wrestling, BJJ, or our Self Defence program.
Verdict: Mostly myth. Kickboxing is real. But it is not a complete fighting system.
Myth 6: “You need to be fit to start.”
The Myth: I need to “get in shape” before I can train kickboxing.
The Fact: Kickboxing builds fitness. You do not need to be fit to start. Our beginner classes at Om’s are designed for people with zero athletic background. The conditioning is progressive. You start where you are.
The most common sentence we hear from new students after their first class: “I had no idea it would be this hard.” The second most common: “When can I come back?”
Verdict: Complete myth. You start to get fit. You don’t get fit to start.
Myth 7: “Kickboxing is only for young people.”
The Myth: If you’re over 30, it’s too late.
The Fact: We have students at Om’s who started at 25, 35, 45, and 58. The training is adapted to your physical capacity. The art is the same. The pride is the same.
Kickboxing is adaptable. A 50-year-old does not train identically to a 20-year-old. But they train the same techniques, hit the same pads, and experience the same satisfaction.
Verdict: Complete myth. You are never too old.
Myth 8: “You’ll break your hands / shins.”
The Myth: Hitting things will damage your bones.
The Fact: With proper technique, hand wraps, gloves, and progressive conditioning, the risk of hand or shin injury is very low. The most common cause of hand injury is poor technique (hitting with the wrong knuckles, bent wrist) or no hand wraps.
Shin conditioning is gradual. You do not kick a heavy bag at full power on day one. You build up over weeks and months. The bone remodels and strengthens (Wolff’s Law).
At Om’s, coaches correct technique constantly and enforce protective gear. Hand and shin injuries are rare.
Verdict: Myth. Proper technique and gear prevent injury.
Myth 9: “Kickboxing is just cardio.”
The Myth: It’s aerobics with punching. Not a “real” workout.
The Fact: A 60-minute kickboxing session burns 600-900 calories and engages:
- Upper body (punches, blocks)
- Lower body (kicks, footwork, stances)
- Core (every rotational strike)
- Cardiovascular system (sustained high heart rate)
- Neuromuscular system (coordination, reaction, timing)
It is simultaneously a cardio workout, a strength workout, a flexibility session, and a skill class. No treadmill can replicate that.
Verdict: Myth. Kickboxing is a complete full-body workout.
Myth 10: “You need expensive equipment.”
The Myth: You’ll spend thousands on gear before you even start.
The Fact: For your first month at Om’s, you need comfortable clothing and a water bottle. A starter kit (hand wraps + gloves + mouthguard) costs under ₹2,500. Competition gear is purchased only when you compete, which may be years into your training.
Verdict: Myth. Starter costs are modest.
[→ Related: Kickboxing Equipment – Complete Buying Guide]
Myth 11: “Kickboxing is the same as Muay Thai.”
The Myth: They’re the same thing with different names.
The Fact: They overlap significantly but differ in key ways:
| Feature | Kickboxing (K-1) | Muay Thai |
|---|---|---|
| Elbows | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Clinch | Limited | Full, sustained |
| Cultural elements | Minimal | Wai Kru, Mongkol, Sarama |
| Rhythm | Fast, combinations | Deliberate, power-focused |
Muay Thai has two additional weapons (elbows and full clinch) and a deeper cultural tradition. They are related but not identical.
Verdict: Myth. Related but distinct.
[→ Related: Kickboxing vs Muay Thai – The Definitive Comparison]
Myth 12: “Sparring means getting beaten up.”
The Myth: If I spar, I’ll get destroyed by experienced fighters.
The Fact: At Om’s, sparring is:
- Progressive – No sparring for the first 4-6 weeks
- Supervised – A coach watches every round
- Paired by size and experience – You spar someone your level
- Controlled – Light to moderate contact, not full power
- Stopped immediately if anyone is unsafe
The goal of sparring is learning, not domination. Experienced students are expected to help less experienced partners, not punish them.
Verdict: Myth. Sparring is controlled, supervised, and educational.
Myth 13: “Kickboxing is a cult.”
The Myth: The bowing, the terminology, the intensity — it’s indoctrination.
The Fact: Kickboxing is a sport and fitness activity. There is no deity, no scripture, no worship. The “bowing” (in traditional gyms) is a cultural sign of respect, similar to a handshake. The terminology (jab, cross, roundhouse) is technical vocabulary, not incantation.
People of all faiths and no faith train kickboxing. You are free to practice any religion alongside it.
Verdict: Complete myth.
Myth 14: “Once you stop, you lose everything.”
The Myth: If I take a break, all my skills disappear.
The Fact: Motor skills (punching technique, kicking mechanics, combinations) are stored in long-term muscle memory. A student who trained for 2 years and takes a 1-year break will regain their skill level much faster than a complete beginner. Fitness and flexibility decline faster, but technique is remarkably durable.
Verdict: Myth. Skills fade but do not vanish.
Myth 15: “Kickboxing is not useful for self-defence.”
The Myth: It’s a sport. It won’t help you in a real fight.
The Fact: Kickboxing develops distance management, striking power, composure under pressure, and the confidence to act — all critical self-defence attributes. A well-placed cross, low kick, or knee creates a 2-3 second escape window.
However, this myth has a grain of truth: kickboxing does not include grappling, ground fighting, weapon defence, or de-escalation training. For a complete self-defence education, combine kickboxing with our Self Defence program.
Verdict: Partially true. Kickboxing is useful but incomplete for self-defence. Supplement it.
[→ Related: The Complete Guide to Self Defence]
The Bottom Line
Kickboxing is not perfect. No sport is. It has limitations (no grappling, no elbows in K-1, sport-focused rules). Acknowledging these limitations is honest, not defensive.
But the myths — that it’s violent, that it’s dangerous, that it’s only for young men, that it’s not a real workout — are false. And they prevent people from experiencing one of the most effective, accessible, and rewarding physical activities in the world.
The best way to debunk a myth is to try the thing yourself.
[→ Book Your Free Kickboxing Trial Class at Om’s Martial Arts & Fitness Studio]
[→ Read the Complete Guide to Kickboxing]
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Om’s Martial Arts & Fitness Studio – Don’t believe the myths. Believe the experience. Wrap your hands. Hit the pads. Decide for yourself.
