Kickboxing vs Boxing: Difference and Comparison

Kickboxing and boxing might sound the same, but both are totally different sports. They are just closely related to each other. Kickboxing involves a wide range of different activities in it, and the players practise all of them.

Boxing is a sport of punching; it is true that no one can punch like a trained boxer.

In Kickboxing, a hand and a leg are used at a time, while in boxing, both hands are used. This says that trained boxers are more powerful than kickboxers or, can say, more effective at a time.

Although both of them are fantastic sports to stay fit and in shape, plus it develops the ability for self-defence.

Key Takeaways

1. Kickboxing and boxing are two combat sports that involve striking an opponent with fists and feet.
2. Boxing only involves the use of fists, while kickboxing consists of the use of both fists and feet.
3. Kickboxing is considered a complete combat sport as it allows for a wider range of techniques and strikes than boxing.

Kickboxing vs Boxing

The difference between Kickboxing and boxing is that in Kickboxing, hands and feet are allowed to use at the same time or whenever they want to, but only hands can be used in boxing. Kickboxing while practising includes punches and kicks, too, while boxing just includes punches and some blocks.

Kickboxing is practised for staying fit or for self-health issues, and for self-defence, it includes punches and licks, too, as the name says.

The sport is basically a two-person sport that allows each other to place punches, blocks and kicks on each other, but the requirement is that they are all placed above the waist and not below it.

Boxing is a sport that requires full strength, endurance, speed, and reflexes simultaneously. Boxing, too, is a two-person sport and is a combat sport.

In boxing, only hands can be sued while practising the sport. Feet are not allowed. It includes- punching, strikes on the elbow, locks, and even throwing.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Kickboxing	Boxing
Strategies	The strategy of defensive and attacking. Kickboxing includes both punches and kicking, which makes it of attacking strategy and is based on attacking more.	Boxing includes only punches and makes the player more attentive towards defending themselves.
Body posture	Kickboxing is always about attacking themselves, and the position is more about attacking the other person in the square-like position.	The posture of the body for the boxers is more towards the side as they are defending themselves from the punches, so they have to minimize the space available for the other person’s attack.
Clinching	Kickboxing includes throwing each other to the other end, just like martial arts, so in kickboxing, if you clench your opponent, you will most likely be thrown to another end by your opponent.	This is very common in boxing. It includes grabbing the opponent with both hands.
Spacing	In kickboxing, the players stay as far as possible because the kicks are the strongest, so by staying far, you can easily limit the power of that kick.	In boxing, there is less spacing, as it includes punching your opponent, so you have to stay as close as you can be to your opponent, so it is easier for you to punch.
Punches	In both sports, punches are quite similar. The only difference is that kickboxing includes feet too.	Boxing is all about punching, so the punches come stronger in this sport.

What is Kickboxing?

Kickboxing is practised for staying fit or for self-health issues, and for self-defence, it includes punches and licks, too, as the name says.

The sport is basically a two-person sport that allows each other to place punches, blocks and kicks on each other, but the requirement is that they are all placed above the waist and not below it.

Kickboxing is a sport that stands with a difference from other sports like karate and martial arts. It includes way different movements from the rest of the sports. The movements in Kickboxing include kicking, elbow strikes, throws, locks, and many more.

What is Boxing?

Boxing is a sport that requires full strength, endurance, speed, and reflexes simultaneously. Boxing, too, is a two-person sport and is a combat sport.

In boxing, only hands can be sued while practising the sport. Feet are not allowed. It includes- punching, strikes on the elbow, locks, and even throwing.

Boxing includes only punches and makes the player more attentive towards defending themselves. The posture of the body for the boxers is more towards the side as they are defending themselves from the punches, so they have to minimize the space available for the other person’s attack. 

Main Differences Between Kickboxing and Boxing

1. The main difference between Kickboxing and boxing is that Kickboxing includes the use of both hands and feet altogether, while boxing is all about punches and allows you to use your hands only.
2. Kickboxing is a sport that is about attacking strategy, but boxing is about defensive strategy.
3. The person is always at a side position in boxing so as to defend themselves, while in Kickboxing, the person is in a square-like position.
4. Both sports include punches, but Kickboxing includes both punches and feet, and boxing includes just punches.
5. The technique of clinching is more useful and effective in boxing as it enables you to grab the opponent with both hands, while in Kickboxing, it will let your opponent throw you to the other end of the ring.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-84800-354-5_19
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=k1U8BQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP7&dq=what+is+boxing&ots=TnXJaImD7s&sig=puGFkfiw9CWMIGtRNvz2FyMCBjc
3. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bNtRAQAAIAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP8&dq=what+is+boxing&ots=iIZf9AcgXg&sig=wPan_2EpaHYEUV7buNwuq6DUxbY