Kickboxing vs Karate: Difference and Comparison

Whenever it comes to professional punching martial arts, none are much more popular and effective than Karate and Kickboxing.

The two are designed and developed to employ punches and kicks that incapacitate the opponent quickly and effectively despite the fact that both of these disciplines rely on hitting as their primary weapon.

Key Takeaways

1. Kickboxing is a combat sport that combines punches and kicks, while Karate primarily focuses on strikes using hands and feet.
2. Karate has more emphasis on traditional values and discipline than Kickboxing.
3. Kickboxing is a more physically demanding sport than Karate.

Kickboxing vs Karate

The difference between kickboxing and karate is that Karate is just a martial art style, but Kickboxing is just a combat sport. Karate helps in improving body awareness, whereas kickboxing helps in improving their confidence and overall health. The technique of kicking in karate is used to keep the opponents away, whereas it serves many uses in kickboxing.

Karate is a martial art that began in Okinawa, Japan, in the 19th century. It was just one among some of the world’s most widely practised martial arts by the twentieth century.

In karate, Punches, kicks, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and open-hand techniques are all used in this stunning art form. Grappling, throws, joint locks, restraints, and critical point blows are all employed in certain forms or styles.

Kickboxing is just a punching sport that combines martial arts and stand-up combat. It originated from karate in the past. It is mostly used for self-defence, general fitness, and contact sports.

Kickboxing during a battle includes kicking, punching, elbow and knee strikes, throws, locks, and grappling methods.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Kickboxing	Karate
Definition	Kickboxing is a type of martial art form that mixes boxing and karate components, particularly barefoot kicking.	Karate is a Japanese art form that focuses on developing defensive and counter-attacking body movements.
Structure	It’s a straightforward fighting and combat sport.	It’s purely self-defence martial art.
Uniform	They dress casually in loose shirts, shorts, and gloves	A perfect white outfit with a waist belt is applied.
Discipline	Physical discipline is the only thing that matters.	Both mental and physical discipline is necessary.
Styles	They are in many styles such as Adithada, Lethwei, Pradal Serey, Muay Thai, and other	They are in three styles Kihon, Kata, and Kumite

What is Kickboxing?

A type of martial art that mixes boxing and karate components, particularly barefoot kicking. Kickboxing is a combat sport that incorporates kicking and punching techniques.

It evolved from Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing, and other martial arts. Kickboxing is a contact sport that is used for general fitness, self-defence, and as a contact sport.

The Japanese version of the sport began in the 1960s, while the American version began in the 1970s.

Kickboxing (especially Cardio Kickboxing) is a high-intensity aerobic workout that strengthens and conditions your system. It’s a martial arts activity that can help you lose weight and improve your health by increasing your flexibility and strengthening your heart.

Kickboxing enhances your stability and strengthens your physique. Begin with such a warmup and acquire the fundamental skills and moves from an instructor to reduce the chance of injury and optimize exercise outcomes.

Kickboxing focuses on techniques of blocking and also covers hands, feet, and elbows.

What is Karate?

An eastern method of unarmed fighting in which blows are delivered and blocked with the hands and feet, which is extensively practised as a sport.

“True karate is this: that in daily life one’s mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice” by Gichin Funakoshi.

Karate is composed of two kanji: kara, which means empty, and the, which indicates hand; so, karate means “empty hand.” This implies that karate is just a steady process that encompasses much more than self-defence.

In traditional karate, one is supposed to compete against oneself and strive to be the best.

There are three types of karate training:

1. Kihon means drilling stances, blocks, punches, strikes, and kicks.
2. Kata means pre-arranged forms simulating combat situations.
3. Kumite means sparring

In each area, the newbie is taught at the most fundamental level until the procedures become automatic. As a learner permit technical skills to grow, so does his or her physical strength, therefore new techniques necessitate greater strength and endurance.

At this point, the student is working on increasingly complex and challenging katas as well as more dynamic types of Kumite. Technique, stamina, speed, and coordination become second nature as the learner progresses to the black belt level.

At this point, the committed learner realizes that his or her karate training has just begun. True karate practice has as its goal the improvement of oneself via the improvement of the art.

Main Differences Between Kickboxing and Karate

1. Kickboxing is easier to learn than karate since it just emphasizes striking and kicking techniques. However, learning karate is more difficult, and mastering advanced methods makes it even more difficult.
2. Competitions in karate take place on a mat, whereas kickboxing takes place in a boxing ring.
3. Karate teaches a lot of techniques, whereas kickboxing uses limited techniques.
4. Kickboxing is aggressive, whereas karate is the complete opposite of aggression.
5. Kickboxing is a sports event, whereas karate is more of a martial art rather than a sports event.

References

1. https://medsport.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/pdf-54.pdf
2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michal-Kudlacek/publication/281432647_Sport_preferences_survey_-_future_of_martial_arts/links/55e6a40b08aecb1a7ccd704a/Sport-preferences-survey-future-of-martial-arts.pdf