Aerobic kickboxing is a sport-specific equipment-based exercise

Physical exercise

Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...

 program created by Frank Thiboutot at The Bay Club in Portland

Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...

, Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 in 1992 as "Cardio Kickboxing". The original circuit training

Circuit training

Circuit training is a form of conditioning combining resistance training and high-intensity aerobics. It is designed to be easy to follow and target strength building as well as muscular endurance. An exercise "circuit" is one completion of all prescribed exercises in the program. When one circuit...

 format was developed to help promote the sport of kickboxing

Kickboxing

Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....

 through kickboxing for fitness

Physical fitness

Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...

.

The techniques used during the one-hour classes, using conventional heavy bags

Punching bag

A punching bag or punch-bag is a sturdy bag designed to be repeatedly punched. It's used for conditioning, physical exercise, and stress relief...

 and training pads

Focus mitt

A focus mitt is a padded target attached to a glove and usually used in training boxers and other combat athletes.The person holding the focus mitts will typically call out combinations and "feed" the puncher good counter-force while maneuvering and working specific skills...

, are based on authentic kickboxing techniques which provide both resistance training

Resistance training

Resistance training has two different meanings. A broader meaning that refers to any training that uses a resistance to the force of muscular contraction , and elastic or hydraulic resistance, which refers to a specific type of strength training that uses elastic or hydraulic tension to provide...

 and cardiovascular

Circulatory system

The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...

 benefits to its participants.