Put your dukes up and get ready to punch and kick your way to fitness in the pool with Stephanie Newberry and AquaGym Fitness. Inspired by Martial Arts, Combat Combinations is a 57-minute shallow water kickboxing workout that provides a fun challenge using the water’s resistance. Equipment is not necessary, however webbed gloves are ideal, or you can purchase the Aqua Combat Gloves shown in the video.
Kickboxing workouts are actually ideal in the pool given the resistance encountered by the water’s viscosity. The punch and kick combinations are simply more challenging in the water than they are on land. Certified in kickboxing in 1998 when I was teaching a variety group fitness classes, I actually began aquatic fitness career in 2000 by teaching an aquatic kickboxing class at the JCC in Rochester, NY. Kickboxing has always been a favorite activity in my senior aqua classes. Class members tell me that they like it because they like acting fierce and they love toning their arms.
Equipment?
Equipment is not necessary. The water’s viscosity adds plenty of resistance. However, if you want to add extra muscle conditioning to your arms, webbed gloves are ideal for the punch combinations. In the video, Rick is using Aqua Combat Gloves, which can be purchased online through Indigo Aquatics.
Workout-at-a-Glance
Combat Combinations includes a short warm-up and cool down and 10 kickboxing combinations. There are actually five unique combinations, however each combination is first shown on the right or left side of the body and then repeated on the other side. Each combination features around three or four punches and kicks. Stephanie introduces one move at a time, teaching it first slow and controlled and then quick and powerful. Then she does the same thing with the next move before adding both moves together. This continues until the entire combination is first taught slow and controlled, and then quick and powerful.
Before she started instructing water fitness classes, Stephanie was a Martial Arts instructor. In the video below, watch her talk more about aquatic kickboxing and the Combat Combinations routine. Then read more about her kickboxing inspiration and the upcoming conference where she will be presenting this workout to instructors.
Kickboxing Inspiration
By Stephanie Newberry
My introduction to Martial Arts started much earlier in my life. A high school friend once took me to his karate school and I took a class with him. I recall being very intimidated by everything there. It was a bit overwhelming. It is funny that later in life I ended up getting my own black belt and became a karate instructor. Those were the years that led up to my finding aquatic fitness. It might even be WHY I found aquatic fitness after suffering an ACL replacement and a broken foot in karate. I still love martial arts, but now I really enjoy sharing it in the low-impact aquatic environment. Combat Combinations in a layering style kickboxing workout. In this workout, we slowly work through combat moves, make combinations, and then intensify the power.
I am excited to share Combat Combinations this year in person at the International Aquatic Fitness and Therapy Conference (IAFTC), hosted by the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA). This is very exciting for me. I obtained my AEA certification 9 years ago and attended the conference many times as an attendee. I have always walked away feeling amazingly refreshed and invigorated after attending this conference. To be a presenter now is a true honor. This organization has made me feel like family and that is also very important. See you in the pool!
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Poolfit extends a big thank you to Stephanie for once again making the trip to Sarasota to share her expertise and passion with subscribers. Check out her biography and vast collection of Poolfit videos. And stay tuned for three more AquaGym Fitness videos posting this spring and summer. Watch a fun behind-the-scenes video of the most recent AquaGym Fitness filming.