ALTHOUGH kickboxing sounds like a violent and rough exercise, it is gradually gaining traction in Shenzhen, especially among entrepreneurs, civil servants and white-collar workers.

Mei Chunlei is an entrepreneur who likes kickboxing. At nearly 50 years of age, Mei is always energetic. He said the reason he started practicing kickboxing is that he had a lot of pressure from work and had become irritable over the past few years.

“By practicing kickboxing, I have not only improved my work efficiency, but also my temperament,” he said. Mei is over 1.8 meters tall and once weighed more than 100 kilograms. Three years after he had started kickboxing, his weight stabilized at around 83 kilograms.

Lin Xiaolin is a kickboxing coach at a training center in Futian District. Unlike other coaches, she teaches children. Lin works as a tea artist. Coaching kickboxing is her part-time job. “I’ve had a martial arts dream since I was a kid,” said Lin.

Lin said kickboxing not only makes her muscles tighter and slimmer, but also makes her more self-disciplined in daily life, including her diet and training.

Kang En, one of the most famous wrestlers in China, was the first Chinese professional boxing champion to win the gold belt of the WBC (World Boxing Council). He is now a coach and an ambassador of kickboxing at Hero Legends Training Center.

“Kickboxing is a full-body sport that makes people sweat a lot. It’s effective at reducing stress from work. I hope more white-collar workers will join,” he said.

Kang added that the first thing learned in kickboxing is how to defend, that is, how to protect yourself. Strength training and running is required every day to be able to protect oneself.

(Zhang Yu)