The Complete Guide to Kickboxing
The honest beginner's guide to kickboxing: what it really costs, what you really need, and how to know if it's worth your time before you buy a single piece of gear
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Curious about kickboxing? Get the real costs, the real gear, and the real first-month experience - before you spend a dollar.
About this book
You've seen kickboxing classes at the gym, watched fighters on TV, or maybe just imagined what it'd feel like to hit something after a rough day at work. But you have questions. Real questions. How much does it actually cost? Do I need to be in shape first? Am I too old? What the heck do I wear? What if I look stupid? This guide answers all of those and more - in plain language, with actual numbers and real-world advice from someone who's been there.
This isn't a textbook for people who already train. It's a friendly, practical walkthrough for the complete beginner. You'll learn what kickboxing actually involves on a day-to-day basis, what gear you truly need (and what you absolutely don't), how much it'll set you back at every stage, and what a satisfying session actually feels like - the sweat, the frustration, the endorphin rush, all of it. There's a self-assessment checklist to help you decide if it's a good fit, a week-by-week plan for your first month, and the honest truth about how long it takes to feel like you know what you're doing.
By the end, you won't just have answers - you'll have confidence. Confidence to walk into that first class, confidence to know what to buy and what to skip, and confidence to decide whether kickboxing deserves a spot in your life. No hype, no jargon, no pressure. Just the real deal.
Reader Reviews
Donna Gonzalez
★★★★★I've been 'thinking about' kickboxing for two years but never signed up because I was terrified of looking stupid and blowing money. This guide finally gave me real numbers and a week-by-week plan. The chapter on what a first session actually feels like was spot-on - I brought the recommended gear, knew what to expect, and didn't feel lost. I'm three weeks in and genuinely loving it. Worth every penny.
Ashley Williams
★★★★★Finally, a guide that treats me like an adult instead of trying to sell me something. I loved that it laid out the honest costs - I had no idea hand wraps and gloves would only set me back forty bucks to start. The self-assessment checklist made me realize I was way more ready for this than I thought. I've already told two friends to grab this before they even look at gym schedules.
Timothy Brown
★★★★★Solid, practical book. I appreciated the honest 'is it right for you' chapter because it actually talked about how much space you need and how your knees might feel, which other sources skip. The cost breakdowns were realistic, though my gym was a bit pricier than the guide suggested. Chapter 6 walking through a full session was really helpful for managing nerves on day one. Would've liked a bit more on actual technique, but for a beginner deciding, this does the job.