Why Building the Habit of training is the Most Important First Step in Kickboxing
Starting out
As a beginner, it’s completely normal to feel excited about starting your martial arts journey but it’s just as common to feel like you’re not progressing fast enough, or even to worry that you might be holding others back. If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone.
It’s important to remember a few things:
These feelings are normal, and every student experiences them at some point.
Even the most advanced fighters once stood exactly where you are now as complete beginners.
In your first few months, the most valuable thing you can do isn’t mastering every technique it’s building the habit of consistent training.
That last point is what we’ll focus on in this article. We’ll explore why developing a training habit is the single most important step for beginners, and share practical tips to help you build consistency and confidence in your early journey.
Why Habit Comes Before Skill
When beginners start training, many fall into the trap of wanting to improve as quickly as possible, without first building the rhythm of consistent practice. The truth is, consistency always beats intensity. Training once a week every week is far more effective than training five times in one week and then not showing up for the rest of the month.
By focusing on consistency, you create momentum. This steady rhythm allows your skills and fitness to develop gradually over the weeks, months, and years it takes to become proficient in Sanda kickboxing. Once the habit of training is formed, it will carry you forward, even during times when your motivation dips, so you can keep progressing and see lasting results
What Happens After the Habit is Built
Once training becomes a regular part of your week, you can shift your focus toward becoming the best martial artist you can be. You’ll find that techniques start to click more quickly, your strength and fitness improve steadily, and as your confidence grows, you’ll feel more positive about your progress and your practice.
By building the habit of consistent training, you create the foundation for everything else, skills, fitness, confidence, and long-term success in your kickboxing journey.
How to Build the Training Habit
Practical tips for beginners:
Set a schedule: Pick your class night and treat it like a non negotiable appointment.
Start small, stay regular: Better to commit to one class a week consistently than aim for three and burn out.
Prepare in advance: Pack your kit bag, arrange transport, know when you’re leaving.
Focus on showing up, not being perfect: Effort and attendance matter more than flawless technique in the early stages.
Reward the habit: Acknowledge your consistency (track your sessions, celebrate milestones).
Overcoming Common Barriers
Balancing training with the rest of life can be challenging, which is why finding your initial motivation your “why” is so important. Whether your reason is to master a new skill, improve your fitness, or simply enjoy the process of training, that initial spark is what helps you overcome the inertia of starting something new and begin building lasting habits.
Whenever motivation feels low, remind yourself that by training kickboxing you’re investing in yourself and your long-term wellbeing. And once training becomes part of your weekly rhythm, you’ll likely wonder how you ever managed without it.
Start your journey today
We all start somewhere, and the only real difference between a master and a beginner is that the master never stopped learning, training, and progressing. So take the first step on your journey today, and focus on building the habits that will stay with you for a lifetime.