Kickboxing, usually associated with individuals competing against each other, is an amazing and comprehensive method of exercise, even if you don’t want to fight anyone. With such a fun way to burn body fat and strengthen your body and mind, kickboxing can be done anywhere and modified to match your level of fitness.

“Once people try it, they’re excited,” said Taylor Merritt, coach of Title Boxing, a boxing gym with 155 venues in the United States. Women’s Health Magazine.

Endurance, speed and power training play a role in kickboxing, so it is not just one type of training. “It’s a great combination of cardio and strength, which also allows you to tone up quickly” said Merritt.

For college students, an added benefit of kickboxing is that it can be a great stress reliever. It can be empowering to struggle with the punching bag, while metaphorically struggling with the burdens of one’s life.

“There is a physical element in the fight against the things that weigh heavily on you in life” said Brooke Budke, Vice President of Marketing for Title Boxing.

A 2014 study find that after five weeks of kickboxing training, upper body and aerobic power improve, as well as anaerobic fitness, flexibility, speed and agility. It also improves posture and coordination.

The lower body can also benefit. “A lot of people might think, ‘oh, I’m just using my upper body’, but if you do it right, the power comes from your lower body and your heart.” said Merritt.

A bonus is that kickboxing is a great way to learn self defense as it can teach you basic skills and techniques. It makes sense that so many celebrities, like Halle Berry, have been practicing kickboxing for quite some time now and bragging about its effectiveness.

Although UTM does not offer kickboxing per se, there is the possibility of martial arts lessons, which you can consult on the RAWC website.