First of all, boxing refers to a combat sport governed by specific rules. While there are variants to the structure of a particular boxing match, the general rules themselves are pretty much the same. All striking is done with fists. Striking with anything other than a fist - like a kick, knee, elbow, headbutt, etc, - would be illegal.
Kickboxing is a little bit more of an amorphous term. It can refer to multiple disciplines and styles. But one thing that remains pretty constant is that you are indeed throwing kicks as well as punches. What kind of kicks depends a little on the style you train. In the last 10-20 years, I would say that Muay Thai has been the prevailing influence in most kickboxing classes out there. Along those lines, kickboxing will also include strikes with elbows and knees as well as involve certain movement, like spinning, that would never happen in boxing (not always because is is illegal, it would just be impractical).
But there is more to it than that. Boxing generally more nuanced than kickboxing with the big example being head movement for defense. It is the only fighting system I know of where head movement is utilized like this. You can do these things in kickboxing as well but it doesn't always make as much sense. For instance, you can certainly roll underneath a punch in kickboxing but you run the risk of getting knee'd in the face ducking down like that. You could slip a straight punch but if a round kick immediately follows, you will run right into that kick and it won't feel good. Thus, defense in kickboxing is likely going to involve blocking and checking vs. head movement and footwork in boxing.
So if kickboxing involves a wider variety of strikes than boxing, does this mean it is more difficult to learn than boxing? Not necessarily. I would say that at first, it is a lot of extra terminology to take in and that is why I don't recommend people start off with a kickboxing class at our club. There is also more to manage in terms of spacing from the heavy bag but as far as truly learning the skill, I don't believe that kickboxing is more challenging.
What about from a workout perspective? This is where certain myths kick in (pun intended!):
MYTH 1 - You Get A Better Workout From Kickboxing
I have watched hundreds and hundreds of people in boxing and kickboxing classes and can tell you that beyond a shadow of a doubt, around 99% of them will get a better workout from boxing vs. kickboxing. Only exception being those who are very high-level kickboxers already. Otherwise, most people move faster, produce a lot more volume, sweat more, burn more calories and build more muscle from boxing. Why? Because that 99% of the people I've seen will go faster and work harder in a boxing class. Kicks slow things down considerably in a number of ways. It generally takes twice as long to throw a kick than a punch, plus there is extra time transitioning to other strikes in a combination as well. Power output (for punches and kicks) is not the same unless again, someone is in that less-than-one-percentile category of being a very advanced kickboxer with a high level of coordination.
This is a big one: since boxing only allows a person to strike with their hands whereas kickboxing allows striking with the hands and legs, it make sense that kickboxing is more of a lower body workout, right? Wrong! Well, for the most part. Because whenever you kick or knee something, that means you are standing on one leg for a duration of time and thus, your calves may get a better/different workout but otherwise, boxing is as much about the lower body as it is the upper body. I'm gonna say it again because if you haven't done a lot of boxing before, you may not realize it at all: Boxing is a full-body workout, using your legs (and your core) as much as the upper body. Granted, this is one of the harder things for people to learn but it is the essence of boxing. Every punch starts from below the belt meaning that the first thing you do, the first muscle you move, when you decide to throw that punch is going to come from the hips and legs before working its way into the fists. Boxing allows for more aggressive footwork as well and pushing off the ground in your fighting stance is going to strengthen your legs more than throwing a kick, in most situations.
This perception is the reality for many people I've spoken to. Because of things like Tai Bo and Cardio Kick classes being offered at big box gyms, it does seem like many people from the outside perceive boxing as more of a male sport with kickboxing being more female-oriented. I myself don't see it that way at all but understand that the viewpoint exists. Then there's the old stereotype of a boxing gym being like in the movies - white walls, spit buckets, a bunch of rough-looking people training on their own. Of course that is not what a boxing gym has to be at all and I have certainly seen hundreds of women (and men) at our club really take to boxing. Some may never have thought they would but getting the opportunity in a very non-intimidating environment was all it took. Both boxing and kickboxing are for everybody, they truly are. All ages, fitness levels, body types, etc. It is a beautiful thing.
And kickboxing itself is a beautiful thing too! I hope I am not coming off as disparaging here. I enjoy teaching both kickboxing and boxing, I enjoy doing them both myself, and I recommend both to everyone. I will say again that almost every single one of you will get more from a workout perspective from boxing but you will certainly work hard kickboxing as well plus the personal enjoyment factor must not be discounted. Plenty of people love kicking and thus, should kick away! And if you haven't tried it, try it!
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