As for getting a guy to hit harder, first I wouldn't be too concerned about hitting hard in sparring. What you want to focus on is speed. When most people "go easy" they tend to almost fight in slow motion and that can really be detrimental to your sessions. Explain to him the difference and say you need to work on speed and you need him to help you out. Your sparring partner is just that, a partner. They should be helping you train. Tell him to speed up a bit.
If he's still going slow after that then it might be because you're taking too many shots. So it might be skill level rather than gender that's making that difference. If that's the case then ask for some pointers and be willing to offer a few back. Communication is important in sparring so talk to your partner early and often.
I don't think it is weird for a female to box or kickbox, so long as she is in it out of seriousness...and not just trying to make a statement or because she wants to be "eye candy" for the other guys in the gym. When I used to box at the local gym as a teenager, there was a female who came to our training sessions. She would wear skin tight "boy shirts" and a pink midriff, but not put much effort into her training. So that is what I'm talking about. Other than that, I think more females should get into boxing and martial arts...it's a form of self-defense.
Because boxing and martial arts are considered "combat sports," some men feel guilty about hitting or training with a female...out of these chivalry notions that a man should never hit a woman or that a man must always put a woman's safety above his own (this is why so many men in the Army are willing to put themself in the line of fire in order to protect a female fighting alongside them).
Girls that do kick boxing are HOT!!! They get great bodies from it. But the guys wont go hard on you until you get stronger and better. So when they feel you hitting harder in a few weeks, they will start hitting you a little harder too.
Go for it
My girlfriend does it and I love it. I admire her
It tones up the body and gives self confidence. Also opportunity to make new friends.
Normally boys should be careful when sparring with ladies as they are more powerful.
So i started kickboxing a few weeks ago, and the majority of the people that train where I go are men. There are only a few women including myself. Anyways, I got paired up with this guy and I felt bad for getting paired up with him because I feel like Im holding him back, and he was going very easy on me. Ok I get that Im not the strongest person, but Im not that weak either, what should I do? I told him not to go easy on me and I told him to punch harder too, but he just wasnt doing it!! Also, do you think its wierd for a girl to kick box? What are your thought on this?
