In the Portland State Kickboxing Club, students bring an assortment of martial arts disciplines together as they build confidence and learn self-defense. The group focuses mainly on muay thai and boxing but also works in aspects of capoeira, tae kwon do, kung fu and krav maga.
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Kickstarter: Students develop their skills at a Kickboxing Club on meeting in the Academic and Student Rec Center.
“We teach a system of repetition that leads to a person feeling secure with any situation that might arise,” kickboxing coach Kaiwi “Eevie” Amina explained. “Teaching someone how to save their own life is the goal at hand, [but another goal is developing] life skills that can be applied at any time.”
The variety of techniques leads to a well-rounded education, and building strength in mind and body are equally important. “We want each person to feel that they can conquer any challenge with confidence,” Amina said.
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Learning the trade: Kickboxing blends a diverse mixture of fighting styles.
The club is planning a self-defense seminar for PSU students and is also hoping to get high school students involved with the kickboxing community. With bullying becoming a more serious problem in schools, the group feels it is important to educate younger generations on how to protect themselves.
The PSU Kickboxing Club meets in room 430 of the Academic and Student Rec Center on Mondays and Fridays from 2–4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 8–10 p.m.