Is hitting a punching bag good cardio?

I attend a ladies kickboxing class and while we are actively punching/kicking the bag, my Bodymedia Fit says I am burning 10-15 calories a minute, and it classifies the activity as vigorous. So yes, if you are putting in a substantial effort, boxing and kickboxing is excellent,lent cardio, not to mention a great stress reliever, and you look cool doing it! So many wins! :glasses:

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

What are you smoking, dude?

If it gets your heart rate up, it's cardio. Wanna guess where the word comes from?

So yes, OP, it is cardio, and very good cardio, too.

Yes!

I really want to start kickboxing soon.

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

Since when is it not cardio? You are moving constantly while kicking, and hitting a punching bag. It is very vigorous cardio. Who ever told you it wasn't cardio, lied.

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

What are you smoking, dude?

If it gets your heart rate up, it's cardio. Wanna guess where the word comes from?

So yes, OP, it is cardio, and very good cardio, too.

When you lift weights, your heartreate goes up. Is that cardio too?

when you're scared, your heartrate goes up. Is that cardio too?

when you are in a hot place, your heartrate goes up. Is that cardio too?

you do understand that anything using fast twitch muscle fibers uses the ATP-CP and lactic acid energy systems to do work right? that means by definition, NOT cardio.

Cardio is ONLY when your body is doing slower low impact stuff that uses Type I muscle.

Boxing and kickboxing and the like CAN be cardio. As long as you're not giving it your all punching and go slow and weak enough to last for a while without tiring. Otherwise if you do it in regards to sets and failure, you're doing the equivalent of sprinting.

Here's a hint. If you're feeling lactic acid buildup, then it's not cardio, as by definition you're using your lactic acid energy system.

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

Facepalm. Have you ever tried boxing, if that's not cardio I don't know what is.

So OP - yes definitely cardio. Try mixing up with different patterns, variation between power and speed, moving your feet around in-between punches to hit different sides of the bag, incorporating ducks (squats) and skip outs (like you have a real opponent that is trying to hit you back).

no. because it's not cardio. unless you do it really slowly and don't put any force behind the punches and kicks. then it can be considered cardio.

Since when is it not cardio? You are moving constantly while kicking, and hitting a punching bag. It is very vigorous cardio. Who ever told you it wasn't cardio, lied.

is sprinting cardio? hint: no.

It takes quite an impressive effort to say something that stands out as really dumb on this site, and you have managed it twice in short order. Congrats.

Boxing is probably one of the most intense and effective forms of cardio you can do.

It's sad so many people here have no idea what cardio is...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise

"Aerobic exercise (also known as cardio) is physical exercise of relatively low intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process."

Now, what part of punching and kicking exactly meets that description??? Lets go a little bit further into this wormhole and see what non cardio definitions entail...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_exercise (hint: NOT cardio)
ok, they don't list any exercises, but lets see what boxing websites say...
http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym1.htm

"Boxing is largely a fast paced, anaerobic event. You win fights by throwing punches. Punches are thrown at top speed. The term anaerobic means to conduct an activity without oxygen. Anaerobic exercise, like boxing, stresses muscles at a high intensity for short bursts. Essentially, this equates to the fast combinations that a fighter throws inside the ring. The aerobic portion of the match takes place when you circle the ring, perhaps catching a quick breath in between punches. Aerobic exercise is defined as lower intensity activities performed for longer periods. "

Again, for those who don't quite get it. Punching and other such high impact things like jumping, etc, are NOT cardio. there is no definition of cardio where they fit, unless you purposely go out of your way to slow them down enough that they become cardio. In which case, you might as well do cardio instead..

Boxing and the like would be similar to tabata type training. Or intervals. the idea is lactic acid threshold training. And though you can see cardio improvements with it, by definition, it is still not cardio...

It takes quite an impressive effort to say something that stands out as really dumb on this site, and you have managed it twice in short order. Congrats.

Boxing is probably one of the most intense and effective forms of cardio you can do.

I just proved you wrong. You're more than welcome to counter. but seems all you're good at is ad hominem attacks. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when you don't even know what cardio is.