Crush This Kickboxing Workout In Your Living Room

Kickboxing workouts are a fun and effective cardio option that engage almost every muscle in your body (and your brain!), too. So instead of plodding along on the treadmill, try these drills from fitness expert and certified kickboxing instructor Jessica Smith to burn calories and work your arms, abs, shoulders, back, and legs at the same time. (That's just the beginning. Here, more reasons you need to try boxing.)

How it works: Perform each kickboxing workout drill back to back without rest. When you've finished the last move, rest for 1-2 minutes and repeat the full circuit one more time.

What you'll need: Just a bit of free space! And maybe a fun, dance-party playlist to help power you through this kickboxing workout.

Attack and avoid an imaginary opponent with this punch combo kickboxing workout move. (To help channel your inner fighter, watch Gina Rodriguez master Muay Thai!)

• Stand with your right foot forward, arms in 'on guard' position (elbows bent, hands in fists on either side of your chin).
• Throw a right jab (punch your right arm forward, rotating your fist down, without locking out your elbow), a left cross (punch your left arm forward, rotating your left hip into the punch and lifting your left heel off the floor), and then bring your arms back to on guard position.
• Quickly push your hips back and lower into a squat, jump up, and rotate 180 degrees in the air, landing with your left foot forward.
• Immediately repeat the entire sequence on the left side.
• Continue alternating sides for 1 minute.

Stay quick and light on your feet with this kickboxing workout drill. (Related: How to Throw a Punch Like a Pro Boxer)

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart and bring your arms up in front of your chest, hands in fists, elbows out to the sides.
• Shuffle side to side and circle your arms rapidly around in each other (as if hitting a speed bag).
• Do this as quickly as you can for 30 seconds.

Make this kickboxing workout move harder: Reverse the direction of your circles without losing speed.

Improve your agility and speed with this quick-switch kickboxing workout move.

• With your right foot forward and arms on guard, shuffle in place for 1 count, then quickly jump and switch to the other side, landing with your left foot forward.
• Shuffle in place for 1 count and switch back.
• Do this as quickly as you can for 30 seconds.

Power up your lower body and core with this killer kick combo. (Before you try this kickboxing workout move, see how to master the four fundamental kicks.)

• Stand with your feet together, arms on guard.
• Bend your left knee in towards your chest, and then extend your left leg behind you, pushing out through your left heel, foot flexed.
• Quickly bend your knee back in and step down.
• Immediately bend your right knee in front of your chest, pressing your hips forward.
• Repeat for 30 seconds with the left leg, and then 30 seconds with the right.

Make this kickboxing workout move harder: Add a hop as you transition from the kick to the knee strike.

Jumping rope is a great cardio challenge—but you don't even need an actual rope to get your heart rate up! (Related: This Jump Rope Routine Will Make You Break a Sweat in 20 Minutes)

• Hold an imaginary "rope" and skip in place, alternating a front heel tap while circling your arms.
• Do this as quickly as you can for 30 seconds.

Tone your entire body and get your heart pumping with this cardio-conditioning kickboxing workout twist on a traditional burpee.

• Begin in horse stance with your feet wider than hip-width apart, knees bent, and toes turned out about 45 degrees. Bring your arms to on guard, keeping your hips under your shoulders.
• Bend from your hips to place your hands on the ground below your shoulders.
• Jump both feet back into a full plank (keeping your abs in tight).
• Do a push-up and then jump your feet back into your hands and stand back up into horse stance.
• Repeat as many times as you can for 1 minute.

Keep your mind and body engaged with this 8-count combination. (Inspired to add more martial arts to your exercise agenda after this kickboxing workout? You might want to consider UFC training...)

• Stand with your right foot forward, arms on guard.
• Throw a right jab, a left cross, a right uppercut (bend your elbow into your body and imagine punching up and under your opponent's chin), a left uppercut, and then quickly duck (squat down).
• Immediately stand back up and duck again.
• Repeat the full combo as many times as you can for 30 seconds on the right, then switch and repeat for 30 seconds on the left side.

Target your hips and thighs with this switch-kicking combo.

• Stand with your feet together, arms on guard.
• Bend your left knee and draw your heel into your body, pivoting your right heel forward, and then quickly "whip" your left leg out to the side (imagine you are striking a target with your shin and the top of your foot) extending your leg with your foot pointed.
• Bend your knee back in and step down to switch legs and repeat on the right.
• Alternate legs as quickly as you can for 30 seconds.