Aerobic kickboxing is a sport-specific equipment-based exercise program created by Frank Thiboutot at The Bay Club in Portland, Maine in 1992 as "Cardio Kickboxing". The original circuit training format was developed to help promote the sport of kickboxing through kickboxing for fitness.
The techniques used during the one-hour classes, using conventional heavy bags and training pads, are based on authentic kickboxing techniques which provide both resistance training and cardiovascular benefits to its participants. This is further explained in his book, Cardio Kickboxing Elite. "Cardio Kickboxing" is a registered U.S. trademark, #1,890,451, 1995.
Most aerobic kickboxing classes begin with light stretches and a cardio warm up. Typical routines include a series of repetitive punches, hand strikes, kicks and other self-defense moves.