Best Kickboxing Classes in South East London

If you are searching for kickboxing in South East London, the options are thinner than you might expect. There are a handful of genuine clubs across the area, but the landscape is patchy - a lot of people end up doing Muay Thai when they wanted kickboxing, or boxercise when they wanted either.

This is a practical guide to what is actually available, plus an honest comparison of what you get from kickboxing versus boxing.

Kickboxing Options in SE London

London Savate, Bermondsey (SE16)

London Savate offers French kickboxing - Savate - which is distinct from the American style most people picture when they say kickboxing. Savate uses the feet as striking tools but with a more technical, fencing-influenced approach. Classes twice a week, beginners welcome. Bermondsey is roughly 25 minutes from Kidbrooke.

It is a legitimate club with a long tradition. Worth knowing about if the technical precision of Savate appeals to you specifically.

Sanda Kickboxing Academy, Forest Hill

Forest Hill, south London. Sanda is the Chinese combat sport variant - Sanshou - which combines kickboxing with throws. A specialised choice but well-regarded locally.

Forrer Martial Arts Academy, Lewisham

Forrer focuses on Muay Thai, BJJ, wrestling and MMA rather than kickboxing specifically, but the Muay Thai programme is solid. 24/7 gym access for members. About 20 minutes from Charlton and Kidbrooke areas.

The Commando Temple, Greenwich

The Commando Temple includes Muay Thai in its group class schedule alongside conditioning work. It is primarily a strength and conditioning facility, but the combat sports classes are real.

Deptford Boxing Gym

Deptford Boxing offers boxing and Muay Thai personal training. SE8 - closer to the north side of SE London.

Boxing vs Kickboxing: What You Actually Get

Most people searching for kickboxing are really asking one of two questions: "Where can I get fit while learning to fight?" or "What is the best combat sport for me to try?"

The honest comparison:

Kickboxing burns marginally more calories per hour. The leg involvement - particularly in the kicks - engages larger muscle groups than boxing, which is primarily upper body and core. If pure calorie expenditure is the goal, kickboxing has a slight edge.

Boxing has a lower learning curve for beginners. Harvard Health has noted fitness boxing's accessibility - the fundamental movements (stance, guard, jab, cross) can be taught in one session. Kicks require more mobility, balance, and coordination to execute safely and effectively. Most beginners in kickboxing spend more time correcting technique than getting a workout.

Kickboxing develops more flexibility. The kicking techniques demand hip mobility and hamstring flexibility that boxing footwork does not.

Boxing develops footwork and spatial awareness more thoroughly. The defensive movement in boxing - slipping, rolling, circling - requires constant positional awareness that becomes second nature over time.

Both develop cardiovascular fitness and stress relief equally. The research is consistent on this. A 2023 study on PubMed confirmed elite-level boxing elicits heart rates above 93 per cent of maximum - comparable to any high-intensity combat sport.

Why People Who Start Kickboxing Often Switch to Boxing

This is not a sales pitch - it is a pattern we observe regularly. People come in having tried kickboxing and found either the technique barrier too high, the class quality inconsistent, or the facilities not what they expected.

Boxing benefits from a clearer coaching tradition in the UK. The amateur boxing structure (ABA-affiliated clubs, licensed coaches) means standards are relatively consistent. Kickboxing in the UK has no equivalent national framework, so quality varies enormously between clubs.

If you want a structured, coached martial arts workout - with clear progression, qualified instructors, and a genuine community - a well-run boxing club often delivers this more reliably than a kickboxing class at a general gym.

What We Offer

Honour & Glory is a boxing gym, not a kickboxing club. But we mention this because most of what people want from kickboxing - fitness, coordination, confidence, stress relief, a skill to develop - boxing also provides, often with better coaching consistency.

Our recreational adults sessions run Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 to 9pm, £10 per session. No contract. First session is free.

If you specifically want Muay Thai or kickboxing and are set on that, the Commando Temple in Greenwich and Forrer in Lewisham are both worth visiting.