Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a combat sport in which striking with hands and feet as in the martial art of karate is associated with conventional boxing. Striking with elbow and knee joints is banned in some countries (e.g., the USA and Australia). Kickboxing is regulated differently by the various schools and sport organizations. For example, there are different rules regarding whether the opponent may be held or what hit areas are allowed.

Holding the opponent, or clinching, seems to refer back to Muay Thai. Low blows are always off limits, but some associations permit low kicks, i.e., kicks on the thigh. Depending upon the organization, use of hand and rotary foot sweeps (techniques with which the opponent is unbalanced) are regulated differently.

All the associations together prohibit hitting the opponent on his back, while he is lying on the ground, and the throwing of the competitors.

Kickboxing as a competitive discipline goes back to the year 1974, when it was called “all style karate”, “sport karate” or “contact karate.” In that year, Mike Anderson, George F. Bruckner, and others agreed to the founding of the World Federation WASKO (World All Style Karate Organization). This organization structured the traditional martial techniques, such as tae kwon do, karate, and kung fu, into a competitive sport, creating standardized rules for competitions against other combat systems.

The WAKO and WKA are the world’s largest organizations, and annually send boxers to the World Championships. In 1985, shoot boxing was created.

Although kickboxing is a modern, western, martial arts, training and competition have many similarities with traditional boxing, savate, and Muay Thai (Thai boxing).

Degrees and belts

The black belt represents the 1st Masters degree (1st DAN). Following this other master degrees can be achieved by special tests; in most associations four degrees are possible. Often, however, these DAN grades are awarded to people who have rendered outstanding services to the sport. They include longtime coaches and successful fighters.

Competitions

There are different types of competition, in which opponents in the ring or on the mat are of the same weight class.

Semi-contact competition
In semi-contact, after every successful hit on the body of the opponent, the fight is briefly interrupted, and the fighters go back to the starting position. Any responses will be evaluated during this brief interruption by three judges.

Should they not agree on an evaluation of the judges, there is no point in arguing because the techniques to be carried out are cleanly and clearly described. Ultimately, the one who gets awarded the most points wins.
Semi-contact bouts are held on mats and are often not held in the boxing ring. The size of the contest area varies from 6 x 6 meters to 8 x 8 meters.

Light-contact
Light-contact bouts are usually fought on mats. The goal is to generate more hits than your opponent. In contrast to semi-contact, light-contact bouts are not interrupted after each scored hit; the fight continues. Protective equipment is worn.

This is usually 10 oz. gloves for men and women, foot and shin guards, head protector, groin guard, chest protector for women, and of course a mouth guard is required. Light-contact is technically and physically very demanding.

Light-contact bouts operate as the highlights of tournaments. Judges individually assess each point in each round. The evaluations should be conducted on a round based upon the number of actual results. An auxiliary point may also be awarded after each round for having the better technique and tactics, which is composed of the following criteria:

Effectiveness of the assaults
Combining ability
Cleanliness of combat style
Effectiveness of the defense
Balance of hand and foot techniques
Overall impression of sport performance

The criteria for evaluating the auxiliary point apply to both light- and full-contact.

Full-Contact
The full-contact version of kickboxing will be held, in contrast to the other fighting styles, in a boxing ring. The struggle can be won not only by points, but also by KO (knockout).

This can be done either by a precipitation of the opponent (KO), or by the inability to fight the enemy (technical knockout). In many fights, kicks are against the thigh (with full-contact, low kicks are allowed). The mention of a kickboxing prize is usually referring to the full-contact discipline.

Scores / Point values (the subject data may differ based upon the respective associations):

1 point for hand techniques allow all kind of head or body
1 point for allowing kicks to the thigh (only for full-contact with low kicks)
2 points for allowing all kinds of kicks to the body
3 points for allowing all kinds of kicks to the head
Minus 1 point for punches below the belt (This means the direct area below the beltline. As mentioned above, a kick to the thigh may be allowed. It depends on the association. Also, an agreement between the managers and kickboxing fighters or stables is possible. This is often the case when the fighters fight in different organizations and the rules differ on this point.)

Decisions

The following decisions can end a fight:

Victory by precipitation – K.O. only in full-contact
Victory by giving up a fight
Victory by breaking off because of technical superiority only. If found in semi, the difference is 10 score points.
Demolition of a struggle for victory through struggle or defensive incompetence or sporting inferiority
Termination for breach
Victory by scoring
Victory by disqualification of the opponent
A draw in the tournament should not be given. It may only be an individual, place of friendship or team battles.
Victory by No-Shows
Demolition without a decision if the fight can no longer be continued in accordance with the rules and due to force majeure (ring, lighting failure, etc.)

Ages

Men are all the male athletes who are ages 18 to 40 years old.
Women are all female athletes, which are from 16 years of age until the age of 40.
Juniors are all male athletes who are from 16 years of age and less than 18 years old.
Young people are all athletes in Semi/Inside, which the 16th year of age has not yet been completed.

Young people are all athletes in Light/Inside, which the 13th year of age has started and the 16th year of age has not yet been completed.
Seniors are those athletes Inside, the limit is 35 Years of age until the age of 50 years. In this age bracket there are no championship fights, only friendship struggles.
Fighters under 18 years old are only allowed in tournaments with written parental consent.

Olympic ambitions

Related combat sports such as boxing and tae kwon do are represented in the program of the Olympic Games. Karate is also on a worldwide stage, being present at the World Games. At the association level, the commitment to make kick-boxing an Olympic sport will continue, with effort.

The recognition of the anti-doping policies of the IOC, and a member of the GAISF, can be understood as an intermediate step en route to the Olympic competition program. This ultimately will achieve reality, not least because of the interest by the IOC, as drug use can cause the games to get out of hand and be very difficult.

Reputation

The sport of kickboxing is still suffering from a relatively poor reputation. The reasons are primarily motivated by ignorance of the rules. Many critics are not aware that rules, along with head, leg, foot and dental guards, are used to ensure the health of the fighters. K1 fights are often mistakenly equated with the sport of kickboxing. But martial kickboxing clubs do have names that encourage the bad image.