Martial Art Styles: Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a sport derived from Boxing's Punches, and Kicks from various styles of Asian Martial Arts including Muay Thai, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do.

Kickboxing is a standing Striking sport that utilizes Punching, and Kicking. Kickboxing is not to be confused with Muay Thai, in which Kicks below the waist are allowed, as well as Knee and Elbow Strikes.

Tatsuo Yamada, who created Nihon Kempo Karate-do wanted to have full contact Karate matches. The Japanese Karate practitioners were not allowed to hit each other in Karate matches. At the time Point Karate was the sport.

Full Contact Karate

Yamada drafted his idea for Full Contact Karate in november of 1959, and proposed the name "Karate-Boxing," for this new sport. On December 20, 1959 in Tokyo, Muay Thai fights were held. Yamada was interested in Muay Thai and wanted to pattern his new sport after Muay Thai.

Then on February 12th, 1963, Karate vs. Muay Thai fights were held at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand. Three Karate fighters from the Oyama dojo (later called Kyokushin) fought three Muay Thai fighters.

The Japanese fighters won 2-1 against the Thais and set the stage for Full Contact Karate. Akio Fujihira was one of the Karate Fighters that fought in these Mixed Martial Arts fights, and he had also studied Muay Thai.

Fujihira created a combined Martial Art that he named Kick Boxing.

Kick Boxing's rules

At first the rules in Kick Boxing also allowed Throws and head Butts, to keep it from being confused with Muay Thai. This was later changed.

The first Kickboxing event was held in Osaka Japan in April 1966. The sport then spread to North America, where tournaments were held as early as 1962, and in Europe by the late 70s.

Kickboxers wear gloves, and depending on the association some wear foot and shin protection.

Kickboxing is now a generic term that is often used to group all stand up Striking Martial Art sports. But there are different rules that govern each of the many different Kickboxing organizations.

One of the biggest is K-1 and several K-1 fighters have also fought in Mixed Martial Arts.

UFC Champion Chuck Liddell fought in Kickboxing matches before starting his Mixed Martial Arts career.

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