Kickboxing - what is it? This sport has incorporated many elements of the classic English school of boxing and traditional karate, becoming a kind of “alloy” of these types of martial arts. A little later, in this variety of martial arts, some elements of equipment from Thai boxing, as well as taekwondo, were added. Characterizing kickboxing in general terms, they say that these are the most diverse martial arts, in the rules of which kicks and arms when using boxing gloves are not prohibited. It is necessary to consider this type of martial arts in more detail in order to answer the question: "Kickboxing - what is it?"
Formation of a sporting event
The birth date of this type of martial art is considered the beginning of the 70s of the twentieth century. It was at this time that the first kickboxing section appeared. The places of origin are Western Europe and the USA, where kickboxing appeared almost at the same time. This type of martial art perfectly combines the traditions and experience that have been built up over the centuries in the West and the East.
Chuck Norris is considered to be the “father” of kickboxing, who came up with the name for this type of martial arts.
By the beginning of the 70s, America had a sufficient number of schools where various styles of martial arts were taught, such as wushu, taekwondo, karate, etc. However, each type of martial arts obeyed its own rules, which means that a representative of one kind could not compete in skills with a representative of another type of martial arts. Then the idea came up to organize competitions in which both Wushu fans and adorers of karate, taekwondo and other martial arts, common at that time, could compete against each other.
Initially, such events were called All Style Karate or Full Contact Karate. The first such kickboxing competitions were held in September 1974. The participants fought in four weight categories, and the winners were a resident of Mexico and three Americans. From this date, kickboxing competitions have become regular. At first, they were carried out only in the USA, and then migrated to other countries. Athletes who became role models began with a variety of martial arts (Korean martial arts, wushu, karate, etc.).
European kickboxing
In Europe, the first kickboxing section arose from the filing of Dominic Valera. As a result of his disagreement with the WUKO management team, Dominic decided to abandon his sports career on the mat and try to build it in the ring. By the end of the 70s, he became the founder of the National Full Contact Committee, which eventually grew into the National Federation of American Boxing. By the beginning of the 80s, professional fights in French boxing were stopped in France, and many athletes looking for the best place for their training chose kickboxing for themselves.
What is the situation with such a sporting event in Japan
In the East, namely in Japan, the greatest interest in kickboxing was noted in the mid-70s. At that time, the country had about 6 thousand athletes of this type of martial arts. In the process of the active development of kickboxing, 3 organizations emerged that became the main ones - the All-Japan Kickboxing Association, the World Kickboxing Association, and the Kurosaki League, led by Kurosaki Kenji.
Japanese kickboxing had its own rules: for example, the round did not last 3 minutes, but 2. For some time, the Americans and the Japanese acted together to conclude an agreement that spoke about the popularization of kickboxing and international competitions. It is clear that the rules of one type of martial arts could not be different, so Japan had to make concessions. This was partly due to a decrease in interest in kickboxing among viewers. In the early 80s, after a huge scandal involving Japanese athletes, the mass interest in kickboxing began to disappear, and Japanese organizations completely disappeared into the American one. Only the All-Japan Association remained untouched, where in the beginning of the 90s a completely new phenomenon of sport was created - “mixed martial arts” codenamed K-1.
Sporting Goals
The closest plans of all countries promoting kickboxing (including Russia) are: the spread of this martial arts among the population and, most importantly, joining the IOC, which means getting kickboxing the status of an Olympic sport.
You can’t do without equipment
To start kickboxing, you should purchase equipment, because this sport has clear rules. One of the points which says that the athlete must have protection. Before the athlete will participate in the fight, the referee must check the availability and suitability of the protective equipment on it. What should an athlete put on himself?
What you need to get
First of all, you need to buy a helmet specifically designed for kickboxing. It differs from the boxing helmet in greater protection of the top, because the kickbox has a large number of elements such as high kicks. In addition to the helmet, kappa must be present, i.e. a tooth protecting liner. The athlete must wear boxing gloves in his hands, corresponding to the section in which the athlete beats (it can also be called a fader). In addition to boxing gloves, the athlete's hands should have protection in the form of bandages of a definitely measured length.
Men-fighters must have a “bandage” - protection of the groin, girls are recommended to have a protective cuirass. Some sections of the kickbox talk about the mandatory protection of the athlete's shins with shields. Feet with a closed heel are put on bare feet.
Athlete may be disqualified
If the referee discovers that the athlete is unprepared for any criterion, he is given time, not more than one round, in order to bring himself in proper form. If a fighter is not ready after this time, then he will simply be disqualified. These stringent requirements are due to the fact that the risk of injury in a kickbox is extremely high. And in order to minimize it, while leaving the entertainment of the sport, similar measures to protect the health of the athlete have been developed over the decades. This should be understood when answering the question: "Kickboxing - what is it?"
The main varieties of sporting events
Kickboxing competitions are held in 6 main sections. They include sections with full, limited and easy contact, tie-kickboxing (or oriental) and solo compositions - a rather interesting variety of this type of martial arts, in which the fight takes place to the music, often with the involvement of additional items.
Can be divided into several types of kickboxing. What does it mean? In other words, they distinguish between Japanese, American and European martial arts. The last two rules are the same.