Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a combat sport and a type of exercise. Kickboxing's history intersects primarily with boxing, karate, and Muay Thai, but it also shares common elements with several other martial arts. The unifying factor behind the various types of kickboxing competitions and the exercise is the emphasis on kicks and punches.

In noncompetitive scenarios, certain forms of kickboxing are taught as self-defense methods. Some are used for exercise routines, commonly practiced in groups, led by an instructor. Since it makes use of most of the body's muscles and has relatively low impact in this form, it is a popular choice for full-body workouts.

As a competitive sport, kickboxing is practiced worldwide, with many rule variations and leagues. Both men and women compete in the sport. Some of the most controversial rules pertain to techniques other than punches and kicks. Knees and holds are permitted in some leagues, while other leagues and sport enthusiasts maintain that is not true kickboxing.

Origins and History

Kickboxing has existed as a regulated combat sport since the twentieth century. Its precise origins are unclear, but the sport of Muay Thai, which overlaps with kickboxing, has been practiced in Thailand for centuries.

In the late 1950s, karate matches were common in Japan. However, it was not a full-contact sport, something that some of its participants wanted to change. Over the next few years, karate and Muay Thai intertwined. Special matches were held that pitted Muay Thai fighters against karate fighters. In the 1960s, martial arts that combined the two styles emerged. In the following decade, Japan began televising kickboxing bouts, and the sport became extremely popular.

Kickboxing's success in Japan led to the sport's spread in North America and Europe. While kickboxing in North America was initially grouped with karate, the creation of the World Kickboxing Association in the mid-1970s helped the sport develop its own identity. With multiple countries practicing the sport, the International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association formed to help regulate global competition. However, other governing bodies followed it, and multiple organizations began competing to become the world's primary kickboxing league. The abundance of leagues, each with a different set of rules, demonstrated the sport's popularity, but also created difficulties. Spectators had to choose between different championships and follow different rules, while the lack of a unified organization severely hurt kickboxing's chances of becoming an Olympic sport.

After the 1970s, kickboxing's popularity in Japan faded. It did not return to prominence until the early 1990s. In 1993, K-1 debuted. K-1 became a very well-regarded kickboxing league, attracting top competitors from various countries despite being based in Japan and primarily marketed to Asian audiences. The sport continued to spread in Europe, where more organizations developed.

Rules and Regulations

Kickboxing rules vary depending on the league and country where a match is held. Bouts take place over multiple rounds, usually three or five. Rounds typically last for three minutes, and the fighters are given one or two minutes of rest in between rounds. Three judges are present at a given bout, and they score the fight as it proceeds. Judges award points for punches and kicks landed cleanly. Some versions, such as Muay Thai, award more points for kicks and may even score blocked kicks, since kicking is riskier than punching. If a kickboxer manages to knock down an opponent, he or she will score even more points.

At the end of the bout, the three judges tally their scores, and the opponent with the higher score is declared the winner by decision. If one judge scored a different winner than the other two, it is called a split decision. If all three judges agree, the winner earns a unanimous decision. Kickboxers can win fights before all rounds end. If an opponent fails to get up after a knockdown, the standing fighter is declared winner by knockout. A referee may also stop the competition. A stoppage usually occurs if the referee believes that one fighter is no longer able to protect him or herself. This is known as a technical knockout (TKO). Most organizations have rules limiting the amount of knockdowns a competitor can suffer before the referee automatically declares the opponent the winner by TKO. This typically occurs upon the third knockdown in a round or the fourth in an overall match.

Strategy and Tactics

A kickboxer enters a bout in the hopes of defeating his or her opponent, either by outscoring them or by inflicting enough punishment that the opponent cannot continue fighting. Both methods involve landing blows while blocking or avoiding the brunt of the opponent's offenses. A kickboxer also does not want to tire or get into an unfavorable position by lashing out randomly.

Kickboxers use an array of punches and kicks. Some are intended to knock an opponent down or out, while others will do little more than disrupt or confuse an opponent and build up points for the attacker. Punches include jabs and crosses, which are fast straight punches. Hooks are powerful body blows, and uppercuts are punches aimed at the chin from below. Overhand blows are used to attack an opponent who is attempting to duck away. Kicks consist of front kicks, side kicks, and various degrees of roundhouses. Roundhouses have more windup, but they deliver more power.

Defensively, kickboxers can physically block blows with their hands. They may also attempt to avoid them completely, though they often want to stay within reach of an opponent so that they can strike back. Bobbing occurs when kickboxers move only their upper body and head to avoid blows. These areas of the body are targeted most frequently since they are worth the most points and are the most likely way to secure a knockout. "Roll with the punches" is a phrase that is used even outside of combat sports, and it is a common defensive tactic in kickboxing. It is most typically seen in the slip maneuver, where a competitor turns his or her body as a blow is about to land to minimize the impact.

A few leagues allow a variety of other tactics. These include strikes with the knees, or—even more rarely—the elbows. Clinching—pinning an opponent's arms against his or her body to cause disruption and allow time to regain composure—is a defensive tactic that only certain leagues allow.

Professional Leagues and Series

Several leagues and organizations host kickboxing events. Unlike most other sports, no single organization regulates kickboxing on an international level. The International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association has promoted kickboxing since 1985. It hosts Martial Arts World Championships annually.

K-1 formed in Japan in 1993. It quickly attracted some of the world's best kickboxers, though its popularity was largely limited to Asian spectators. K-1's primary event is its World Grand Prix, a set of annual single-elimination tournaments designed to determine world champions in several weight classes.

Superkombat was formed in 2011 as a European kickboxing league. It holds an annual World Grand Prix event, an elimination tournament for heavyweight kickboxers. It does support other weight classes, but it focuses on heavyweight events in its marketing and promotion. Shortly after its formation, Superkombat partnered with K-1. However, this alliance quickly dissolved.

In 2012, several smaller kickboxing groups went through a merger to form Glory Kickboxing. It grew quickly in the following years, rivaling K-1 as one of the premiere kickboxing organizations. Glory sponsors several individual matches each year and hosts tournaments and championships in multiple weight classes.

Popularity

Competitive kickboxing struggles to gain the popularity of other combat sports. Some kickboxers and sports analysts have attributed this to the typical personalities that compete at kickboxing's highest levels. Mixed martial arts, boxing, and wrestling often include brash competitors who publicly feud with rivals, boast about their talents, and share some of their personal thoughts and milestones with fans. Most high-level kickboxers tend to be more reserved, keeping to themselves outside of their bouts. While it tends to draw only niche audiences, kickboxing does have a worldwide following.

Kickboxing is also a very popular form of exercise. In this format, a class typically follows the direction of an instructor, who carries out a series of strikes and motions. The exercise is performed using what is called shadowboxing, which means participants are only striking the air in front of them. This gives the exercise little to no impact, allowing people with a wide range of physical conditions to take part without much risk of injury. Its use of the entire body makes it appealing to people who struggle to find time for exercise.

Bibliography

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"News." Superkombat, superkombat.com/articles. Accessed 29 Oct. 2017.

Raimondi, Marc. "GLORY Daze: Why Hasn't Kickboxing Caught On in the United States?" MMA Fighting, 28 June 2015, www.mmafighting.com/2015/6/28/8822611/glory-daze-why-hasnt-kickboxing-caught-on-in-the-united-states. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.

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