Kickboxing
Peter Belmar Kicking to left side
Focus	Striking
Country of origin	Japan
Creator	Osamu Noguchi
Parenthood	Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing
Famous practitioners	Bill Wallace, Ernesto Hoost, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Van Dam, Remy Bonjasky, Bob Sapp
Olympic Sport	No

Kickboxing refers to the sport of using martial-arts-style kicks and boxing-style punches to defeat an opponent in a similar way to that of standard boxing. Osamu Noguchi (野口修 1934 -) is the founder of Japanese kickboxing. Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit ( or is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese Kenpō. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Bill Wallace ( December 1, 1945) is an American Martial artist, best known as Bill "Superfoot" Wallace or simply "Superfoot" Ernesto "Mr Perfect" Hoost (born July 11, 1965) is a retired Dutch kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion Robert "Rob" Alexander Szatkowski Another venture that Van Dam produces is RVDTV reality based programming looking at the life of Rob Van Dam Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky (born January 10, 1976 in Paramaribo, Suriname) is a Muay Thai fighter from the Robert Malcolm Sapp aka Bob "The Beast" Sapp (born September 22 1974) Kickboxing is a standing sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once a combatant has reached the ground.

Kickboxing is often practised for general fitness, or as a full-contact sport. Physical fitness is used in two close meanings general fitness (a state of Health and well-being and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability Many Sports involve a degree of player-to-player and/or player-to-object contact In the full-contact sport the male boxers are bare-chested wearing kickboxing trousers and protective gear including: mouth-guard, hand-wraps, 10oz boxing gloves, groin-guard, shin-pads, kick-boots, and optional protective helmet (usually for those under 18. ) The female boxers will wear a tank top and chest protection in addition to the male clothing/protective gear. In European kickboxing, where kicks to the thigh are allowed using special low-kick rules, use of boxing shorts instead of long trousers is possible.

In addition, amateur rules often allow less experienced competitors to use light or semi-contact rules, where the intention is to score points by executing successful strikes past the opponent's guard, and use of force is regulated. The equipment for semi-contact is similar to full-contact matches, usually with addition of head gear. Competitors usually dress in a t-shirt for semi-contact matches, to separate them from the bare-chested full-contact participants.

Kickboxing is often confused with Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing. Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit The two sports are similar, however, in Thai Boxing, kicks below the belt are allowed, as are strikes with knees and elbows.

There are many arts labelled kickboxing including Japanese, American, Indian, Burmese kickboxing, as well as French savate. The term kickboxing is disputed and has become more associated with the Japanese and American variants. Many of the other styles do not consider themselves to be 'kickboxing', although the public often uses the term generically to refer to all these martial arts. The term kickboxing was created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi for a variant of Muay Thai and Karate that he created in the 1950s. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Osamu Noguchi (野口修 1934 -) is the founder of Japanese kickboxing. ( or is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese Kenpō. The term was later used by the American variant. When used by the practitioners of those two styles, it usually refers to those styles specifically.

History

Japan

On December 20, 1959, a Muay Thai among Thai fighters was held at Tokyo Asakusa town hall in Japan. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is a district in Taitō Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon.

Tatsuo Yamada, who established "Nihon Kempo Karate-do", was interested in Muay Thai because he wanted to perform Karate matches with full-contact rules since practitioners are not allowed to hit each other directly in karate matches. At this time, it was unimaginable to hit each other in karate matches in Japan. He had already announced his plan which was named "The draft principles of project of establishment of a new sport and its industrialization" in November, 1959, and he proposed the tentative name of "Karate-boxing" for this new sport. It is still unknown whether Thai fighters were invited by Yamada, but it is clear that Yamada was the only karateka who was really interested in Muay Thai. Yamada invited a Thai fighter who was the champion of Muay Thai (and formerly his son Kan Yamada's sparring partner), and started studying Muay Thai. At this time, the Thai fighter was taken by Osamu Noguchi who was a promoter of boxing and was also interested in Muay Thai. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, The Thai fighter's photo was on the magazine "The Primer of Nihon Kempo Karate-do, the first number" which was published by Yamada.

There were "Karate vs. Muay Thai fights" February 12, 1963. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The three karate fighters from Oyama dojo (Kyokushin later) went to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand, and fought against 3 Muay Thai fighters. is a style of stand-up, Full contact karate, founded in 1964 by who was born under the name Choi Yong-I (최영의 The 3 karate fighters' names are Tadashi Nakamura, Kenji Kurosaki and Akio Fujihira (as known as Noboru Osawa). Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura (中村忠 Nakamura Tadashi, 22 February 1942 -) is the founder of Seido Juku Karatedo. Japan won by 2-1 then. Noguchi and Kenji Kurosaki (Kyokushin karate instructor) studied Muay thai and developed a combined martial art which Noguchi named kick boxing. Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit However, throwing and butting were allowed in the beginning to distinguish it from Muay Thai style. A throw (in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技 "throwing technique" is a Martial arts term for a Grappling A headbutt is a strike with the head typically involving the use of robust parts of the Cranium as areas of impact This was later repealed. The Kickboxing Association, the first kickboxing sanctioning body, was founded by Osamu Noguchi in 1966 soon after that. Then the first kickboxing event was held in Osaka, April 11, 1966. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.

Tatsu Yamada died in 1967, but his dojo changed its name to Suginami Gym, and kept sending kickboxers off to support kickboxing.

Kickboxing boomed and became popular in Japan as it began to be broadcast on TV. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Tadashi Sawamura was an especially popular early kickboxer. Tadashi Sawamura (沢村忠 January 5, 1943) is a Japanese former kickboxer whose real name is Hideki Shiraha However, the boom was suddenly finished and became unpopular after Sawamura was retired. Kickboxing had not been seen on TV until K-1 was founded in 1993.

In 1993, as Kazuyoshi Ishii (founder of Seidokan karate) produced K-1 under special kickboxing rules (No elbow and neck wrestling) in 1993, kickboxing became famous again. is a Japanese master of Seidokan Karate and the founder of the K-1 fighting circuit a martial-arts event combining Muay Thai, Grappling refers to the gripping handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking, typically through the application of various Grappling holds

The sport has spread through Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand

Jan Plas, the Dutch kickboxer, founded Mejiro Gym with some Muay Thai pioneers in the Netherlands in 1978, after he learned kickboxing from Kenji Kurosaki in Japan. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Plas also founded NKBB (The Dutch Kickboxing Association), which was the first kickboxing organization in Netherlands, in 1978. The sport took off in the U. S. with the popularity and success of Bill "Superfoot" Wallace" in the 1970s. Bill Wallace ( December 1, 1945) is an American Martial artist, best known as Bill "Superfoot" Wallace or simply "Superfoot"

Styles

Arts labelled kickboxing include:^[1]

• Adithada (Indian kickboxing) – A form of kickboxing that uses knee, elbow and forehead strikes
• Lethwei (Burmese kickboxing) – Traditional Burmese martial arts of which has now grown into a popular kickboxing event with strong emphasis on knee, elbow strikes and head butt. Adithada ( Malayalam:അടി തട, Tamil:அடிதட ( Adi means hitting and thada means block) is a Martial art A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike with the Knee, either with the Kneecap or the surrounding area An elbow strike (commonly referred to as simply an " elbow " is a strike with the point of the elbow the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow or In Human anatomy, the forehead or brow is the bony part of the head above the Eyes Cultural Aspects A popular Stereotype Lethwei ( Burma:) or Lethawae (Read as "Let-whae" but quickly; also known as Burmese Boxing and Myanmar Traditional Boxing, is Burmese martial arts, collectively called Thaing, have a long history which includes regional influences A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike with the Knee, either with the Kneecap or the surrounding area An elbow strike (commonly referred to as simply an " elbow " is a strike with the point of the elbow the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow or A headbutt is a strike with the head typically involving the use of robust parts of the Cranium as areas of impact Any part of the body may be used to strike and be struck. A strike is an attack with an inanimate object such as a Weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to It us also known as Bando kickboxing. Lethwei ( Burma:) or Lethawae (Read as "Let-whae" but quickly; also known as Burmese Boxing and Myanmar Traditional Boxing, is
• Pradal Serey (Khmer (Cambodian) kickboxing) – Possible predecessor of Muay Thai
• Muay Thai (Thai boxing) – Traditional Thai martial art of which has now grown into a popular kickboxing event with strong emphasis on knee and elbow strikes
• Japanese kickboxing – Similar to Muay Thai, but different point system is taken (e. Kun Khmer (also Pradal Serey ( Khmer: ប្រដាល់សេរី English: Free Boxing) ( English: Khmer Boxing) is Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike with the Knee, either with the Kneecap or the surrounding area An elbow strike (commonly referred to as simply an " elbow " is a strike with the point of the elbow the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow or Japanese Kickboxing is a style of Kickboxing created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi in the 1950s for a variant of Muay Thai and g. K-1). K-1 is a Combat sport that combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San shou
• American kickboxing – A different point system is taken
• Full Contact Karate – Most of the time padding and in some cases body armor is used and is the applicable component of karate like many other styles which also include routines training. American Kickboxing (also known as Full-Contact Rules Kickboxing, Full-Contact Karate, or simply "Full-Contact") is a Combat sport Full contact karate is a term used to differentiate between schools that spar full contact and those that use light contact point sparring
• Savate (French kickboxing) – Allows the use of shoes
• Sanshou/Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) – The applicable component of wushu/kung fu of which Takedowns and throws are legal in competition as well as all other sorts of striking (use of arms and legs). Savate (pronounced savat also known as boxe française, French boxing, French Kickboxing or French Footfighting Sanshou ( or Sanda ( is a Chinese Hand to hand combat, Self-defense system and Combat sport. A takedown is a Martial arts and Combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground typically with the A throw (in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技 "throwing technique" is a Martial arts term for a Grappling
• Shoot boxing – A Japanese form of kickboxing which allows throwing and submission while standing similar to San Shou
• Yaw-Yan (Filipino kickboxing) – Sayaw ng Kamatayan (Dance of Death) is the proper name for Yaw-Yan, a Filipino martial art developed by Napoleon Fernandez. Shoot boxing ( シュートボクシング) is a Combat sport which allows kicking punching throwing and standing submission A throw (in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技 "throwing technique" is a Martial arts term for a Grappling Sanshou ( or Sanda ( is a Chinese Hand to hand combat, Self-defense system and Combat sport. Yaw-Yan, also called Sayaw ng Kamatayan or "Dance of Death" is a Filipino martial art developed by Napoleon Fernandez The art resembles Muay Thai in a sense, but differs in the hip torquing motion as well as downward-cutting of its kicks.

There are many additional derivatives of these forms, as well as combined styles which have been used in specific competitions (e. g. K-1).

Kickboxing in other combat sports

Kickboxing is popular in mixed martial arts and professional wrestling competition. Mixed martial arts (MMA is a full contact Combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques from a mixture of Martial arts traditions and Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff For example, professional wrestler Kenta Kobayashi mixes his very experienced kickboxing style with wrestling to defeat his opponents. also known by his Ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler and one of the last two trainees of the All Japan Pro Wrestling Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of the opponent

Rules

Japanese

These rules are almost same as Muay Thai rules:

• Similarities
  • Time: three minutes × five rounds
  • Allowed to attack with elbow
  • Allowed to attack with knee
  • Allowed to kick the lower half of the body except crotch
  • Allowed to do neck-wrestling (folding opponent's head with arms and elbows to attack the opponent's body or head with knee-strikes)
  • Head butts and throws were banned in 1966 for boxers' safety. The elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint&mdashthe ginglymus or Hinge joint in the middle of the Arm. The knee is the lower extremity Joint connecting the Femur, Patella, and the Tibia. A headbutt is a strike with the head typically involving the use of robust parts of the Cranium as areas of impact

• Differences
  • No ram muay before match
  • No Thai music during the match
  • Interval takes one minute only as same as boxing
  • Point system:

    In muay thai, kicking to mid-body and head are scored highly generating a large number of points on judges' scorecards. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Moreover, kicking is still judged highly even if the kick was blocked. In contrast, punching is worth fewer points. In kickboxing punches and kicks are held in closer esteem.

American

These are the rules used in American and Australian Full Contact Karate.

• Opponents are allowed to hit each other with fists and feet, striking above the hip
• Using elbows or knees is forbidden and the use of the shins is seldom allowed. The foot is an Anatomical structure found in many Animals It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows Locomotion. An elbow strike (commonly referred to as simply an " elbow " is a strike with the point of the elbow the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow or A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike with the Knee, either with the Kneecap or the surrounding area
• Bouts are usually 3 to 12 rounds (lasting 2 - 3 minutes each) for amateur and professional contests with a 1-minute rest in between rounds.

This is in contrast to Muay Thai, where the use of elbows and knees are allowed. In fact, some Muay Thai practitioners consider kickboxing a "watered down" version of Muay Thai. Fighters and promoters can agree to various rules including kicks only above the waist, kicks anywhere, no knee strikes, knees only to the body, and so on. American Kickboxing is essentially much a mixture of Western Boxing and Karate. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight,
The round durations and the number of rounds can vary depending on the stipulations agreed to before hand by each fighter or manager. A winner is declared during the bout if there is a submission (fighter quits or fighter's corner throws in the towel), knockout (KO), or referee stoppage (Technical Knock Out, or TKO). A submission (depending on the context also referred to as a " tap out " or " tapping out " is a Combat sports term for yielding to If all of the rounds expire with no knockout then the fight is scored by a team of 3 judges. The judges determine a winner based on their scoring of each round. A split decision indicates a disagreement between the judges, while a unanimous decision indicates that all judges saw the fight the same way and all have declared the same winner.

European

European-style kickboxing was formed with a combination of Muay Thai and Japanese kickboxing rules.

• Time: 3 minutes × 5 rounds
• Not allowed to attack with elbow
• Allowed to attack with knee
• Allowed to kick the lower half of the body except crotch
• Allowed to do neck-wrestling but frequency is limited.
• Headbutts and throws are not allowed

Techniques

Punching

Common

• Jab - straight punch from the front hand, to either the head or the body, often used in conjunction with the cross
• Cross (Straight punch) - The straight punching whirl by feeling it out-without using target
• Hook - rounded punch to either the head or body in an arching motion, usually not scored in points scoring
• Uppercut - rising punch striking to the chin

jab

Cross (Right straight punch) here in counterpunch

Hook

Uppercut

Special

• Back fist usually from the front hand, reverse-back fist and Spinning back-fist both usually from the back hand - are strikes to the head, raising the arm and bending the arm at the elbow and then straightening the arm quickly to strike to the side of the head with the rear of the knuckles, common in light contact

Back fist

Other

• Cross-counter – a cross-counter is a counterpunch begun immediately after an opponent throws a jab, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position
• Undercut (Drop) - a semi-circular and vertical punch thrown with the rear hand. A jab is one of the four main punches used in boxing Several variations of the jab exist but every jab shares these characteristics while in a boxing stance, the lead In Boxing, a cross (also commonly called a "straight" is a power-punch like the Uppercut and hook. A hook is a punch in Boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back thereby swinging the arm which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees The uppercut (sometimes also referred to as the upper) is a punch used in Boxing that usually aims at the opponent's chin A counter-attack begun immediately after an opponent throws a punch exploiting the opening in the opponent's position A cross-counter is a Counter-attack begun immediately after an opponent throws a Jab, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position A counter-attack begun immediately after an opponent throws a punch exploiting the opening in the opponent's position See also, uppercut A punch that usually hits the opposing fighters chin in an upwards fashion It is usually when the opponent bobbing or slipping. One of the basic strategies of defensive boxing executed by slightly moving the head to either side so that the opponent's punches slip by the boxer's head One of the four basic strategies of defensive boxing along with Blocking, holding, and clinching. The strategic utility of the drop relying on body weight can deliver a great deal of power
• Bolo punch - a combination of a wide uppercut/right cross/swing that was delivered seemingly from the floor

Cross-counter

Undercut (Drop)

Bolo punch

Short straight punch

Kicking

Common

• Front Kick or Push Kick - Striking face on with the heel of the foot
• Side Kick - Striking with the side or heel of the foot with leg parallel to the ground, can be performed to either the head or body
• Semi-circular Kick or Forty Five Degree Roundhouse Kick
• Roundhouse Kick or Circle Kick - Striking with the front of the foot or the lower shin to the head or the body in a 'chopping' motion

Front kick

Side kick

Semi-circular kick

Roundhouse kick

Spinning and flying

• Spinning hook-kick
• Spinning side-kick
• Spinning back-kick
• Jumping front-kick
• Jumping roundhouse-kick
• Jumping side-kick
• Jumping back-kick

Stick-kick

Spinning back-kick with counterpunch

Jumping side-kick

Jumping back-kick

Other

• Hook Kick - Extending the leg out to the side of the body, and hooking the leg back to strike the head with eiher the heel or sole
• Crescent Kick and Forward Crescent Kick
• Axe Kick – is a Stomp Kick or Hammer kick. A bolo punch is a punch used in Boxing. The bolo punch is not among the traditional boxing punches ( Jab, Uppercut, hook and cross The uppercut (sometimes also referred to as the upper) is a punch used in Boxing that usually aims at the opponent's chin The swing is a type of hook, with the main difference being that in the swing the arm is usually more extended A cross-counter is a Counter-attack begun immediately after an opponent throws a Jab, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position The undercut is a Haircut much like a Bowl cut except the ridge of the Bowl is not where the cutting ends A bolo punch is a punch used in Boxing. The bolo punch is not among the traditional boxing punches ( Jab, Uppercut, hook and cross In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee It’s a round kick ( Roundhouse kick) to forty five degree roundhouse kick (or "diagonal kick" A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a Kick in which the attacker swings his or her leg around in a semicircular motion A counter-attack begun immediately after an opponent throws a punch exploiting the opening in the opponent's position In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee The Stomp Kick normally travel downward, striking with the side or base heel.
• Back Kick – is delivered with the base heel of the foot. In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee
• Sweeping – One foot or both feet of an opponent may be swept depending upon their position, balance and strength.

Hook-kick

Crescent-kick

Hammer-kick

Sweeping (Spinning hook-kick)

Spinning versions of the back, side, hook and axe kicks can also be performed along with jumping versions of all kicks

Kneeing

Basic

• Straight Knee Thrust - Long-range knee kick (front heel kick). This knee strike is delivered with the back or reverse foot against an opponent’s stomach, groin, hip or spine an opponent forward by the neck, shoulder or arm
• Rising Knee Strike – can be delivered with the front or back foot. It makes an explosive snap upwards to strike an opponent’s face, chin, throat or chest.
• Hooking Knee Strike – can be delivered with the front or back foot. It makes a half circle spin and strikes the sides of an opponent
• Side Knee Snap Strike – is a highly-deceptive knee technique used in close-range fighting. The knee is lifted o the toes or lifted up, and is snapped to left and right, striking an opponent’s sensitive knee joints, insides of thighs, groin

Straight knee-thrust

Rising Knee-strike

Long-range knee-kick

Jumping knee-kick

Other

• Jumping Knee Kick or Flying knee kick
• Double Knee Kick.

Defense

• Slip - Slipping rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch passes harmlessly next to the head. One of the four basic strategies of defensive boxing along with Blocking, holding, and clinching. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip" past. Muhammed Ali was famous for extremely fast and close slips.

• Bob and weave - bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch One of the basic strategies of defensive boxing executed by slightly moving the head to either side so that the opponent's punches slip by the boxer's head As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the inside".

• Parry/Block - Parrying or blocking uses the boxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. Parrying and Blocking uses the boxer's hands s defensives tools to deflect incoming attacks In Martial arts, blocking is the act of stopping or deflecting an opponent's attack for the purpose of preventing injurious contact with the body As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.

• The Cover-Up - Covering up is the last opportunity to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the guard. To protect the head, the boxer presses both fists against the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing outwards. This type of guard is weak against attacks from below.

Slipping

Bobbing

Blocking (with the arms)

Cover-Up (with the gloves)

• The Clinch - Clinching is a rough form of grappling and occurs when the distance between both fighters has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. Grappling refers to the gripping handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking, typically through the application of various Grappling holds In this situation, the boxer attempts to hold or "tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable to throw hooks or uppercuts. To perform a clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position, the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly dissipated by the referee.

Cliching

Footwork

Pulling away

Guards

There are three main defensive positions (guards or styles) used in boxing. Within each style, there is considerable variation among fighters, as some fighters may have their guard higher for more head protection while others have their guard lower to provide better protection against body punches. Many fighters vary their defensive style throughout a bout in order to adapt to the situation of the moment, choosing the position best suited to protect them.

Low guard

Mixed guard

Peek-a-boo

Governing Bodies

Both professional and amateur kickboxing, like boxing, have many governing bodies around the world. Many claim to be the largest or the best but the best thing for anyone to do is contact each one and work with them directly. See what each has to offer. Just because one is recognized by another organization, association etc, does not make them the best. Your own personal research and what you are told by those in the sport will help you determine which sanctioning body is right or best for you.

Governing Body	Website
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W. A. K. O) Amateur	http://www.wakoweb.com
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W. A. K. O) Professional	http://www.wakopro.org
The World Kickboxing & Karate Association (W. K. A. )- Prof & Amateur Kickboxing	http://www.kickboxing-wka.co.uk/
International Sports Kickboxing Association (I. S. K. A)- Prof & Amateur Kickboxing	http://www.iska.com
International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) - Prof & Amateur Kickboxing	http://www.ikfkickboxing.com
International Kickboaxing Board of Control (IKBC)	http://www.ikbc.org/
World Kickboxing Network (W. K. N. )	http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/
World Kickboxing Union (W. K. U. )	http://www.wku-kickboxing.com/
World Kickboxing Federation (W. K. F. )	http://www.wkfkickboxing.com
World Federation of Kickboxing (WFK)	http://www.wfk-gov.com
World amateur sport Kickboxing Organization (W. A. S. K. O. )	http://www.dovuscu.com/
Professional Kickboxing Association (P. K. A)	http://www.pkakickboxing.com/

See also

• List of male kickboxers
• List of female kickboxers
• List of kickboxing organizations

Footnotes

Sources

• Muay Thai Kickboxing - The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning, Training and Fighting, Chad Boykin, 2002, Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado. ISBN 1-58160-320-7
• Thai Kickboxing For Beginners, Peter Belmar, 2006, Lulu Press. ISBN 978-1-4116-9983-0

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