A Detailed Guide To Kickboxing

Combat sports have reached the pinnacle of popularity and interest among global audiences of every age and gender. This is evident from the recent accomplishment of the MMA promotion UFC as the most valuable combat sports promotion in 2024.

With the surging popularity of combat sports, kickboxing has the potential to reach the top. Kickboxing is a full-contact hybrid martial art that involves several ‘kicking’ and ‘punching’ techniques adopted from multiple source styles and requires extreme physical fitness, toughness, and agility. Although the lack of a single governing body hasn’t allowed the sport to reach a wider audience, it is still extremely popular in Japan, Europe, and the US and is the national sport of Thailand.

Several Muay Thai fighters and promoters like Noguchi played crucial roles in establishing kickboxing as a distinct and exciting combat sport. The development of early kickboxing organizations like WAKO and K-1 brought the sport to new heights by showcasing legendary fighters of the time.

The Brief History of Kickboxing

Pugilism and Pankration were two major combat sports during ancient Greece that were also taught to the Greek soldiers as self-defense and weaponless fighting tactics. These fighting styles allowed a brutal mix of striking and grappling techniques, showcasing the earliest documented instance of hybrid fighting. According to Greek literature and stone carvings from the time, most of the movements involved in Pugilism and Pankration resemble that of modern-day boxing and wrestling. There are no direct ancestors to kickboxing from the ancient times, but brutal sports like Pankration and Pugilism are examples of humanity’s obsession of combining various fighting styles.

Fast forward to the 19th century, boxing and wrestling were the globalized combat sports derived from the ancient pankration and pugilism. Following the obsession of their forefathers, different regions developed their unique fighting styles by combining techniques from boxing and wrestling. Muay Thai from Thailand, Savate from France, and Karate from Japan were few of the dominant combat styles that soon caught attention and influenced the formation of kickboxing.

Muay Thai

Siamese soldiers in the 13th and 14th centuries practiced a type of boxing called Muay Boran. It was a practical martial art that involved using eight limbs: Fists, Elbows, Knees, and Feet. Since there were no rules on a battlefield, Muay Boran included a deadly moveset that could not be performed inside a ring. The martial art style gained popularity among the public and continued to develop as a recreational, self-defense, and physical fitness practice. By the 20th century, Muay Boran evolved into a sport with rules and protective equipment. It involved powerful leg strikes, elbow strikes, and clinch fighting techniques and became popularly known as Muay Thai (Thai Boxing).

The dominant clinching and striking techniques of Muay Thai caught the attention of a Japanese boxing promoter in the 1960s, who infused it with Karate and Savate to introduce a new martial art called kickboxing.

Savate

During the boxing revolution in England in the 18th century, when kicks were considered unsportsmanlike, sailors in Marseille developed a fighting style called Chausson that involved high kicks and open-handed slaps. A similar street fighting style, ‘Savate,’ which only involved lower body kicks, was also popular in Paris. Historical figures Michel Casseux and Charles Lecour are credited as the inventors of modern Savate, having developed institutes that promoted a regulated version of the two street fighting styles, disallowing cheap shots.

Charles Lecour combined Chausson and Savate with English boxing and developed a new edition of the martial art, also called Savate, in 1830. He saw Savate as a combat sport and self-defense system and added boxing gloves to the martial arts for hand safety. The next generations carried the legacy of Savate until the sport got the ultimate recognition in 1924 by being added as a demonstration sport in the Paris Olympic Games.

The new form of Savate didn’t compromise its street-fighting nature but incorporated elements of Western boxing with kicks inspired by capoeira. Savate’s focus on footwork and precise kicks, particularly the signature whipping kick, found its way into the kickboxing repertoire.

Karate, “Empty Hand”

Karate was developed around the 14th century in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was formed as a blend of multiple Chinese martial arts techniques, such as Kung Fu, Kuoshu, and Wushu. Traditional karate included joint locking and throwing techniques alongside modern punches and kicks targeted at vital points of the opponent’s body.

After World War II, the American occupation of Okinawa exposed karate to the Western world. From there, this unique martial art grew and played a role in the formation of multiple fighting styles, such as MMA and kickboxing. While not as kick-heavy as Muay Thai, Karate’s influence can be seen in the punching techniques and focus on body conditioning used in kickboxing.

The Birth of Modern Kickboxing

Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Nogouchi and karateka Tatsuo Yamada must be credited for the establishment of modern kickboxing. The two wanted to encourage a style of martial arts that allowed performing karate and Muay Thai with full contact rules.

The Development of Thai Martial Arts in Japan

On December 20, 1959, a Muay Thai match among Thai fighters occurred at the Asakusa town hall in Tokyo. Tatsuo Yamada, the founder of “Nihon Kempo Karate-do,” became interested in the Thai martial art because he wanted to introduce full-contact rules to karate matches, which didn’t allow direct hits at the time in Japan. In November 1959, he announced his plan, “The draft principles of the project of establishment of a new martial art and its industrialization.” For this new art, he tentatively named it “karate-boxing.”

Yamada invited a champion, Nak Muay, formerly his son’s sparring partner, and began studying Muay Thai. Concurrently, Osamu Noguchi, a boxing promoter interested in the Thai sport, brought in a Thai fighter. The fighter’s photo was even featured in the magazine “The Primer of Nihon Kempo Karate-do, the first number,” published by Yamada.

The Cultural Exchange of Karate and Muay Thai

Karate went to Thailand in 1963 when three karate fighters from Oyama dojo traveled to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand to compete against three Muay Thai fighters. The karate team won two out of three matches. In the same year, Tadashi Sawamura, a karateka and future kickboxer, faced a top Thai fighter named Samarn Sor Adisorn and was knocked down 16 times before being defeated. Sawamura later incorporated what he learned from this fight into future kickboxing tournaments.

The Official Formation of Kickboxing

Noguchi created a new martial art called kickboxing by combining elements of Muay Thai, Savate, and Japanese complete contact karate. The main kickboxing methods are still based on a form of Japanese full-contact karate called Kyokushin, which allows kicks to the legs. In early competitions, throwing and butting were allowed to distinguish kickboxing from Muay Thai, but this was later changed. Osamu Noguchi founded the first kickboxing sanctioning body, the Kickboxing Association, in 1966.

The Era of Televised Kickboxing and Global Acknowledgement

Kickboxing became very popular in Japan when it started being shown on TV. It was broadcast on three different channels thrice a week and the fights often featured Japanese kickboxers going up against Thai Muay Thai boxers. There were champions in different weight categories, and one of the notable ones was Noboru Osawa, who held the AJKA bantamweight title for several years. An American student named Raymond Edler, studying at Sophia University in Tokyo, became the first non-Thai to be officially ranked in Thai boxing when he won the AJKC middleweight title in 1972. The newly formed All Japan Kickboxing Association was the major kickboxing promotion in Japan with most of the top kickboxers signed to the company. Toshio Fujiwara and Mitsuo Shima were famous champions, with Fujiwara becoming the first non-Thai to win an official Thai boxing title in 1978 at Rajadamnern Stadium.

Kickboxing Prevails in the US and Europe

Due to limited television coverage and poor ratings, kickboxing’s golden age in Japan died in 198, but the sport had already reached global audiences. In the early days, kickboxing and full contact karate were considered the same sport. Although the two styles were soon separated, the difference in techniques ultimately led to the creation of different kickboxing styles that are still practiced today.

Kickboxing in the US

The first recognized kickboxing match in the US happened on January 17, 1970. Joe Lewis, a Shorin Ryu stylist who also studied Jeet Kune Do with Bruce Lee, joined promoter Lee Faulkner to create an event where martial artists could fight to knock out. They combined boxing and karate for the first time in America. Joe Lewis won the first bout against Kenpo stylist Greg “Om” Baines. The announcers called it kickboxing, although the event was advertised as “Full contact” and included knees, elbows, and sweeps.

The separation between American full-contact Karate and Kickboxing happened with the formation of the Professional Karate Association (PKA) in 1974 and the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) in 1976. They became the first organized body of martial arts globally to sanction fights, create ranking systems, and institute a development program.

Kickboxing in Europe

The term kickboxing in German-speaking Europe mainly refers to the American kickboxing style. It was first introduced to West Germany in the 1970s by Georg F. Bruckner, who co-founded the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations in 1976. Japanese kickboxing, which allows low kicks and knee techniques associated with Muay Thai, became familiar in the region with the launch of K-1 in 1993. Japanese kickboxing style was introduced in the Netherlands by Jan Plas and Thom Harinck, who founded The Dutch Kickboxing Association in 1976.

Rise of K-1 and the Revolution of Kickboxing .

K-1 was the return of kickboxing in Japan and what would go on to revolutionize the sport worldwide. It was established in 1993 as a professional kickboxing promotion by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii. Initially under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), K-1 was considered the largest Kickboxing organization in the world. The organization was known for its heavyweight division fights and several tournaments held under K-2 and K-3 banners from 1993 to 1995. After holding a series of globally successful events and grooming several stars, The FEG company faced financial problems and went bankrupt in 2012. However, the rights to K-1 were later acquired by another company.

The huge popularity and success of K-1 drew large crowds and most of their shows had packed arenas. The intense battles and high quality coverage of events caught the eye of a global audience, and K-1 became the face of global kickboxing. K-1 was so popular that it was considered a distinct kickboxing style. Kickboxing governing bodies such as the ISKA and WKN have also crowned their own “K-1 rules” champions.

Although the K-1 promotion is no longer the dominant force it once was, the name still holds recognition under Japanese Kickboxing. Several top kickboxing promotions including Glory, One Championship and Bellator Kickboxing have adopted the K-1 rules, also known as the Oriental Rules or Japanese Kickboxing rules.

Different Kickboxing Styles and Rulesets

Professional kickboxing has traveled the world and blended with different cultures. Today, almost every region has its own set of kickboxing styles and rulesets.

Japanese Kickboxing

The K-1/Oriental rules, also called Japanese Kickboxing, were the first combat sports style to adopt the name ‘kickboxing.’ They are widely considered the sport’s original rules and adopted by major promotions such as Glory and One Championship. Osamu Noguchi and Tatsuo Yamada created the original rules as a mix of Muay Thai and karate, which were later affected by the Dutch rules formalized in the 1970s.

The traditional K-1 rules allowed elbow strikes, throws, and clinch fighting, and fights lasted five 3-minute rounds. As the sport grew, the brutal elbow strikes, throws, and headbutts were removed to make kickboxing accessible to TV viewers. The current rules of Japanese kickboxing are as follows:

Striking with punches and kicks is allowed both above and below the waist, except for the groin.
Sweeps and knees are allowed only on the body and forbidden on the head.
Elbow strikes, throws, and headbutts are forbidden.
Clinching rules vary in different competitions. Some allow only a single strike during the clinch, others allow only a few seconds of clinch, while most competitions completely forbid clinching.
A regular match consists of five 3-minute rounds with no extra rounds. Fights under special rules consist of three 3-minute rounds with a maximum of two extra rounds.
Tournament matches consist of three 3-minute rounds with an extension of one round, except for the final match. The final fight may have up to two extra rounds.

American Kickboxing

The 1960s and 70s was the peak of karate and Western boxing in America. The confluence and influence of the two sports resulted in the gradual evaluation of a new combat style that quickly caught interest. American kickboxing we know today was originally a blend of Western boxing and Shorin Ryu karate. One of the greatest full-contact karate fighters, Joe Lewis popularized kickboxing in America. The sport was later influenced by American Kenpo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Savate to reach its current form.

Punches and kicks are only allowed above the waist.
Elbows, knees, and clinch fighting are forbidden, while only boot-to-boot sweeps are legal.
Each fight consists of three to ten 2-minute rounds, with a one minute break between each round.

Dutch Kickboxing

Dutch rules came to being when the trio of Jan Plas, Peter van den Hemel, and Jan van Looijen brought the art of Japanese kickboxing and Muay Thai to the Netherlands in 1975. They refined the two combat styles, taught them across different training schools, and named their new style Dutch kickboxing. This new style prohibited brutal throws, sweeps, and trips and allowed elbow strikes only if both parties agreed to it. These changes to the Muay Thai rules were aimed at reducing injuries and making the fights more accessible to TV viewers. Dutch rules were widely regarded and also influenced the development of K-1 rules in the 1990s.

Punches and kicks are allowed above the waist.
Knee strikes to the opponent’s head are forbidden. They can only be used on the body.
Throws, Sweeps, and Trips are forbidden. Elbows are only allowed if both parties agree to use them.
Only 5 seconds of clinching is allowed with the intention of damaging the opponent.

Techniques Involved in Kickboxing

Kickboxing’s power and versatility lie in its combination of striking techniques from various martial arts. Mastering these techniques requires dedication, practice, and understanding their proper execution.

Stance and Movement

Kickboxing utilizes a specific stance that provides balance, stability, and power for launching strikes.

In Orthodox Stance, the left foot is positioned slightly forward of the right foot, with the left arm being the lead arm extended in front. This stance is dominant for right-handed fighters.
Conversely, Southpaw Stance has the right foot forward and the right arm extended as the lead arm. This stance is dominant for left-handed fighters.

Footwork plays a vital role in effective movement. Kickboxers employ various footwork drills to develop agility, maintain distance control, and evade attacks. Techniques include shuffles, pivots, and lunges, allowing fighters to navigate the ring strategically.

Punches and Kicks

Every kickboxing style incorporates an arsenal of punching techniques similar to boxing.

Jab: A fast, straight punch thrown with the lead arm to establish range, disrupt the opponent, and set up other strikes.
Cross: A powerful punch thrown with the rear hand in a diagonal motion, aiming for the opponent’s head or body.
Hook: A short, powerful punch thrown with a bent elbow in a circular motion, targeting the opponent’s head or body.
Uppercut: A vertical punch thrown upwards with the rear hand, aiming for the opponent’s chin or body.

Several kicking techniques in kickboxing are derived directly from karate and Muay Thai styles.

Roundhouse Kick: A powerful spinning kick delivered with the shin aimed at the opponent’s head, body, or legs.
Teep Kick: A fast, pushing kick with the foot used to maintain distance, disrupt the opponent’s balance, or set up other strikes.
Front Kick: A straight kick thrust forward with the ball of the foot, targeting the opponent’s midsection.
Side Kick: A kick delivered with the knife edge of the foot in a sideways motion, aimed at the opponent’s torso or legs.
Knee Strike: A powerful upward strike with the knee targeting the opponent’s midsection. (May not be allowed in all organizations)

Defensive Blocking, Parrying, and Countering

Defense in kickboxing is equally important as offense and includes techniques from professional boxing.

Blocking: Using forearms, gloves, or shin guards to absorb or deflect incoming strikes.
Parrying: Redirecting an incoming punch or kick with your gloves or forearms to create counterattack openings.
Head movement: Constant movement to evade punches and make yourself a difficult target.
Footwork: Utilizing footwork to maintain distance and avoid getting trapped in an opponent’s attack range.

Combinations and Strategy

Kickboxing is about effectively combining individual strikes into powerful combinations. Fighters develop strategies based on their strengths and weaknesses to exploit their opponent’s vulnerabilities.

Flow and Rhythm: Strikes seamlessly flow into each other, maintaining momentum and pressure.
Variety: Utilizing a mix of punches and kicks to keep the opponent guessing and create openings for knockouts.
Distance and Timing: Maintaining proper distance and striking at the right moment to maximize impact.

The Rules and Regulations of Kickboxing

Every kickboxing style has its own set of rules that differ it from the other. But there are certain in-ring, scoring, and decision making rules defined by the major governing bodies. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports and the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations define the Unified Rules of Professional Kickboxing to ensure fair play in the sport.

The Playing Field

Kickboxing competitions occur in the same ring used for professional boxing matches. The dimensions can vary slightly depending on the organization but generally adhere to the following:

The ring’s diameter typically ranges from 16 and 24 feet (4.9 and 7.3 m) to a side between the ropes, and the apron extends 33.5 inches outside the ropes.
The platform is typically 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) from the ground and is covered by about 1 inch (25 mm) of padding.
The ropes are approximately 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter to ensure safety. They are at heights of 18, 30, 42, and 54 inches above the mat, held up by ring posts around 5 feet above the mat.

Referees and Officials

Maintaining order and ensuring safety within the ring falls upon a dedicated team of officials:

A referee enforces the rules, monitors the fighters’ conduct, and ultimately has the authority to stop the fight if necessary. Beside the referee, only the ringside physician can instruct to stop the fight.
Three judges around the ring observe the fight and score each round based on established criteria.
A Timekeeper keeps track of the rounds and instructs the referee on the start and end of each round.
Cutmen may be present in each fighter’s corner during professional fights to address cuts sustained during the battle.

Rounds and Scoring

The number of rounds and durations vary in every kickboxing style. Judges score each round based on a 10 Point Must Scoring System where the winner of the round is awarded ten points and the loser is given 7,8, or 9 points. These points are awarded based on a set criteria that the judges check for by closely watching the fight.

Number of times a boxer successfully knocks down their opponent.
Overall impact and effectiveness of the boxer’s strikes throughout the bout.
Accuracy and effectiveness of clean, scoring strikes landed by the boxers.
The boxers’ control of the ring and overall aggressiveness.

Winning and Losing

There are several ways to win a professional kickboxing match.

A fighter is awarded a knockout(KO) victory if the opponent is touching the ground with anything other than the sole of his feet as a result of a legal blow and can’t get up on the count of 10.
A Technical Knockout(TKO) is when the referee stops the fight due to a fighter’s inability to safely continue the fight. This is either when the fighter has taken excessive damage or when the doctor determines a clear injury as a result of legal strikes by the opponent.
The 3 knockdown rule also falls under TKO. If a fighter is knocked down thrice in the same round, the opponent is given a Technical Knockout victory.
A fight ends by decision when the judges’ scores determine the winner after completing all scheduled rounds.
A fighter can be disqualified for violating the rules, such as using illegal strikes or intentionally hitting a downed opponent.
When a fighter is knocked down and falls to the canvas, the referee initiates an eight count. If the fighter cannot rise to their feet and continue fighting by the count of eight, the fight is stopped, resulting in a KO or TKO victory for the opponent.

Kickboxing Apparel and Equipment

Prime safety and agility are the most crucial factors of survival in a sport that allows high intensity punches, kicks, and even knee strikes. The unified rules provided by major kickboxing promotions and authorities essentialize the use of certain protective equipment and apparel items.

Kickboxing gloves

Unlike boxers who rely solely on solid punches, a kickboxer’s primary weapon is the kicks. While boxing gloves are designed to protect your knuckles, kickboxing gloves must be suitable for striking, clinching, and blocking kicks. Kickboxing gloves have a square design with smaller cuffs and do not have a mesh area in the palms. The padding is evenly distributed, with more layers of padding on the back of the hand for protection against kicks. Kickboxing gloves are more flexible than their boxing counterparts for easier grappling and catching.

According to the rules defined by the Nevada Athletic Commission, fighters below and up to 135 pounds must wear 8-oz gloves during competition, and those above 135 must wear 10-oz gloves. However, athletes weighing between 135 and 147 pounds may wear 8-oz gloves upon mutual agreement during professional kickboxing matches.

Competition Shorts / Trunks

Kickboxing competition attire is similar to what boxers wear. Every major commision and promotion mandates using approved shorts or trunks for professional kickboxing matches. Unlike regular shorts, kickboxing/boxing trunks are made from lightweight, moisture-wicking nylon, cotton, and polyester blends, keeping the fighter cool and comfortable during intense in-ring competitions. Their sturdy design allows the fighters to move flexibly and unleash a wide arsenal of kicks.

The rules presented by Glory Kickboxing allow kickboxing or other approved trunks that stop above the knee and have no zippers, pockets, or projecting objects that can cause injury. Fighters are allowed to wear short leggings under the trunks unless the legging does not extend below the hem of the trunks. The shorts can feature logos and sponsor names with the sponsor’s approval.

Mouthguards and Groin Guards

Almost every professional combat sport requires contestants to wear mouthguards and groin guards during competition. Officially approved mouthguards cover your lower and upper jaw and protect the teeth, gums, and jaws against heavy blows. If a fighter’s mouthguard falls off during the match, the referee would pause the bout and ensure that the fighter wears it back or gets a new one.

Although low blows are forbidden, an accidental hit to the groin area can cause severe pain and long-term injury to the fighters. Groin protectors are crafted from plastic blends to cover the lower area and feature side gel padding that effectively absorbs shocks. Fighters must wear officially approved groin guards underneath the trunks.

These were the mandatory equipment that every kickboxer must have in their bag for professional fights. But there are several other training and competition items that a fighter must have for a top-notch and safe experience.

Hand wraps provide support to the wrist and keep the ligaments of the hand in position. Most fighters prefer wrapping their hands to prevent injury during punching and blocking kicks.
Shin guards are not allowed during professional matches but are a significant requirement during training and sparring sessions.
Rash guards are the universal training and workout shirts in every combat sport. They are made from high-grade nylon, polyester, and cotton blends that wick away moisture, keeping your body cool and dry. Many fighters feel less tired when training with rash guards compared to regular shirts.

The Modern Kickboxing Landscape – Demographics and Trends

In a world where MMA and professional wrestling rule combat sports, kickboxing has made a dominant name for itself. The sport blends techniques from various martial arts to create high-intensity punches, kicks, and combinations that leave the viewer in awe and showcase the fighter’s dominant physical stature. Kickboxing has achieved big on every stage with major promotions providing opportunities to fighters of every gender, age, and race.

Breakdown of Kickboxers by Gender

Women have competed in professional combat sports like boxing, wrestling, and kickboxing for as long as the sports have existed, but they have always been prevented from major tournaments. Muay Thai in Thailand was the first to welcome women with open arms, which later led to female fighters competing in kickboxing matches in the 1960s. Women in the United States also took up kickboxing in the 1970s as the sport grew in popularity.

As of 2010, 82.73% of the world’s kickboxers were women. However, this percentage has decreased, with 53.19% female and 46.81% male kickboxers in 2021. There’s also a difference in wages among male and female kickboxers, with women earning 92 cents for every dollar a male kickboxer earns. The average wage of male fighters is $37,964 and that of females is $36,677.

Breakdown of Boxers by Age Groups

36% of active professional kickboxers are youngsters between 20 and 30. 31% are between 30 to 40, and 30% are over years.

Breakdown of Boxers by Ethnicity

Almost three quarters of professional kickboxers in the world are white as of 2021.

White: 72.8%
African American / Black: 8.9%
Hispanic / Latino: 7.5%
Asian: 3.75%

The numbers have changed notably over the last ten years, as according to 2010 reports, 80.64% of kickboxers were white.

Most Common Languages Spoken by Kickboxers

English is the most spoken language among combat sport professionals due to its global popularity and household usage. To no surprise, Thai is the second most spoken language among kickboxers at 33.33%, followed by French and Spanish at 33.33% each.

Market Size of Kickboxing Equipments

The kickboxing equipment market has seen immense growth since the pandemic in 2020. It was valued at $169 million in 2023. Reports also predicted a 3.8% increase in CAGR between 2024 and 2032, estimating the market to value at $245 million by the end year.

Revenue of Kickboxing Studios

Almost every kickboxing studio lost customers due to the distancing measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Although businesses recovered and saw solid growth after reopening in 2021, significant profits were noted only recently. Revenue has increased at 3.0% CAGR to a total of almost $566.6 million in 2024, with an estimated increase of 0.7% in this year alone.

Final Words: The Future of Professional Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a sport that demands both physical fitness and mental attention. It is not just a combat sport but a recreational and fitness activity that has gained immense popularity over the years, and is often described as the future of combat sports. As close contact practice had to stop during the Covid-19 days, several kickboxing clubs worldwide offered online zoom training for ‘shadow boxing’. The idea was an instant success as many people enrolled to add a physical activity to their quarantine routine. The strategy kept the business running for kickboxing gloves and increased the sales of training equipment like punching bags, kickboxing gloves, and workout clothes. The market has grown to high levels and is expected to reach higher peaks in the next eight to ten years. Highly talented professionals like Ernesto Hoost and Giorgio Petrosyan have popularized kickboxing to a major combat sport. Top promotions like K-1 and Glory have perfectly regulated the sport and paved the way for future stars to prove themselves.