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Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a combat full-contact sport that is a combination of kicking and punching. The sport was inspired by karate and western boxing. Kickboxing has been practiced by many for self-defense and as a sport.

Demonstration of Savate (French Kickboxing) at the 1924 Olympic Games. from: The Official Report of the Olympic Games of Paris 1924

There are different variations for kickboxing rules. For the full-contact rules of American kickboxing, the players can hit the opposing player with punches, kicks, and strikes above the waist. The use of elbows and knees are not allowed, the use of shins is sometimes allowed in some competitions. Clinch fighting, throws and sweeps are also not allowed.

There are usually three to twelve rounds, with two or 3 minutes for each round, and a one minute rest between each round.  There are 6 levels for the belt system in kickboxing. The highest is the kyu brown belt for perfect techniques, 2nd is the kyu blue belt, 3rd is the kyu green belt, 4th is the orange belt, 5th is the kyu yellow belt, and the 6th is the kyu white belt which is for beginners.

Variations of kickboxing around the world include Pradal Serey (Cambodia), Sanda (China), Savate (France), Sikaran (Philippines), Lethwei (Burma)

Similar Sports

• Pencak Silat — a fighting sport from Indonesia which collectively encompasses martial arts of various styles.
• Savate — a French version of kickboxing, in which only foot kicks are allowed.
• Karate — a martial art developed in Japan that uses punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and some open-hand techniques.
• Muay Thai — a full-contact fighting sport in which fighters try to defeat their opponents by using different techniques that make use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
• Sanda / Sanshou — A form of kickboxing from China, which combines full-contact kickboxing, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps, kick catches, and in some competitions, even elbow and knee strikes. Also called Sanshou. (it is one of the two Wushu disciplines)
• Sikaran — a form of kickboxing from the Philippines, which utilizes only the feet, the hands are only used for blocking.
• Pradal Serey — a type of kickboxing from Cambodia. Also known as Kun Khmer
• Lethwei — an unarmed Burmese martial art similar to other kickboxing styles from the region.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — a full-contact individual combat sport that includes aspects of several other combat sports and martial arts.
• Boxing — a combat sport in which two players throw punches at each other.

Related Pages

• Complete list of sports
• About Martial Arts
• The Encyclopedia of Sports

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