The History

Karate

Japanese unarmed martial art, using kicks and punches literal translation is “Empty Hand” devised by Okinawa Master Cichin Funakoski in the early 1900s.

Freestyle Sport Karate

Origins lie in traditional karate. Modern derivative of Karate devised in USA and GB in the 1980’s to pit fighters from different martial arts styles against each other very similar rules to kickboxing.

Kickboxing

American ring sport devised in the early 1970’s derived from Various Martial Arts, similar to boxing with the added elements of kicks. It origins come from Full Contact Karate. These days it can be fought in a ring or on the more traditional matted area used for karate.

The development of specialised protective equipment speeded up the evolution of this new sport, which became known as kickboxing. Between 1970 and 1973 a handful of kickboxing promotions were staged across the USA.

In September 1974 in Los Angeles, the first ever world championships of full contact karate were hosted. The bouts took place on mats (no ring) it was only late in the 1970's that the sport moved into the ring, mats are still used today for points fighting.

In 1975, George Brukner created the first European amateur organization. This was named WAKO. Control switched from its German foundations to Italian Ennio Falsoni who developed WAKO into the most highly recognised amateur federation of kickboxing in the world a member of GAISF (The General Association of International Sports)

What is kickboxing?

Kickboxing is a sport which combines martial arts and boxing. It adds together kicks from martial arts and punching from boxing.

Some people call the sport full contact karate, or karate boxing, which helps to explain how it started.

It started in the late 1950s when some karate experts wanted to try their sport with full contact, which wasn't allowed.

They organised some bouts against Thai boxers, which was full contact.

Throughout the 1960s some of those karate experts learned some new moves from Thai boxing, and developed their skills into what is now called kickboxing.

Within kickboxing there are different styles - Japanese, American and European.

The basic moves are: Kicking, punching, jumping and blocking.

The kicks are very similar to the martial arts of kung fu and tae kwon do, and karate.

The punches are the similar to boxing.

Sparring

Fighting is called sparring and there are two different types - full contact and semi contact. Children are only allowed to compete in semi-contact because full contact involves hitting and kicking harder.

If you want to spar you must have a licence and insurance and wear the following equipment:

• Foot pads to protect the feet

• shin guards

• Appropriate gloves according to your discipline

• mouth guard

• head guard

• Groin Guard

• Chest protector

• Martial Arts Uniform

In a tournament there are two types of sparring: Points fighting In a points fighting round the sparring stops and starts again after a point is awarded. Continuous fighting - In a continuous round there are no points awarded. Instead the referee selects the winner who has got the most kicks and punches in. There is 1 Centre and 2 Corner Referees.

In points fighting each time a point is scored the referees will raise their hand or flag to indicate which fighter scored the point. The Centre Referee has the final decision and must go with the majority score. The score will be on display for all fighters and spectators to see throughout the fight. There are also time keepers and scorers for both points and continuous fighting. The scorers are also responsible for recording any warnings received by the fighters.

With continuous fighting as with boxing, the score is not on display and each referee may use a clicker for each fighter to count the scores, the Referees then meets at the end of the fight to show their scores and for each fighter. Sometimes a flag system in use to indicate who is the winner, if both flags are raised it mean it is a draw. The Centre Referee also has the final decision and must go with the majority score.

Each fighter is allowed a coach next to them on the mat during the fight; coaches are allowed to question decisions but must accept the centre Referee had the final decision. Apart from that the rules are the same.

Sparring lasts about 90 seconds and sometimes 2 minutes depending on the level of competition. The person with the most points – or the first contestant to ten points clear is declared the winner.

Points are awarded for the following:

A sweep below the knee – 1 point

A punch or kick to the tummy or chest - 1 point

A punch to the head - 1 point

A kick to the head - 2 points

A jumping kick to the head – 3 points

The rules state you only punch and kick above the waist and you can only score points for a punch or kick to the front of the body, the side of the head or the face. The back of the body, the top of the head, the arms and the shoulders are out of the scoring zone and you can't use your elbows or knees.