Kickboxing

Histoire

Kickboxing grew in the 1960s and 1970s from two sides. In Japan, promoter Osamu Noguchi created "kickboxing" in 1966 after Japanese karateka fought Thai boxers. In the United States, karate fighters started full-contact bouts with gloves in the early 1970s.

WAKO, founded in 1976, governs amateur kickboxing worldwide. In 1993 the Japanese K-1 tournament made kickboxing a stadium sport, and the Netherlands became its great power, with gyms such as Mejiro and Chakuriki producing world champions. Today GLORY (founded 2012) is one of the leading professional leagues.

Le saviez-vous ?

• Dutch fighters won the K-1 World Grand Prix many times: Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky and Semmy Schilt among them.
• The "Dutch style" is famous for fast punch combinations finished with a low kick.
• Kickboxing rules vary: some allow kicks to the legs and knees, others only above the waist.
• WAKO kickboxing is part of the World Games.

Glossaire des techniques

Jab–cross

basic straight punch combination

Low kick

kick to the thigh

High kick

kick to the head

Switch kick

kick after switching feet

Spinning back fist

spinning strike with the back of the fist

Knee

knee strike (K-1 rules)

Armes et équipement

Gloves

10 oz in competition

Shin guards

used in amateur bouts

⚔ In the Arsenal

Saco de boxeLuvas de boxe

Figures clés

• Osamu Noguchi (20th century) — Japanese promoter who named the sport
• Ernesto Hoost (1965–) — Dutch, four-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion
• Peter Aerts (1970–) — Dutch, three-time K-1 champion, "the Dutch Lumberjack"
• Semmy Schilt (1973–) — Dutch, four-time K-1 champion
• Rico Verhoeven (1989–) — Dutch, long-time GLORY heavyweight champion

Sources: WAKO — World Association of Kickboxing Organizations · Encyclopaedia Britannica