It is a Martial Arts system whose rules derive from the combination of different combat techniques from a variety of other disciplines, such as Boxing, Kung Fu and Tae Kwondo.
It originates from the so-called Full Contact, a superior combat sport in technical-tactical and physical terms, as it requires athletes to have very broad knowledge. But Kickboxing arises due to an “insufficiency” of Full Contact: blows had to be delivered above the waist. Therefore, in Kick Boxing, there is the possibility of delivering blows below the waist (but above the knee), through kicks with the tibia to the internal/external thighs of the opponents (Low Kick).
In this way, it is considered the art of combining orthodox boxing and the best of oriental techniques in terms of kicking (Kick means kick).
The practice is “stripped” of the spirituality underlying oriental martial arts and focuses essentially on the effectiveness of the techniques.
Main names in Kick Boxing: Bill “Superfoot” Wallis, Demetrius Havanas, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith and Benny Urquidez.
The (WKA) World Kick Boxing Association emerged in early 1970, following a tournament with Benny Urquidez, sent to Japan to represent America in a Kick Boxing championship. His first world title was in 1974. Urquidez, through research into Eastern training methods and his skill with Boxing and Judo, managed to maintain his position. Considered one of the most memorable fights was against the famous Fujiwara, an experienced competitor in Karate and Muay Thai.
Muay Thai is very similar to KickBoxing, but different, as it uses elbows and knees, powerful weapons in hand-to-hand combat.
Many believe that Kick Boxing was born outside the WKA, finding ways between the fighting culture of East and West, and that Joe Cawley, Don and Judy Quinn, together with Howard Hansen, a shorin ryu karate black belt, were the main initial promoters of Kick Boxing.
Hansen, by introducing fights in a boxing ring instead of traditional tournament fights, advanced the improvement of Kickboxing. Known as the “matchmaker of the ring”, he staged a variety of successful events featuring stars such as Bill “Superfoot” Wallis.
