If you are looking for kickboxing rules, you have come to the right place. The roots of kickboxing, a relatively new full-contact sport, and martial art can be found in a number of other martial arts. With the advent of kickboxing as a modern sport in the 1970s, various other striking techniques were combined and integrated into a more recognizable American image, manly by staging matches in a boxing ring.
All ages, genders, and nationalities now engage in competitive, fitness, and recreational kickboxing. Over the years, other kickboxing-related films have also been made, most notably Jean Claude Van Damme’s Kickboxer and Bloodsport.
Definition of kickboxing
Kickboxing is a striking style that uses punches and kicks. It is actually a generic term for a number of fighting and martial arts techniques.
Kickboxing is a fighting style that is performed standing up. This indicates that it places a focus on striking and excludes ground warfare. Depending on the specific kickboxing style, there are many types of methods. In addition to the standard punches used in western boxing, knee strikes and kicks are regularly used in kickboxing techniques. Techniques used in kickboxing might include elbow strikes, grappling, and even headbutts.
As seen on K-1, Glory, or One Championship, punches, kicks, and some minimal grappling/clinching are all permitted in modern kickboxing sports.
Kickboxing history
Martial arts like kickboxing have been practiced for ages. Records from approximately the 12th century indicate that Muay Thai and other Southeast Asian martial arts were created for unarmed combat on battlefields. Around the 17th century, karate was created, and in the early 20th century, it was introduced to Japan.
Around the time that Muay Thai became popular as a sport in the 16th century, the first records of competitive kickboxing emerged. There weren’t many laws or rules in force, though. There were no limitations on weight classes or protective equipment during sanctioned fights.
The history of kickboxing as a combat sport is more recent. Around the 1920s, Muay Thai underwent a modernization when it adopted features of western boxing, such as the boxing ring, boxing gloves, referees, and rounds/time limitations.
Around the 1950s, kickboxing had a distinct development in East Asia in the form of Kyokushin Karate. When Kyokushin and Muay Thai techniques were combined, this further developed into Japanese kickboxing. The sport of Japanese kickboxing evolved into American and Dutch kickboxing as it gained popularity and influence in the western world.
Kickboxing competitions between various kickboxing styles were held in the 1970s and 1980s. By 1993, K-1, a Japanese kickboxing promotion with unified rules, had been established. International competitors arrived in Japan to test their mettle and choose the best kickboxing technique.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, K-1 dominated the kickboxing scene. All current kickboxing promotions follow the guidelines created during the K-1 heyday.
Players & Equipment
Kickboxing only needs some equipment:
- Boxing gloves: Kickboxers use standard boxing gloves, which can be any color. Kickboxers wear hand wraps below their gloves to assist maintain the shape of their fist and guard against knuckle and wrist injuries.
- Boxing ring: Almost always, kickboxing takes place in a boxing ring. Depending on the many associations and initiatives, the exact size could change.
- Footpads: In kickboxing, the feet are used as a weapon for striking, hence the feet are protected with pads. Kickboxing and Thai boxing, a close relative sport in which boxers do not wear foot protection, differ greatly in this regard. In addition, they are also allowed to strike with the knee and elbow.
- All kickboxers also wear mouthguards and groin protection.
Winning the Match
Similar to boxing and muay Thai, there are several ways to win a fight in kickboxing:
- Knockout: In this scenario, one fighter strikes the other, putting them unable to continue. After a count of ten, the striker is pronounced the winner, giving the opposing combatant the opportunity to stand up and resume the fight.
- TKO: When the referee determines that one fighter can no longer defend themself, the fight is instantly stopped and the other fighter has deemed the victor. This is a technical knockout.
- Points: If there are no knockouts or TKOs during the bout, the outcome is decided by points. The combatant with the most points on a scorecard is deemed the winner. When there is a tie in the final score, the match is deemed a draw.
Kickboxing techniques
Punching, kicking, knees, and limited clinching are among the kickboxing tactics that are permitted in international contests. The more basic kickboxing moves for novices include straight knees, roundhouse kicks, and typical jab-cross punches.
Punches
Kickboxing’s punching styles are directly derived from traditional boxing. There are four fundamental punching motions: the jab, straight/cross, uppercut, and hook. The superman punch and the spinning back fist are two of the most complex punching techniques.
The face, temples, chin, jaw, ribs, liver, and abdomen are all possible targets for direct punches. Punching someone in the throat or the back of the head is prohibited.
Kicks
Kicks are the kickboxing style’s long-range weapons. Within each type of kickboxing, there are numerous kicking varieties. The roundhouse body kick, high kick, and leg/low kick are the three fundamental kicking motions used in kickboxing. The spinning back kicks, axe kicks, leap kicks, soaring kicks, and cartwheel kicks are examples of more complex kicking techniques.
Kicks are typically used on purpose. The push kick can be used offensively as well as defensively. It is launched to the solar plexus, abdomen, or face to break an opponent’s rhythm.
Kicks are delivered to the back, legs, arms, head, neck, and ribs. Even though mishaps happen frequently, groin kicks are typically forbidden in the majority of fighting sports.
Knees
Knee blows are thrown to the kneecap or its vicinity. They work well at the close, medium, and relatively long ranges. Knee strikes are mostly directed toward the sternum, abdomen, or ribs. Basic knee methods include straight and diagonal knees. The flying or jumping knee, which focuses on the head for a more deadly effect, is a highly advanced knee strike.
Kickboxing rules
How many rounds in kickboxing?
A kickboxing fight typically lasts three rounds. The number of rounds, which typically last three minutes, is dependent on the fighters’ level of expertise.Beside, there is a break of 1 minute between each round. The normal length of a championship match is 12 rounds of three minutes each. Following the referee’s directions, the fight begins when both fighters contact gloves.
Because they thought it was thrilling and worked well with their tournament structure in the 1990s, K-1 helped to popularize the 3×3 format. The K-1 name and rules became the norm for professional kickboxing all around the world, proving that it was a success.
The notion is that because the bouts and rounds would be brief, the competitors wouldn’t be pushing themselves too far and run the risk of suffering more injuries than usual.
Score in kickboxing
Although there may be a variety of scoring systems used by various kickboxing organizations, the great majority employs the same system as boxing. Each fighter receives a score from the judges for each round based on how they performed (or, in certain instances, merely the referee).
- As a general rule, a match will be scored using the 10-Point Must System. The round winner must receive 10 points under the 10-Point Must Scoring System.
- The boxer who lost the round could receive 9, 8, or 7 points for their troubles.
- A score of 10/10 may be given if the round is found to be an even round.
- Complete or partial rounds will be scored. The round will be scored as an even round if there has been no notable action. The judges have the last say in this.
At what age should amateur kickboxing players start?
The minimum age requirement for amateur kickboxing players is 8. While some kickboxing gyms take kids as young as five or six years old, others don’t let kids in until they’re eight or nine years old. Different age groups will approach classes in different ways.
For instance, smaller children are trained in a lighthearted manner and with an emphasis on overall physical development. Numerous kickboxing teachers agree that five to six years old is the ideal age for children to begin taking kickboxing instruction. To succeed in amateur boxing, one requires quick hands and feet. Since you will be firing one, two, or jabs while moving into and out of range, amateur boxing is characterized by swift strikes.
Conclusion
Above are the kickboxing rules that we want you to know before starting this kind of sport. Although kickboxing has been mostly replaced by MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in current times, it is still commonly practiced globally. In contrast to certain other sports, kickboxing has numerous independent governing bodies as well as international and national organizations.
However, barring a few minor variations, full-contact kickboxing regulations are constant regardless of association. Don’t forget to come back to Boxingreport for the latest news!
Refer: Wikipedia
