American kickboxing facts for kids
Kickboxing is an exciting combat sport where people use both their hands and feet to fight. It's often practiced in a ring, similar to boxing. This sport became popular in the United States during the 1960s. At that time, there was a lot of interest in martial arts like karate, kung-fu, and taekwondo. Many people, including the media, wanted to see these skills in action.
How Kickboxing Started
Over time, different styles of martial arts developed. Many champions wanted to test their skills in real fights. This led to new types of competitions. For example, famous martial artists like Jhoon Rhee and Ed Parker held big tournaments. In 1963, a style called Bando kickboxing, which came from ancient Burmese boxing, also started to be practiced in rings.
Before kickboxing, many karate competitions didn't allow full contact. But people like Bruce Lee, a famous movie star, and Jhoon Rhee, a well-known teacher, had an idea. They thought about fighting with protective gear and gloves. This idea changed everything! It opened up a new way for people who loved "real combat" to compete safely.
American kickboxing began as a set of rules for these new competitions. These rules allowed fighters from different martial arts backgrounds to compete fairly. One of the first big organizations was the World Kickboxing Association (WKA). Because of these rules, kickboxing quickly became one of the most popular combat sports around the world.
Major Kickboxing Organizations
Today, several large organizations manage professional and amateur kickboxing events. They crown champions in different weight classes and styles. Some of the most well-known organizations include:
- The WKA (World Kickboxing Association): This was founded in the USA in 1976.
- The WAKO (World Association of KickBoxing Organizations): This organization started in Germany in 1978 and often focuses on amateur competitions.
- The ISKA (International Sport Karate Association): Founded in 1986, it grew from an earlier group that helped develop "full contact" kickboxing.
- The WKN (World Kickboxing Network): This group was founded in 1997.
These organizations help make sure kickboxing is a fair and exciting sport for everyone involved!
