A Brief History of Kickboxing

About Kickboxing

Kickboxing is one of the most popular combat sports in the world

60s - Proposed by Mr. Osamu Noguchi
1966 - The world's first Kickboxing association was founded
70s - Competitions began to broadcast all over the world, the development became more vigorous
1976 - The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) was established
1996 - WAKO ASIA was established
80s - Became more popular in Hong Kong with a lot of outstanding fighters
2007 - The Hong Kong Kickboxing Association (HKKA) was established
2020 - HKKA was restructured and re-deployed more resources
2021 - Kickboxing is fully recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
2023 - Hong Kong Kickboxing Association officially changed its name to Hong Kong, China Kickboxing Association (HKCKA)

Kickboxing is a stand-up combat sport that combines kicking skills and boxing. It was proposed by Mr. Osamu Noguchi in the 1960s by combining the techniques and rules of Muay Thai and Karate, and founded the first Kickboxing association in 1966.

Since 1970s, Kickboxing has been widely popular all over the world, and the competitions have been broadcast on TV channels in various places. This has made kickboxing became one of the most popular combat sports in the world.

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) was established in 1976 and in 1996 the WAKO Asia was established . They are committed to promoting Kickboxing and the only organizations recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Features of Kickboxing

Kickboxing is also known as "free fighting" in Hong Kong and China. Kickboxing is not limited to any fixed routines, but advocates free play in actual combat according to the situation. Use of various techniques such as punches, kicks and knees in order to defeat the opponent as the goal.

After the participation of different countries of the East and the West, Kickboxing has evolved into the essence of various combat sports, such as the Chinese martial arts, Karate, Judo, Kendo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Boxing. It is a unique, highly scientific and artistic combat sport.

Kickboxing is characterized by fast-paced and intense, which greatly improves the atmosphere of the competition. This feature is one of the reasons why it is popular in the world.

Hong Kong Kickboxing History

As early as the 1960s, the Kickboxing known as “Free Fighting" had prevailed in Hong Kong. By the 1970s, many large-scale competitions had been held. Until the 1980s, its development became more mature, and there were many well-known world champions, such as the “The Jet" Benny Urquidez and Hong Kong's Kong Fu Tak, Billy Chau, Eldy Chan, Chan Kam Sun… and so on. Since then, Kickboxing has been popular in Hong Kong.

Five Rings Sports

Since the development of Kickboxing, diversified competition rules have been derived, such as K1, Full Contact, Low Kick, Tatami... etc., suitable for athletes from different countries, different skills, and different strengths to participate in Kickboxing. Kickboxing can be part of the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other five-ring sports competitions because of the above advantages.