History of Kickboxing

Here's everything we need to know about the origin of Kickboxing. Are you a reader or a video lover. Here's a quick video to take you through the history of Kickboxing.

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Kickboxing is a full-contact sport primarily based on punches and kicks.

While historians have different views on the origin of combat sports, several cave paintings and other artefacts tell exciting stories.

We have taken the most documented route.

7000 Years Ago:

The first instance of recorded combat sports comes from the Ramayan period in ancient India as "Dhanur Vidya" or Archery.

5000 Years Ago:

"Mall Yudh", or Freestyle fighting, appears during the Mahabharat era in ancient India.

3000 Years Ago:

"Kalaripayattu", the oldest known martial art, takes shape in India.

1400 Years Ago:

"Pankration" appears in Ancient Greece during Greek Olympic Games. It combines striking and wrestling and is known as the mother of Mixed Martial Arts.

The year 1800:

The earlier form of Karate, known as "To De", began to take shape in the Okinawa Islands.

1960:

Kickboxing originates in Japan, primarily by mixing Karate with Boxing under the influence of Muay Thai.

1963:

Three karate fighters from Oyama Dojo (Kyokushin later) - Tadashi Nakamura, Kenji Kurosaki and Akio Fujihira went to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand and fought against 3 Muay Thai fighters. Japan won by 2-1.

1966:

Osamu Noguchi founded the Kickboxing Association in 1966, and the first Kickboxing event happened in Osaka on April 11, 1966.

The essential techniques came from Full-Contact Karate (Kyokushin). However, throwing and butting were allowed initially to distinguish them from Muay Thai. Thus, Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, was a significant influence on the development of Kickboxing.

1970:

Kickboxing telecasts in Japan came on three different channels three times weekly, including fights between Japanese (Kickboxers) and Thai (Muay Thai) fighters.

Tadashi Sawamura was an especially popular early kickboxer.

In 1971 the All Japan Kickboxing Association (AJKA) was established, registering more than 700 kickboxers.

1974:

The 1970s was a significant era for Kickboxing. The Professional Karate Association launched world championships in 1974 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena live on ABC. The winners of the initial title were Joe Lewis (heavyweight), Jeff Smith (light heavyweight), Bill "Superfoot" Wallace (middleweight), and Isiasis Duenas (lightweight). Vernon "Thunder Kick" Mason would become the first bantamweight champion.

1990:

In 1993, Kazuyoshi Ishii produced K-1, Kickboxing without elbow strikes and wrestling. Kickboxing regained the lost momentum of the 1960s in Japan, and K-1 became the world's leading "Kickboxing" organisation.

2011:

Glory Kickboxing, the largest kickboxing promotion company in the world, comes alive. It features the top fighters in the sport on its roster, including Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt, Gokhan Saki, Daniel Ghita, Albert Kraus, and Giorgio Petrosyan.

One Championship is born in Singaporean by Chatri Sityodtong to promote "values of integrity, humility, honour, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion."

Some international governing bodies include the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), World Kickboxing Association, International Sport Karate Association, International Kickboxing Federation, and World Kickboxing Network. Individual promotions, such as Glory, K-1 and ONE Championship, issue the champion titles.

Kombat Hall, an initiative of Sanshinkan International, spreads the knowledge of Kickboxing with the right spirit and respect to those who led the way.

Source: Links in the video