| Kick boxing is a relatively modern martial arts system, | | | | Development: There is a close affinity between Kick |
| who syllabus derived by combining several fighting | | | | boxing and Muay Thai. While it is believed that the |
| techniques from a variety of the more traditional | | | | Americans had created this concept in their attempt to |
| disciplines, including Kung fu, Kyokushinkai Karate, Muay | | | | find a sport that could refine full contact competition, it |
| Thai, Kyokky shinkai and Tae kwon do. History: Martial | | | | is believed that the development of Kick boxing was |
| arts boomed during the early 1970s and interest was | | | | borne out of the World Kick boxing Association finding |
| greatly increased by their emphasis on competition | | | | common ground between Eastern and Western |
| fighting. Chinese styles of fighting began to take a | | | | fighting cultures. It is also believed that Joe Cawley, |
| more westernised form in the UK, and even more so | | | | Don and Judy Quinn, along with Howard Hansen, a |
| in the United States, where the first real freestyle | | | | Shorin ryn Karate black belt, were the initial promoters |
| systems were beginning to be created. Indeed, many | | | | of Kick boxing and worked together for improved |
| people claim that Kick boxing originated in the US | | | | recognition. Hansen took Kick boxing a stage further |
| during the 1970s. This, they say, was due to various | | | | by introducing fights in a boxing ring rather than the |
| American Karate practitioners becoming frustrated | | | | usual Karate tournament bouts. He became known as |
| with the limitations of tournament competitive scoring. | | | | a ring matchmaker, staging a variety of successful |
| While Karate and the other disciplines were viewed as | | | | events with stars such as Bill "Superfoot" Wallis. New |
| being entrenched with theories and set kata, and were | | | | rules evolved and were introduced into Kick boxing, |
| performed in a controlled environment, practitioners | | | | most notably weight divisions - from fly weight to |
| wanted to see how effective their moves would be in | | | | heavy weight - similar to those in traditional boxing. A |
| a more realistic environment. Great emphasis began to | | | | down side to the discipline in those early days was |
| be placed on specialised techniques, such as kicks and | | | | criticism of a high risk injury. This led to improvement in |
| punches, being delivered with full force. Although full | | | | the safety rules, such as contestants wearing |
| contact Karate was already established, concerns | | | | protective clothing to cushion the impacts of the blows. |
| were expressed for the safety of competitors. | | | | |