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