| Kickboxing is a sporting martial art very similar to | | | | an extremely popular kickboxer. After he retired, |
| boxing, except for the fact that it uses both arms and | | | | kickboxing started to lose its popularity and stopped |
| legs for striking. It can be practiced either as a | | | | being broadcast on TV. He hadn't been on TV until |
| full-contact combat sport or for general fitness. While | | | | 1993, when K-1 was founded. In 1993, Kazuyoshi Ishii, |
| the term refers to various forms of combat sports, it is | | | | who was the founder of Seidokan karate, produced |
| generally associated with Japanese and American | | | | K-1 under kickboxing rules (no elbow or neck wrestling). |
| kickboxing. The term was introduced by Osamu | | | | Since then, kickboxing started to regain its popularity |
| Noguchi, a Japanase boxing promoter. | | | | and became famous again. Soon it's popularity started |
| The History of Kickboxing | | | | spreading through North America and Europe as well. |
| Kickboxing is a derivative of karate, boxing, taekwondo | | | | Spreading to North America and Europe |
| and other combat styles and it was created to | | | | Jan Plas, a Dutch kickboxer, and a few Muay Thai |
| compete against them. All styles of kickboxing have | | | | pioneers, initiated Mejiro jym in Netherlands in 1978. He |
| been first developed in Japan. However, similar | | | | had learned kick boxing in Japan from the famous |
| influences were taking place in the United States as | | | | Kenji Kurosaki. In addition, he was also the one that |
| well and martial artists from toured both Japan and US, | | | | founded the Dutch Kickboxing Association (NKBB) in |
| developing a common kickboxing standard. | | | | 1978, which was the first kickboxing organization in the |
| Initial Japanese Development | | | | Netherlands. |
| As a specific form of martial art, kickboxing was | | | | Kickboxing & Fitness |
| inspired from Muay Thai, a combat sport originated in | | | | Kickboxing has gradually become a fitness craze as |
| Thailand. Osamu Noguchi, a Japanese boxing | | | | well. Kickboxing classes are very popular in European |
| promoter, developed it as a competitive style to | | | | countries also. They are attended by both men and |
| oppose Muay Thai. He wanted to present to the | | | | women. It has become very popular among women of |
| Japanese people the fighting style that he had | | | | all ages who are always looking for new methods to |
| discovered in Thailand and in 1966 he took three Muay | | | | lose weight or stay in shape. |
| Thai fighters to compete against Japanese karate | | | | As you walk by a kickboxing class, you will see that |
| fighters. The Japanese won by 2-1. Noguchi and Kenji | | | | most times it is packed. It seems that all you have to |
| Kurosaki studied the combat style thoroughly and | | | | bring is yourself and plenty of energy. Kickboxing |
| developed a combined martial art called kickboxing. At | | | | classes are generally coregraphed to house or techno |
| first, throwing and butting were allowed in order to | | | | music. The whole class consists of a full hour of |
| distinguish it from the Muay Thai style. However, they | | | | punching to the beat. It involves a lot of arm |
| were later eliminated. | | | | movements, squats, power movements and a good |
| A few years later, the Kickboxing Association, the first | | | | amount of cardiovascular workout. This is what |
| kickboxing organization, was founded in Japan. | | | | explains its high popularity as a fitness activity. With all |
| Kickboxing was broadcast on TV and became very | | | | the fun, you even forget about the fact that you are |
| popular in Japan. Back then, Tadashi Sawamura was | | | | actually working out. |