Kickboxing is a sports martial art very similar to boxing, except that it uses arms and legs to strike. It can be practiced as a full contact combat sport or for general fitness. While the term refers to various forms of combat sports, it is generally associated with Japanese and American kickboxing. The term was introduced by Osamu Noguchi, a Japanase boxing promoter.
The history of kickboxing
Kickboxing is a derivative of karate, boxing, taekwondo, and other fighting styles and was created to compete against them. All styles of kickboxing were first developed in Japan. However, similar influences were also taking place in the United States and martial artists from Japan and the United States toured, developing a common standard of kickboxing.
Early Japanese development
As a specific form of martial art, kickboxing was inspired by Muay Thai, a combat sport that originated in Thailand. Osamu Noguchi, a Japanese boxing promoter, developed it as a competitive style to oppose Muay Thai. He wanted to introduce the Japanese to the fighting style he had discovered in Thailand and in 1966 he brought three Muay Thai fighters to compete against Japanese karate fighters. The Japanese won 2-1. Noguchi and Kenji Kurosaki studied the fighting style thoroughly and developed a combined martial art called kickboxing. At first it was allowed to throw and lunge to distinguish it from the Muay Thai style. However, they were later eliminated.
A few years later, the Kickboxing Association, the first kickboxing organization, was founded in Japan. Kickboxing was broadcast on television and became very popular in Japan. Back then, Tadashi Sawamura was an extremely popular kickboxer. After his retirement, kickboxing began to lose popularity and stopped being broadcast on television. It hadn’t been on television until 1993, when K-1 was founded. In 1993, Kazuyoshi Ishii, who was the founder of Seidokan karate, produced K-1 under the rules of kickboxing (no elbow or neck fighting). Since then, kickboxing began to regain its popularity and became famous again. Soon, its popularity began to spread to North America and Europe as well.
Extending to North America and Europe
Jan Plas, a Dutch kickboxer, and some pioneers of muay thai, started Mejiro jym in Holland in 1978. He had learned kick boxing in Japan from the famous Kenji Kurosaki. Furthermore, he was also the one who founded the Dutch Kickboxing Association (NKBB) in 1978, which was the first kickboxing organization in the Netherlands.
Kickboxing and fitness
Kickboxing has also gradually become a fitness fad. Kickboxing classes are also very popular in European countries. They are attended by both men and women. It has become very popular with women of all ages who are always looking for new methods to lose weight or stay in shape.
As you go through a kickboxing class, you will see that most of the time it is crowded. It seems that all you have to bring is yourself and a lot of energy. Kickboxing classes are generally focused on house or techno music. The entire class consists of a full hour of punches to the beat. It involves a lot of arm movements, squats, power movements, and a good amount of cardiovascular exercise. This is what explains its great popularity as a fitness activity. With all the fun, you even forget about the fact that you are actually exercising.