The term kickboxing is actually a bit of a bastardized term: in the Netherlands the term kickboxing is often used for styles that resemble Thai boxing ( Muay Thai ), but historically this is not correct.
Origin of kickboxing in the US
Kickboxing itself originated in the United States in the early 1970s. It was actually a mixture of different fighting styles such as karate, taekwondo and kempo. The big difference with what we now usually understand as kickboxing is the absence of kicks to the legs. These so-called low kicks are not allowed in American kickboxing (also called full contact).
Kickboxing in Japan
In Japan, around the same time, a form called kickboxing also emerged. This fighting style developed from the hard karate styles such as Ashihara and Kyokushin karate mixed with influences from Thai Muay Thai.
WAKO - World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
The WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) is one of the world's largest combat sports organisations (with 4 million practitioners) and has a clear division into the various variants of kickboxing and Thai boxing.
At WAKO a distinction is made between:
- Point Fighting
- Light contact
- Full-Contact (no low kicks)
- Low-Kick
- K-1 Rules
IFMA - International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur
There is also the IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur), where amateurs fight with protectors in traditional Muay Thai using fists, knees, elbows and legs. In the Netherlands, there is rarely fighting on so-called "Full Muay Thai" rules. In full Muay Thai, the elbows are also used in the fight, something that is rarely allowed in the Netherlands, with the exception of a few A-class matches sometimes.
K-1
We are all familiar with the K-1 rules. K-1 was not a style but a Japanese martial arts organization. In K-1 the fight resembles kickboxing and Thai boxing with a few minor differences. In contrast to Thai boxing the elbows may not be used. In addition, in clinching the match is stopped and restarted immediately, while in traditional Muay Thai, and to a lesser extent in kickboxing, this is a very important part of the fight.
Do you also want to start kickboxing?
Are you also super enthusiastic to start with this great, fun and also healthy martial art? Good news. We have listed a large number of kickboxing clubs in different cities in the Netherlands. Moreover, on this site you can also purchase a super complete kickboxing set directly to get started!
