The History of Kickboxing

Thailand

Muay Thai is a fighting art that is recognized as the national sport of Thailand. Along with kicks and punches, Muay Thai fighters strike with the shins, knees and elbows, attacking opponents for various angles. Estimated to be 3,000 years old, information regarding the origins of Muay Thai have not survived the passage of time. According to the article "Muay Thai History," it is believed that the Thai people may have first developed the art of Muay Thai as a means of self-defense as they migrated from China to Thailand.

Osamu Noguchi was a prominant promoter of traditional boxing in Japan in the 1950s. As cited by "Muay Thai Kickboxing Training: The History of Kickboxing," Noguchi traveled around the world to watch boxing matches, and upon a visit to Thailand, became intrigued by Muay Thai. Noguchi decided to promote a sport in that combined Muay Thai with traditional boxing and the Japanese national sport of Karate.

According to "Kickboxing: Basic Information," Karate was not a full-contact sport in Japan. It was scored on a point system similar to that used in fencing. Noguchi promoted the full-contact version of Karate in which the action was not halted when a fighter connected with a scoring strike. While developing this sport, Noguchi is credited with coining the name "kickboxing."

As the sport's popularity traveled to America, the rules for competitive kickboxing were tightened. When fighting by American rules, kickboxers can only strike with the hands and feet. Fighters wear boxing gloves and padded boots. Strikes with the elbows, knees and shins are not permitted. Japanese rules allow for strikes to the legs, but American rules state that all strikes must land above the waist. Thus, American kickboxing has a evolved closer to boxing and traditional Karate and moved away from Muay Thai.

In America, kickboxing continues to be practiced as a competitve sport as well as a cardio fitness regimen. Aspects of kickboxing, along with those of Muay Thai, Karate, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and wrestling have been adopted into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.