KICKBOXING

The science of stand-up with kicks and strikes, kickboxing differs from Muay Thai in the lack of knees/elbows but misses none of the violence with knockouts a frequent occurrence in matches. Kickboxing is also often used as a means of self-defense and on a non-contact level related to fitness training.

Japanese kickboxing originates in the 1960s, with competitions held since the 1960s. American kickboxing originates in the 1970s. Japanese kickboxing developed into K-1 in 1993. Historically, kickboxing can be considered a hybrid martial art formed from the combination of elements of various traditional styles. This approach became increasingly popular since the 1970s, and since the 1990s, kickboxing has contributed to the emergence of mixed martial arts via further hybridization with ground fighting techniques from jujutsu and professional wrestling.