The origins of kickboxing can be found to date back
two thousand years in Far East Asia.
Kickboxing as we know it today developed under various influences.
The first time anything resembling kickboxing was seen, was in the USA in the early 1970`s and was introduced as 'Full Contact Karate'.
A new generation of martial art practitioner's disillusioned with the traditional martial arts like karate wanted to experience full contact bouts fought to the knockout.
In some of the earlier tournaments the rules where unclear
with no clear weight divisions.

A good example of this was a tournament won by a very young Benny Urquidez,
who weighing ten stone beat the fourteen stone Dana Goodson
by pinning Goodson to the floor for more then ten seconds,
The rules at the time allowed this!
The development of specialised protective equipment and regulation came from a new
controlling body, the PKA, that also set a defined set of rules and clear weight divisions.
Kicks were only scored if they landed above the waist.
Kicking below the waist was considered a foul, of course today this is allowed under standard kickboxing rules, while above the waist kicking only, remains under the full contact karate rules.
In September 1974 in Los Angeles, the first ever world championships
of full contact karate were hosted.
The bouts took place on mats (no ring) it was only late in the 1970's
that the sport moved into the ring.
Initially there were only four divisions.
The first World Champions were Jeff Smith, Isuena Duenas,
Joe Lewis & Bill Wallace, some of whom became legendary figures in the sport.
Today Kickboxing is widely used as a Fitness Workout (Kickboxercise),
a Self-Defence, a Martial Art, and a Sport.

We can offer an intensive, certificated tuition course or assessment in Kick-Boxing & Kickboxercise,
become an Independent or Full Membership Instructor. Contact