Kickboxing Rules: Everything You Need to Know

Kickboxing is a quite popular kind of martial arts, in which athletes are allowed to hit and kick their opponents with hands and feet. Kickboxing equipment should obviously be represented by boxing gloves. There can be male and female kickboxing. The given article is going to present a comprehensive guide to kickboxing rules and peculiarities.

General Rules

From the very beginning, it used to be allowed to make almost everything in kickboxing: any kicks, grapples, foot sweeps, and throws. The rules were changing with passing years. Thus, there were the rules of eight and later six kicks. The rules made athletes perform at least eight or six kicks in a single round. Also, there were created weight classes. A winner of each of them is determined with the help of elimination bouts. A kickboxer who managed to get the greatest number of wins is given the highest rating. In this case, he gets the right to meet the defending champion to try to get his title.

There are a few ways of how a winner of a kickboxing bout can be determined. To explain, they are as follows:

• Win by points;
• Win by evident advantage;
• Win by the opponent’s unfitness to continue the bout;
• Win by disqualification;
• Win by knock-out;
• Win by default;
• Win by the referee’s decision.

Types of Kicks and Hits

According to the official kickboxing rules, all the kicks and hits can be subdivided into two groups – legal and illegal ones. In general, kicks and hits with hands and feet are legal but they are so only if they meet the following requirements:

• a hit should be performed by the fist in a glove;
• a hit is said to be successful only if it reaches side or front head parts covered with the helmet;
• it is allowed to hit and kick only the opponents’ front and side parts of the body above their waist levels;
• all the kicks on the shoulders and hands, as well as all the holds that violate the rules are considered illegal;
• foot sweeps are legal only when they are targeted at the sole.

Now, let us look at illegal kicks and hits:

• it is illegal to hit the opponent with the open glove or its inner part;
• all the hits with wrist, forearm, head, and knee are considered illegal;
• it is forbidden to kick the opponent’s back, back of the head, and the area below the belt;
• hits with side, upper, and lower parts of the fist are prohibited.

As for the last example, such hits are allowed, however, when it comes to semi-contact bouts. In any case, it is forbidden to perform everything after the command “Stop” made by the referee. It is illegal to push the opponent or stamp his feet. In addition, it is strictly prohibited to attack a knocked-out opponent.

Every kind of the legal hits has its own name. Thus, the list of all the kicks with feet looks as follows:

• back kick;
• jumping kick;
• low kick (kick on the high);
• round kick (usually, on the head);
• sidekick;
• ex kick;
• front kick;
• hook kick;
• foot sweeps.

As for the hits with hands, they are represented by the following examples:

• uppercut – a hit from below with the left or right hand;
• back fist – a hit with the right hand;
• jab – a straight hit with the hand that is closer to the opponent;
• punch – a straight hit with the hand that is further from the opponent;
• swing – a side hit from a big distance;
• hook – a side hit on the head with the left or right hand.

Types of Kickboxing

It should be mentioned that the given kind of sport can be of two different types: American and Japanese kickboxing. American kickboxing, in its turn, is represented by the following variations.

Semi-Contact

In this kickboxing variation, strong kicks and hits are prohibited. This looks like a conventional bout. After every successful kick, the referee should stop the bout and award a corresponding number of points. Kicks account for the greatest number of points. Three points are given when a kickboxer manages to jump and kick the opponent’s head. As a rule, athletes try box from a distance without coming into direct contact with each other.

Injuries are quite seldom in the given kickboxing variation. That is why it is the most suitable for young children who only start their path in the sport. Semi-contact kickboxing is also a good way to train the children to further more complicated kinds. In addition, it helps the children to develop interests in the given kind of sport.

Light-Contact

In this kickboxing variation, strong hits and kicks both with hands and feet are also prohibited. Despite this fact, such bouts can be more dynamic and interesting than even some professional ones. A victory is given for the best hands and feet work (it stands for the technique) as well as for the greater number of successful kicks.

Full-Contact

In this variation, there are no limitations as to how strong kickboxers are allowed to hit and kick their opponents. As in boxing, knock-downs and knock-outs are considered. This kickboxing kind is said to be the most fascinating in comparison with the others.

Full-Contact with Low-Kick

In general, this is usual full-contact kickboxing. The only difference is represented by the fact that kickboxers are allowed to kick their opponents’ highs i.e. perform low-kicks.

Japanese Kickboxing

As for this kickboxing variation, it is represented only by K-1 that is said to be the most popular one because of its visual appeal. Such bouts last for three minutes. If it is impossible to determine a winner over this period of time, a conclusive round should take place. A draw can be awarded only when the two opponents fall simultaneously. In this kickboxing variation, the rule of three knock-downs is present. The rule means a bout can end in a technical knock-out.

In addition, solo performance is said to be more and more popular nowadays. In fact, it is a single kickboxer who shows kickboxing technique to music. This performance can last for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Equipment

There is a special set of equipment that must be used by every kickboxer. To be more exact, it is represented by the following items:

1. The helmet (head guard) – it should cover the back of the kickboxer’s head, ears, chins, cheeks, temples, eyebrows, and neck bones.
2. The gloves – they are the same as boxing gloves.
3. Elastic bandage (boxing tape) – it should be no more than 2.5 meters long and 5 cm wide.
4. Foot – a special piece of equipment to protect the footstep that covers the heel and instep; it should be no more than 1 cm thick.
5. Shin guards without firm materials.
6. Mouth guard.
7. Groin guard.
8. Chest guard (for women).

As for the uniform, every kickboxer should wear only shorts or special trousers.

Ring

A kickboxing ring should meet the following criteria:

• each of its sides should be 5-6 meters to create a regular square;
• the rink space should be limited with 3-5-cm-thick ropes that unite for posts in the corners;
• the rink floor should be straight, well fixed, and without excessive resilience;
• the kickboxers’ corners should be equipped with a stool, a bottle with water, and a bin;
• spectators may seat no closer than 3 meters from the rink.

Referees

Every kickboxing bout should be served by the team of judges approved by the responsible kickboxing federation. This judging panel should include the following officials:

• main referee;
• ring referee;
• referee deputies;
• chief secretary;
• certified representative of the company that is responsible for organizing the kickboxing event.

History

Kickboxing is said to have appeared in the USA and Western Europe. It happens in the 60s-70s of the 20th century. The term “kickboxing” was invented by Chuck Norris; that is why it is he who is said to be the father of kickboxing. Originally, kickboxing united karate and traditional boxing. In a while, these two elements were joined by Thai box and Tae Kwon Do.

In the early 70s, there were created many schools in the USA to teach various kind of this martial art. Each of these kinds was governed by its own rules and had its own advantages and disadvantages. As a result, there was made a decision to organize a tournament with common rules to determine which school is the best one. Originally, this event was called All Style Karate or Full Contact Karate tournaments.

Thus, it was in 1974 when the first official kickboxing event governed by a full set of rules took place. This kind of sport was being actively developed in American and Europe over 1974-1985. As for 1985, it is said to be the year when female kickboxing was born. Nowadays, there are a lot of official and popular kickboxing tournaments that take place all over the globe.