Monday, January 2, 2012

American Kickboxing Strikes & Takedowns


The sport of kickboxing combines elements of standard boxing and martial arts. In Thailand, Muay Thai or "Thai boxing" is a national sport characterized by hard leg kicks and strikes with the elbows and knees. American kickboxing is similar in that participants wear boxing gloves and throw martial arts kicks, but it has many more restrictions in terms of strikes and targets.
The Sport
American kickboxing features knockouts, decisions, split decisions and draws, just like in a boxing match. The sport is fought in a standard boxing ring, with a referee and judges to award points to or take points away from fighters. Kicks are the primary difference between regular boxing and American kickboxing.
Strikes
Standard boxing punches, such as jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts, are also part of the arsenal of an American kickboxer. Kickboxers are also allowed to perform spinning backfist but absolutely no elbow strikes. All kicks must be thrown above the waist; leg kicks, or kicks aimed below the waist at the opponent's legs, are not permitted. Kickboxers are prohibited from using their knees in a bout, but leg sweeps are allowed. Prior to July 2009, fighters were required to throw a minimum number of kicks in each round, but that rule has been lifted.
Takedowns
Unlike some other forms of kickboxing, such as Muay Thai, American kickboxing does not permit takedowns. American kickboxing is purely a stand-up fighting sport. All of the fighting must concentrate on different kicking and punching combinations to be legal.
Equipment
American kickboxing has some precise rules regarding the type of equipment to use. Standard boxing gloves -- in either 8-oz. or 12-oz. versions, depending on the weight class -- are worn by all fighters. Boxing hand wraps are worn under the boxing gloves. Long pants are worn instead of shorts, and shirts must be worn by amateurs and women. Other pieces of equipment include headgear for amateurs, shin pads, mouth guards and a cup.

 
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