Japanese kickboxing took form in the 1960s as an off-shoot of Muay Thai, or Thai boxing. Competitors punched, kicked and struck foes with with knees and elbows. Kicking below the waist was allowed, but not to the groin. Grabbing the neck was allowed. The Americanized version of kickboxing is blend of karate and boxing. Non-violent forms of kickboxing have become a highly popular workout activity in the United States.
Origin of Japanese Kickboxing
Full-contact Muay Thai matches in Japan caused quite a stir. Martial arts contests in Japan previously had been non-contact events. Promoters from the realms of karate, such as Tatsuo Yamada, and boxing, such as Osamu Noguchi, developed a Japanese version of this sport. Kickboxing took off in Japan and spread in various forms around the globe. Martial arts movies starring Bruce Lee and others boosted the sport in the 1970s.
Difference Between Kickboxing and Muay Thai
Japanese kickboxing is very similar to Muay Thai in style and structure. In its earlier days, Japanese kickboxing allowed head-butting and body throws. Both tactics were later banned for safety reasons. Also, Muay Thai scoring is different. Kicks to the mid-body and head score highly, even if they are blocked. Punching earns lower scores. In Japanese kickboxing, punching and kicking are scored in a similar fashion.
K-1 and the Kickboxing Resurgence
The founder of full-contact Seidoran Karate, Kazuyoshi Ishii, developed K-1 competition in 1993. K-1 brought kickboxing out of its two-decade lull in Japan. This version of the sport eliminated neck wrestling and elbow strikes but offered more action than traditional forms of karate. The first K-1 Grand Prix in 1993 in Japan drew 10,000 fans and a mixed card of international stars.
Kickboxing in the United States
The sport reached the United States sports in the 1970s and steadily gained popularity. When Chuck Norris became a show business icon, kickboxing studios began to open from coast to coast. While elbow strikes, knee strikes and kicking below the waist are allowed in Japanese kickboxing, these tactics are not allowed in most U.S. versions of the sport.
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