Kick boxing is a combat art which is consisting of kicks and punches. It has been developed with karate and mixed up with boxing.
Kick boxing is originated in Japan by Tatsuo Yamada master. The parenthood martial arts of kick boxing are Muay Thai, Karate and boxing.
What are the Places Where Kickboxing is More Popular? Kick boxing was spread in many countries instantly and it is very famous in America and in many Europe countries. The top countries which are famous for kick boxing are:
- United States
- Taiwan
- Japan
- China, Russia
- Netherland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
Europeans developed this martial art to compete with other Eastern martial arts.
In mix martial arts kick boxing is the art which most fighters are trained.
There are different varieties of kick boxing, which are different from the culture of the country and with the mix of other martial arts. As an examples American kick boxing, Dutch kick boxing, Japanese kick boxing and Chinese kick boxing (sanda). Kick boxing was mostly promoted by UFC and with the mix martial art culture.
Most Famous Countries for Kickboxing
The top countries which are famous for kick boxing can be listed as this.
#1 United States
United States is in the top of the list because, with the 3rd largest population there are many Kick Boxing champions.
The international kick boxing federation (IKF) is one of the oldest and largest kick boxing and Muay Thai organization and it is situated in United States.
There are world class fighters. In UFC also most of the world class fighters are from United States.
The home of UFC is also in United States and that’s a huge benefit for the promotion of kick boxing popularity. When the UFC go overseas the American kick boxing fighters get the most advantage to compete with best players of other countries and to identify their techniques and absorb it.
#2 Taiwan
Taiwan is an Asian country which trains many martial arts, and this country is famous for Muay Thai and kick boxing. Taiwan kick boxing culture is mixed with Muay Thai and they are known as the best knee and elbow attackers in the world because their main martial art is Muay Thai.
They have many Kick Boxing tournaments which are like UFC. The fighters are fighting for money and people put bets on them. The young generation in Taiwan is heavily trains martial arts not as a sport they train these martial arts as their profession. So many of the kick boxing fighters are in professional level and there are world class fighters too.
#3 Japan
Japan is famous for many martial arts as the home of the martial arts.
Kick boxing is also generated in Japan in 1950s. Japan was famous for karate in early days. By that time American boxing was more popular in the world.
So, the Japanese wanted to develop boxing and add something to it. When the Japanese develop this art this became a huge turning point in martial arts. After that this went all over the world.
Japanese fighters are in the top level in UFC also. When the Japanese fighters enter to the UFC tournaments they enter as kick boxing as their main art.
#4 China
Chinese have a martial art called Sanda which also known as Chinese kick boxing. This is Chinese official full contact combat sport.
This art is developed with kung fu and with modern combat arts. This art form is a military based combat art. There are lots of world class fighters from this kick boxing art and they are mostly participating in the tournaments named as K-1 and shoot boxing tournaments.
These tournaments are full contact tournaments and in some tournaments these fighters do not wear gloves and they fight with bare hands. Some Sanda kick boxing fighters had fought in the American UFC fights.
#5 Russia
Most popular martial art in Russia is Sambo. Sambo is also like Chinese Sanda. Sambo is consisting with kick boxing and judo. Sambo is also a full contact combat art. Sambo is mostly popular only with in Russia and because of that many Sambo fighters can be seen as kick boxing fighters in UFC tournaments. Sambo is also considered as a form of kick boxing art.
#6 Netherland
This is known as Dutch kick boxing in Netherlands. Unlike American kick boxing and Japanese kick boxing this art is influenced with three arts which are Kyokushin karate, Western boxing, and Muay Thai.
This kick boxing type differs from western kick boxing because it is not allowed to throw kicks below the waist.
In other countries they consider about the kicks more than the punches, but in Netherlands consider about the punches specially.
These Dutch kick boxing fighters are capable of throwing explosive punches to the opponents and they tend to finish the matches with full combinations of punches.
Dutch kick boxers follows Muay Thai high knee kicks during the training.
They use Muay Thai high knee kicks and elbow strikes in the tournaments to destroy other opponents. There are lots of skilled Dutch champions can be seen in UFC. Netherland Dutch kick boxing is promoting by the K-1 and glory world series. By these promotions this Dutch kick boxing was popular with the other countries also.
#7 Croatia
In Croatia also kick boxing is very popular as a sport. There are lots of kickboxing and boxing training centers around Croatia. Croatia there are top level kickboxing champions and most of the Croatian players are fighting in the world kickboxing championship tournaments.
There are inter university kickboxing championships also can be seen. Croatian kick boxers are mostly participated in the WAKO tournaments. WAKO means world association of kick boxing organizations. It is a European organization. Many of the Croatian kick boxers do kick boxing as a sport but not for money unlike other countries.
#8 Ireland
Irish martial arts are also popular in the world like Dutch martial arts. Ireland is a member of the WAKO (World Association of Kick boxing Organizations) There is an organization named as Kickboxing Ireland and this organization is built in order to make this sport popular, carry out the tournaments and spread kickboxing in all over the country. In Ireland there are world class champions from kick boxing. Here, in this country kick boxing is doing as Full Contact Kickboxing, Low Kick, K-1, Junior Kickboxing, and White-Collar Boxing according to the level of player.
#9 Germany
In Germany, they organize a world championship tournament named KOK World Series of Kickboxing and Mix Martial Arts. Kick boxing is a very popular martial art and many of the Germans are kick boxers. Many of the female champions are also can be seen in German.
#10 New Zealand
City kickboxing is a popular Mix Martial Arts training which is based inside the gyms in New Zealand. New Zealand is also a popular country for Kickboxing. By the city kickboxing many fighters were promoted for world class organizations such as UFC and ONE championship. In New Zealand, kickboxing is popular as a combat sport and also world class kick boxing champions can be seen in New Zealand.
Kick boxing and boxing are their main martial arts sports. New Zealand wants to promote kickboxing all over their country and build world class kickboxing champions who can compete with other European countries.