| K-1 Kickboxing |
K-1 is a combat sport that combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate,
Taekwondo, Savate, San shou, Kickboxing, traditional Boxing, and other martial arts to
determine the single best stand-up fighter in the world.
The K-1 organization's governing body is Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). They
organize a variety of fightsport events in Japan and around the world, including K-1's sister
mixed martial arts promotion, Dream. There are K-1 Regional Elimination Tournaments which
qualify fighters for the K-1 World Grand Prix, along with licensed K-1 Fighting Network events
designed to develop new talent internationally and there is also a 70.5kg (155lb) Super
Middleweight division called K-1 MAX ("Middleweight Artistic Xtreme"). In 2007, K-1 introduced a
two new Title belts separate from K-1 World GP Champions, Super Heavyweight World Title for
fighters over 100kg/220lbs and Heavyweight World Title for fighters under 100kg/156-220lbs.
The sport was formed by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin karate practitioner who had
formed his own organization, Seidokaikan Karate in 1980. Seidokaikan arranged several
successful challenge events against other martial arts organizations, originally using rules based
on the Kyokushin Knockdown karate rules, but gradually adapting and changing closer to
kickboxing rules. In 1993 Mr. Ishii founded the K-1 organization exclusively as a kickboxing
organization, closely cooperating with, but independent from Seidokaikan.
Tactics
The principal objective of K-1 is to win either by a knockout or by a split or unanimous decision.
Victories are usually achieved by kicks to the legs, head or midsection or using traditional boxing
punches, such as the jabs, hooks or uppercuts.
Classic defensive boxing stance is rather ineffective against leg kicks, and fighters are more or
less forced to constantly move and counterattack. The traditional clinch, often used in boxing is
not allowed which has lead to a very high K.O. ratio in the K-1, since the fighers in other
stand-up fighting sports often use the clinch to gain time to recover if they have been hit.
Clinching is also a big part of traditional thaiboxing and the lack of this is basically the biggest
difference between thaiboxing and the K-1 rule-system. If you grab an opponent with the intent
of using a knee-technique you have to let go after one single blow. In thaiboxing, the fighters
often hold on to each other to continuously use their knees and elbows.
Due to the combination of rules and techniques that are allowed and not, the common low kick
has time and again proven itself to be one of the most efficient techniques in the K-1 fighter
arsenal. Even world class boxers have many times become completely pacified during their
attempts to enter the K-1 fighting circuit successfully due to the extreme damage a low kick can
deliver to the leg. Some of the best low kick performers in the world are found in several classic
full contact karate styles, such as kyokushin and seidokan karate, the latter from which the K-1
originates. This has also lead to great success within the K-1 among fighters with traditional
karate background, Andy Hug being the first K-1 fighter with a karate background to win the K-1
and 3-year consecutive champion Semmy Schilt also comes from a full contact karate style
known as Ashihara where low kicks are prioritized as technique in competitions. However the
biggest success belongs to muay thai fighters which is proven by names of K-1 champions
Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky, Buakaw Por.Promuk. Kickboxing is also a common combat style
in K-1. Some famous kickboxers include, Masato, Peter Aerts and Yoshihiro Sato.
The rules themselves are constantly adapting and changing to create a competition which allows
for participants of different styles to fight in a fairer manner, although these rules accommodate
kickboxing rules as the main basis.
K-1 Rules
Each match is three or five rounds in duration, with each round lasting three minutes.
The match can end by Knockout, Technical Knockout, Decision, Disqualification, Draw or No
Contest.
Both the referee and the ring doctor have full authority to stop the fight.
The fight is scored by three judges on a ten-point must system (The winner of each round
receives ten points, and the loser receives nine or less. If the round is even, both competitors
receive ten points).
If there is a draw after three rounds, the judges' scores are thrown out and one or two extra
three-minute rounds are contested. The judges' decision will then come from the scoring of each
extra round only. If, after the extra round(s), there is still a draw, the judges will decide a winner
based on the flow of the entire match, considering even the slightest difference. A fight can only
end in a draw if both fighters go down at the same time and cannot get up, or in the case of
accidental injury in the late stages of the contest.
The three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical
knockout).
The mandatory eight count is in effect (the referee must count to at least "eight" on all
knockdowns).
The standing eight count is in effect (the referee has the right to declare a knockdown on a
fighter who appears to be in a dangerous condition to continue in the match).
A fighter can be saved by the bell only in the last round.
In K-1 single elimination tournament matches:
Each match is three rounds in duration.
The three-knockdown rule becomes a two-knockdown rule for all matches except the final.
One or two reserve fights are held prior to the single elimination matches. If for any reason a
fighter who wins and advances through the brackets is unable to continue, a reserve match
competitor, or the fighter's opponent from the most recent match, takes his place. There are
certain exceptions to this rule (i.e. a fighter who lost a match by knockout might not be eligible to
replace another fighter).
For instruction call me at (416)-419-4990 or click here to send me e-mail.
Taekwondo, Savate, San shou, Kickboxing, traditional Boxing, and other martial arts to
determine the single best stand-up fighter in the world.
The K-1 organization's governing body is Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). They
organize a variety of fightsport events in Japan and around the world, including K-1's sister
mixed martial arts promotion, Dream. There are K-1 Regional Elimination Tournaments which
qualify fighters for the K-1 World Grand Prix, along with licensed K-1 Fighting Network events
designed to develop new talent internationally and there is also a 70.5kg (155lb) Super
Middleweight division called K-1 MAX ("Middleweight Artistic Xtreme"). In 2007, K-1 introduced a
two new Title belts separate from K-1 World GP Champions, Super Heavyweight World Title for
fighters over 100kg/220lbs and Heavyweight World Title for fighters under 100kg/156-220lbs.
The sport was formed by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin karate practitioner who had
formed his own organization, Seidokaikan Karate in 1980. Seidokaikan arranged several
successful challenge events against other martial arts organizations, originally using rules based
on the Kyokushin Knockdown karate rules, but gradually adapting and changing closer to
kickboxing rules. In 1993 Mr. Ishii founded the K-1 organization exclusively as a kickboxing
organization, closely cooperating with, but independent from Seidokaikan.
Tactics
The principal objective of K-1 is to win either by a knockout or by a split or unanimous decision.
Victories are usually achieved by kicks to the legs, head or midsection or using traditional boxing
punches, such as the jabs, hooks or uppercuts.
Classic defensive boxing stance is rather ineffective against leg kicks, and fighters are more or
less forced to constantly move and counterattack. The traditional clinch, often used in boxing is
not allowed which has lead to a very high K.O. ratio in the K-1, since the fighers in other
stand-up fighting sports often use the clinch to gain time to recover if they have been hit.
Clinching is also a big part of traditional thaiboxing and the lack of this is basically the biggest
difference between thaiboxing and the K-1 rule-system. If you grab an opponent with the intent
of using a knee-technique you have to let go after one single blow. In thaiboxing, the fighters
often hold on to each other to continuously use their knees and elbows.
Due to the combination of rules and techniques that are allowed and not, the common low kick
has time and again proven itself to be one of the most efficient techniques in the K-1 fighter
arsenal. Even world class boxers have many times become completely pacified during their
attempts to enter the K-1 fighting circuit successfully due to the extreme damage a low kick can
deliver to the leg. Some of the best low kick performers in the world are found in several classic
full contact karate styles, such as kyokushin and seidokan karate, the latter from which the K-1
originates. This has also lead to great success within the K-1 among fighters with traditional
karate background, Andy Hug being the first K-1 fighter with a karate background to win the K-1
and 3-year consecutive champion Semmy Schilt also comes from a full contact karate style
known as Ashihara where low kicks are prioritized as technique in competitions. However the
biggest success belongs to muay thai fighters which is proven by names of K-1 champions
Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky, Buakaw Por.Promuk. Kickboxing is also a common combat style
in K-1. Some famous kickboxers include, Masato, Peter Aerts and Yoshihiro Sato.
The rules themselves are constantly adapting and changing to create a competition which allows
for participants of different styles to fight in a fairer manner, although these rules accommodate
kickboxing rules as the main basis.
K-1 Rules
Each match is three or five rounds in duration, with each round lasting three minutes.
The match can end by Knockout, Technical Knockout, Decision, Disqualification, Draw or No
Contest.
Both the referee and the ring doctor have full authority to stop the fight.
The fight is scored by three judges on a ten-point must system (The winner of each round
receives ten points, and the loser receives nine or less. If the round is even, both competitors
receive ten points).
If there is a draw after three rounds, the judges' scores are thrown out and one or two extra
three-minute rounds are contested. The judges' decision will then come from the scoring of each
extra round only. If, after the extra round(s), there is still a draw, the judges will decide a winner
based on the flow of the entire match, considering even the slightest difference. A fight can only
end in a draw if both fighters go down at the same time and cannot get up, or in the case of
accidental injury in the late stages of the contest.
The three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical
knockout).
The mandatory eight count is in effect (the referee must count to at least "eight" on all
knockdowns).
The standing eight count is in effect (the referee has the right to declare a knockdown on a
fighter who appears to be in a dangerous condition to continue in the match).
A fighter can be saved by the bell only in the last round.
In K-1 single elimination tournament matches:
Each match is three rounds in duration.
The three-knockdown rule becomes a two-knockdown rule for all matches except the final.
One or two reserve fights are held prior to the single elimination matches. If for any reason a
fighter who wins and advances through the brackets is unable to continue, a reserve match
competitor, or the fighter's opponent from the most recent match, takes his place. There are
certain exceptions to this rule (i.e. a fighter who lost a match by knockout might not be eligible to
replace another fighter).
For instruction call me at (416)-419-4990 or click here to send me e-mail.