Weight class

Last updated

Weight classes are divisions of competition used to match competitors against others of their own size. Weight classes are used in a variety of sports including rowing, weight lifting, and especially combat sports [1] (such as boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and wrestling). Alternatives to formal weight classes include catch weight and openweight.

Contents

The existence of weight divisions gives rise to the practice of weight cutting. To be the largest individual in a weight division is perceived as advantageous; therefore many athletes lose weight through dieting and dehydration prior to weigh-ins to qualify for a lower weight class. [2]

Comparison

Below are selected maximum weight limits, for the major classes in different sports.

DivisionsBoxing (kg)MMA (kg)Kickboxing (kg) (ONE)BJJ (kg)
Light heavyweight 79.493.0102.188.3
Middleweight 72.683.99382.3
Welterweight 66.777.183.9
Lightweight 61.270.377.176
Featherweight 57.265.870.370
Bantamweight 53.561.265.857.5
Flyweight 50.856.761.2

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kickboxing</span> Stand-up combat sports

Kickboxing is a full-contact combat sport and a form of boxing based on punching and kicking. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouth guards, shorts, and bare feet to favor the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general fitness, or for competition. Some styles of kickboxing include: Karate, Muay Thai, Japanese kickboxing, Yaw-Yan, Sanda, and Savate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pankration</span> Martial art in ancient Greek festivals

Pankration was an unarmed combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. The athletes used boxing and wrestling techniques but also others, such as kicking, holds, joint-locks, and chokes on the ground, making it similar to modern mixed martial arts. The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], meaning 'all of power', from πᾶν (pan) 'all' and κράτος (kratos) 'strength, might, power'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixed martial arts</span> Full-contact combat sport

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC 1 by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanda (sport)</span> Chinese self-defense system and combat sport

Sanda, formerly Sanshou, also known as Chinese boxing or Chinese kickboxing, is the official Chinese kickboxing full-contact combat sport. Sanda is a fighting system which was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon the study and practices of traditional kung fu and modern combat fighting techniques; it combines boxing and full-contact kickboxing, which includes close range and rapid successive punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps, kick catches, and in some competitions, even elbow and knee strikes.

Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

Pound for pound is a ranking used in combat sports, such as boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts, of who the better fighters are irrespective of their weight, i.e. adjusted to compensate for weight class. As these fighters do not compete directly, judging the best fighter pound for pound is subjective, and ratings vary. They may be based on a range of criteria including "quality of opposition" and factors such as how exciting the fighter is or how famous they are, or be an attempt to determine who would win if all those ranked were the same size.

A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the opponent, or attacking the opponent in a specific or designated technique. Combat sports share a long pedigree with the martial arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Lewis (martial artist)</span> American martial artist and actor (1944–2012)

Joseph Henry Lewis was an American martial artist, actor, karateka, and kickboxer. As a fighter, Lewis gained fame for his matches in the 1960s and 1970s, and was nicknamed "the Muhammad Ali of karate." He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, having won innumerable karate tournaments, and has attained the titles of "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion," "World Heavyweight Full Contact Karate Champion," and "United States National Black Belt Kata Champion."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Championship belt</span> Large belt used to signify a champion

A championship belt is a large, extravagantly designed belt used primarily in combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, and professional wrestling to signify the champions of the promotion or company, much like a cup or trophy in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts.

Kickboxing weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of kickboxing.

An interim championship is an alternate title that is awarded by the sanctioning bodies of professional boxing, and in other combat sports such as kickboxing, professional wrestling, and mixed martial arts.

The welterweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixed martial arts weight classes</span> Mixed martial arts competition weight classes

Mixed martial arts weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of mixed martial arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Kickboxing Association</span> The governing body of sport kickboxing

The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association, is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and Karate.

In certain sports, when a sportsman wins three crowns, titles, medals, belts or other distinctions, the athlete is called a triple champion.

In taekwondo, a weight class is a standardized weight range for taekwondo practitioners. The upper weight limit for each class is the maxiumum weight for that class. The minimum weight for each class must be above the maximum weight for the next lowest class. A taekwondo gyeorugi is usually scheduled for a fixed weight class, and each practitioner's weight must exceed the lower limit, and must not exceed the upper limit.

The traditional martial arts of the Mainland Southeast Asia are related to one another, and as a group to Indian martial arts. The most salient common feature is Mainland Southeast Asia kickboxing. The region of Mainland Southeast Asia is believed to be the land of Suvarnabhumi that ancient Indians mentioned in Buddhist text and Hindu text. In 790 A.D., a Khmer prince who grew up abroad by the name of Jayavarman II returned to unify the Khmer civilization. In 802 A.D., Jayavarman II established the Khmer Empire, the precursor to modern Cambodia, and declared himself the Chakravatin. Around 850 A.D., Pagan, the ancestor of modern-day Burma, was established by Tibeto-Burman speakers. For 200 years, Pagan remained a small principality until the reign of King Anawrahta. In 1238 A.D., Thailand's first state, Sukhothai, was started when the residents declared independence from the Khmer Empire. In 1353 A.D., Laos's first state, Lan Xang, was started by Fa Ngum with the assistance of the Khmer from Angkor.

Final Fight Championship (FFC) is an international fighting sports promotion company founded in 2003 by the FFC owner and CEO Orsat Zovko. The company has its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, as well as a European office in Zagreb, Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kūdō</span> Japanese martial art

Kūdō is a Japanese hybrid martial art. It is a full-contact combat sport that aims to achieve both safety and practicality, a style of mixed martial arts practised with headgear and gloves. It features stand-up striking, with throwing and grappling techniques being also allowed in the competition, including restraint, locks and chokeholds.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and vary according to the organisations.

References

  1. Bagchi, Debasis; Sreejayan, Nair; Sen, Chandan K. (26 July 2013). Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance: Muscle Building, Endurance, and Strength. Academic Press. ISBN   978-0-12-396477-9 via Google Books.
  2. Peveler, Will (14 July 2021). Strength and Conditioning for Mixed Martial Arts: A Practical Guide for the Busy Athlete. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-5381-3955-4 via Google Books.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Weight classes at Wikimedia Commons