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Focus | Striking |
---|---|
Hardness | Full-contact |
Famous practitioners | see list of female kickboxers |
Parenthood | Karate, Muay Thai, Boxing |
Descendant arts | Shoot boxing |
Women have participated in kickboxing since the 1960s in Thailand. [1] But there has been a superstition and prejudice women have often being prevented from participating in the major tournaments in Thailand. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The World’s Muay Thai Angels is one of the first organisations to be a place for women to participate in and the first tournament was won by Chommanee Sor Taehiran. [6] [7]
Women's kickboxing in Australia has a small but devoted following. In the 1970s women in the United States took up kickboxing as they were prevented from taking part in women's boxing. [8] In the UK kickboxing has a growing following according to the WMC. [9]
In May 2016 the kickboxing organisation Glory announced the creation of a women's division built around Tiffany van Soest. [10]
In 2021 the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium finally allowed women to compete in Muay Thai. [11] [12] [13]
In Stieg Larsson's book The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006) and its film adaptation, Lisbeth Salander, her friend and lover Miriam Wu, and their friend Paolo are kickboxers. Lisbeth adopted her kickboxing ringname, "The Wasp", as her hacker handle and has a wasp tattoo on her neck.
Kickboxing is a full-contact hybrid martial art and boxing type based on punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. 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: full contact karate, Muay Thai, Japanese kickboxing, Lethwei, Sanda, and Savate.
John Wayne "The Gunslinger" Parr, also known as JWP, is a retired Australian Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Boonchu Gym in Gold Coast, Queensland. He is a former 10-times World Champion and was the runner up on The Contender Asia.
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer who is currently signed to ONE Championship. Sitthichai is a former Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight Champion and Glory Lightweight Champion. Combat Press ranks him as the #3 lightweight kickboxer in the world. As of October 27, 2022, he is ranked #3 in the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing rankings, and as of March 6, 2023, he is ranked #2 in the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai rankings.
Antoine Pinto, also known as Antoine Siangboxing, is a French former Muay Thai kickboxer who trains in Thailand.
Pajonsuk is a Thai middleweight Muay Thai-kickboxer fighting out of Superpro Samui in Koh Samui, Thailand. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium and three-time world Muay Thai champion. As well as fighting in Muay Thai and kickboxing, Pajonsuk has also pursued an amateur boxing career, most recently participating in the 2008 Olympic Games representing Thailand.
Women's kickboxing in Australia is not popular when compared to men's participation in the sport. Women have faced legal challenges in participating in New South Wales, which outlawed their participation in the ring. The sport has been embraced by Muslim women, who can be fully clothed while participating.
Zaza Sor. Aree, real name Angsana Kamhanphol, born on October 2, 1993 is a Thai kickboxer. She is the former women's flyweight world champion of the World Professional Muaythai Federation (WPMF). Zaza is also a popular actress and singer in her native country.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, born Wacharit Chuabram, is a Muay Thai fighter from Thailand who currently competes in ONE Championship. He is a former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion and ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion. He formerly trained and taught at Evolve MMA in Singapore. As of 1 August 2020, he is ranked the #6 strawweight in the world by Combat Press.
Eakpracha Meenayothin is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer. He is a former WMC and Lumpinee Stadium champion. He is also two times Toyota Vigo Marathon Tournament Champion.
Pakorn P.K. Saenchai Muaythaigym is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer, originally from the Phra Samut Chedi District, but now fighting out of Bangkok, Thailand. Pakorn is a former 135 lbs. Lumpinee Stadium champion and 65 kg Yokkao champion. He is the former 115 lbs Rajadamnern Stadium champion and is currently ranked nr. 1 at 135bs. He holds wins over fighters such as Sagetdao Petpayathai, Jomthong Chuwattana, Nong-O Kaiyanghadaogym, Pornsanae Sitmonchai and Kongsak Sitboonmee.
Petchmorakot Petchyindee, formerly known as Phetmorakot Wor Sangprapai, is a Thai retired Muay Thai kickboxer, originally from the Ubon Ratchathani province, Northeast of Thailand, but now fighting out of Bangkok. Phetmorakot's brand of Muay Thai is distinguished by his slicing elbows and devastating knees.
Panpayak Jitmuangnon is a Thai Muay Thai fighter, originally from the Samut Prakarn, but now fighting out of Bangkok, Thailand. He is the former Lumpinee Stadium featherweight and bantamweight champion and former Rajadamnern light flyweight and Rajadamnern mini flyweight champion. Panpayak holds wins over fighters such as Sam-A Kaiyanghadaogym, Prajanchai P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym, Wanchalong PKSaenchaimuaythaigym, Jomhod Sakami and Aikmongkol Gaiyanghadaogym.
Chommanee Sor Taehiran is a Thai female Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight division in kickboxing and the flyweight division in MMA.
Paweł Jędrzejczyk is a Polish welterweight kickboxer and Muay Thai kickboxer. He is four time World Kickboxing Network Champion and one time World Kickboxing Association World Champion. He is first Polish fighter contracted by Glory.
Ognjen Topić is a Bosnian-born Serbian American Muay Thai kickboxer. He holds several Muay Thai world titles and has fought some of the sport's top competitors.
Jimmy Vienot is a French Muay Thai kickboxer who is the reigning SUPERKOMBAT World Middleweight Champion. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium and Arena Fight champion.
Youssef Boughanem is a Moroccan-Belgian Muay Thai and kickboxer, who has held WKN super welterweight Muay Thai title. He is also a former Lumpinee Stadium, Rajadamnern Stadium and WBC Muay Thai World Middleweight Champion. Boughanem currently trains out of the Petchsaman Gym in Thailand.
Samkor Kiatmontep, also known as Samkor Chor.Rathchatasupak is a Thai former Muay Thai kickboxer. He is a three-division Lumpinee Stadium champion who was especially known for his devastating left kicks.
Cindy Silvestre is a French kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter who has been professionally competing since 2015.