World Association of Kickboxing Organizations

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World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
AbbreviationWAKO
Formation1977
Type Federation of national associations
Legal statusActive (as per Swiss Law as founded in Zurich on 6 February 1988)
PurposeGlobal Development and governance of the sport of Kickboxing
Headquarters Monza, Italy
Region served
Worldwide
MembershipNational association[ clarification needed ]
Official language
English
Affiliations SportAccord
WADA
International World Games Association
Website wako.sport
RemarksWAKO was established as "World All Style Karate Organization"

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W.A.K.O or WAKO) is an international kickboxing organization counting over 120 affiliated countries representing all five continents. [1] WAKO is a major governing body of amateur kickboxing and is responsible for the development of kickboxing worldwide. The organization was officially recognized as an official kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord. [2] WAKO is recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). [3] [4]

Contents

History

In 1977, WAKO was founded in Europe [1] and formulated the rules and regulations acting as the Kickboxing Federation of the World. [5] It was founded by American Kickboxing promoter Mike Anderson, and his friend, German Kickboxing promoter Georg Brueckner. WAKO was officially registered in Zurich, Switzerland and become the largest unified kickboxing organization in the world.[ citation needed ] In 2006, the International Amateur Kickboxing Sports Association (I.A.K.S.A) and WAKO merged under the umbrella of WAKO, making its acceptance possible by the General Association of International Sports Federations (G.A.I.S.F) as the governing body for the sport of Kickboxing. [6] WAKO offers 7 different styles: Points Fighting, light-contact, full-contact, kick-light, low-kick, K1-style, and musical forms. Today WAKO can count on 126 affiliated nations in the five continents, with 95 officially recognized by their respective Sports or Olympic Council.[ citation needed ]

WAKO became a member of Sport Accord and was officially recognized as the official Kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord, [2] Olympic Council of Asia, WADA and the International World Games Association. Kickboxing is included in World Combat Games, Asian Indoor Games, and the Martial Arts Games (promoted by OCA) in the 2017 International World Games. WAKO has five continental divisions functioning under the auspices of the WAKO International Federation which are WAKO Europe, WAKO Pan America, WAKO Asia, WAKO Oceania and WAKO Africa. WAKO hosts its ordinary General Assemblies in Antalya, Turkey. [7]

In 1991, WAKO PRO was officially established during a WAKO Board meeting in Spain. After a their career as amateurs in the organization, fighters were now able to continue as professional fighters in WAKO Pro. [8]

Olympic recognition

On the 20th of July 2021, the International Olympic Committee officially recognised kickboxing as an Olympic sport, and recognised WAKO as the world governing body for the sport. [9] [3] [4]

Styles

WAKO supports 7 different styles, four on the tatami and three in the ring. [10]

Tatami sports

Musical form

A musical form is a staged or imaginary fight against one or more opponents in which the performer uses techniques from Oriental Martial Arts to personally selected music.

Point fighting

Also known as semi-contact, point fighting is a discipline where two contestants fight with the primary goal of scoring defined points. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Striking is allowed only above the waist.
  • Foot sweeps are allowed.
  • Elbows and knees are forbidden.
  • Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.

Light contact

In the past, light contact was seen as an intermediate stage between semi contact and full contact kickboxing. Modern Light Contact has evolved into its own unique style of fast and dynamic continuous kickboxing. Unlike Point Fighting, athletes will fight continuously amassing scores over 3x2 minute rounds. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Striking is permitted above the waist and below ankle/mid-calf.
  • Foot sweeps are allowed.
  • Elbows and knees are forbidden.
  • Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.

Kick-light

Kick-light is an intermediate stage between semi-kick and low-kick kickboxing. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Kicks striking the thigh (only from outside to inside and vice versa) are permitted. [11]
  • Foot sweeps are allowed.
  • Elbows and knees are forbidden.
  • Clinch fighting and throws forbidden.

Ring sports

Full contact

Full contact is a discipline of kickboxing where the intention is to mimic the pressure felt during a real fight.

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks, striking above the waist and below the ankle/mid-calf.
  • Foot sweeps are allowed.
  • Elbows and knees are forbidden.
  • Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.

Low-kick

In low-kick Kickboxing, there is the possibility of attacking the opponent's legs with clean kicks.

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks, striking the thigh (only from outside to inside and vice versa) which can be attacked using the shin.
  • Foot sweeps are allowed.
  • Elbows and knees are forbidden.
  • Clinch fighting and throws forbidden.

K1-style

  • Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches, knees and kicks. Legs and any other part of the body can be attacked using the shin.
  • Foot sweeps are forbidden.
  • Elbows are forbidden.
  • Throws are forbidden.
  • Clinching must be less than 5 seconds. Kickboxers are allowed to hold the opponent's neck with both hands in order to attack only with the knee and are only allowed one knee strike per clinch.

Competitions

WAKO holds a world championship every two years, with youth (18 and under) and adult (18–45) championships in separate years; only national teams are accepted. Each member country can present only one competitor in each weight class. Competitors are commonly the national champion of their weight class in that particular Kickboxing style and many are also officially recognized by their National Olympic Committees or Ministry of Sports.

WAKO Kickboxing was one of thirteen combat sports participating in the first Combat Games being held in Beijing, China under the patronage of the IOC and SportAccord. WAKO participated in the World Combat Games in St. Petersburg, Russia in September 2013, under the patronage of the IOC and SportAccord. There were three styles at the Combat Games: Low Kick, Points Fighting (formally called Semi Contact), and Full Contact.

Muay Thai World Champions

The list includes Wako Pro Muay Thai world champions. (title defenses are not included). [12]

Super Heavyweight

Cruiser Weight

Heavyweight

Light Cruiserweight

Light Heavyweight

Super Middleweight

Middleweight

Light Middleweight

Super Welterweight

Welterweight

Light Welterweight

Super Lightweight

Lightweight

Bantamweight

Flyweight

Full Contact World Champions

The list includes full contact world title holders. (title defenses are not included). [12]

Super Heavyweight

Cruiserweight

Heavyweight

Light Cruiser Weight

Light Heavyweight

Super Middleweight

Middleweight

Light Middleweight

Super Welterweight

Welterweight

Light Welterweight

Super Lightweight

Lightweight

Featherweight

Bantamweight

Flyweight

Atomweight

Women's Cruiser Heavyweight

Women’s Heavyweight

Women's Light Heavyweight

Originally billed as the super welterweight title (68kg). Division later renamed light heavyweight

Women’s Middleweight

Women’s Super Welterweight

Women’s Welterweight

Billed as the super lightweight title (62kg) until 2017-05.

Women’s Lightweight

Women’s Super Featherweight

Women Featherweight

Women’s Super Bantamweight

Women’s Bantamweight

Women’s Super Flyweight

Women’s Flyweight

Sponsors

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations on Monza, February 6, 2020, signed contracts with two sponsors for the next four years concerning its protecting equipment and clothing. The winning proposal came from Top Ten and Adidas Kickboxing, two worldwide brands within the sports market. [13] [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Geoff Berkeley (13 June 2021). "World Associations of Kickboxing Organizations to elect new International Women's Committee chairperson". Inside the Games.
  2. 1 2 Abhishek Arora (23 July 2022). "First-ever WAKO Indian Open International Kickboxing Tournament slated to begin on 10th February in capital". Sportskeeda .
  3. 1 2 Jackson Rudolph (31 July 2021). WAKO Fully Recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Black Belt Magazine.
  4. 1 2 Geoff Berkeley (13 June 2021). WAKO toasts "historic day" after gaining IOC recommendation for full recognition. Inside the Games.
  5. ↑ "About W.A.K.O". Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  6. ↑ "SportAccord Members".
  7. ↑ Daniel Etchells (27 November 2019). World Association of Kickboxing Organizations changes statutes and elects new Board. Inside the Games.
  8. ↑ The history of WAKO PRO: Where, when and why? (Part 1). BOEC.com. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ↑ IOC session accepted WAKO application for Full Recognition
  10. ↑ "WAKO rules and regulations". Archived from the original on 2016-11-19. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  11. ↑ "WAKO Rules" (PDF). December 11, 2020.
  12. 1 2 "WAKO title histories". TitleHistories.com. TitleHistories. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Wako - World Association of Kickboxing Organizations". Wako - World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  14. ↑ "Adidas kickboxing", Wikipedia, 2022-12-21, retrieved 2022-12-21
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