Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a combat style which is characterized by the use of kicks and punches. It’s an excellent way of improving general physical fitness, as well as being a popular combat sport.

There are several different match styles used in various parts of the world—different rule-sets are used in Japan, American and Europe. In American style kickboxing, for example, matches are three to 12 rounds, each lasting two or three minutes. European and Japanese style matches are five rounds long, each lasting three minutes. European kick boxing matches prohibit the use of elbows but prohibit the use of the knees, while American style matches prohibits both, and Japanese style matches allow both.

As with conventional boxing, four basic punching moves are used—the jab, the straight punch, the hook, and the uppercut. Other moves such as the back fist and the spinning back fist, as well as kicks such as the side kick, the hook kick and the roundhouse kick are unique to kickboxing. In styles which allow the use of the knees and elbows, further techniques are used, such as the straight knee thrust and the rising knee strike.

A kickboxing match is won or lost according to similar rules as conventional boxing. A knockout is achieved if a competitor is knocked to the ground for ten seconds, and a technical knockout if the referee determines that one opponent is too injured to fight. If neither of these situations occur, the winner is decided on the basis of points awarded by judges.