Kick Boxing

My Name is Jake Thornton and on this page I will be talking about my favourite hobby: Kick Boxing

Kick Boxing Overview

Kick Boxing is a catch all term that encapsulates a wide variety of similar martial arts from several different areas of the world. Kick boxing today is a contact sport consisting of at the minimum martial arts kicks coupled with traditional boxing hand techniques. Commonly only the hands and feet are used, However some systems allow the use of both knees and elbows in addition.

There are several different variations of kickboxing rules that are used in competition each with different amounts of contact and scoring systems. The three main varieties are Semi, Light and Full Contact. The primary ones that I have experience with are Semi contact and Light Contact Continuous. I will be going into more detail on all three different systems on this page.

Semi Contact

Semi-Contact kickboxing is a style of kickboxing that focuses primarily on the scoring of more points than ones opponent. Points can only be scored by the application of properly controlled and precise technique. Points are awarded to the first fighter to land a technique. The fighters then reset to their start positions. Depending on the location hit and the technique used different amounts of points are scored. The precise amounts vary depending on the governing body running the competition. Typically points are awarded as below:

One Point: Any hand technique and any kicks to the body
Two Points: Kick to the head
Three Points: Jumping Kick (any location)
Four Points: Jumping Spin Kick (any location)
Five Points: Jumping Spin Kick (head)

Semi Contact rounds typically last between ninety seconds and two minutes with the possibility of extensions if the scores are tied. There are also three referees per fight. One head referee and two additional observers. Competitors in semi contact usually wear t-shirts and trousers. They also use various protective equipment such as:

Headguard
Gumshield
Gloves (usually covering the fingers but with open palms)
Shin Pads
Foot pads

Below is a video of two people I train with fighting under semi-contact rules at a recent competition:

Light Contact Continuous

In Light contact continuous (usually referred to as just continuous) the rules are similar to those in semi contact. Emphasis is still placed control and correct technique over ferocity. The primary difference between semi contact and continuous is the format of fights. Where as in semi contact fighters pause and reset between points in continuous (as the name suggests) there are no pauses. Rounds last up to two minutes and are only paused on the referees decision. Points are awarded similarly to semi contact as shown below:

One Point: Any hand technique and any kicks to the body
Two Points: Kick to the head
Three Points: Jumping Kick (any location)
Four Points: Jumping Spin Kick (any location)
Five Points: Jumping Spin Kick (head)

Continuous fighters wear similar clothing and use similar equipment to semi contact fighters as shown below:

Headguard
Gumshield
10oz Boxing Gloves (often with hand wraps to provide wrist support)
Shin Pads
Foot pads

Below is another video, this time of a fight under continuous rules:

Full Contact

Finally we have full contact kickboxing. Much like traditional boxing full contact kick boxing lasts a set number of two minute rounds or until the fight is stopped by either a knockout (ko) or referees decision. Full contact fighters (at least male ones!) usually compete bare chested and wearing shorts or, as in the video below, trousers. In most competitions protective equipment is limited to just:

Gumshield
10oz Boxing Gloves (often with hand wraps to provide wrist support)

Below is a video of a full contact fight:

And Finally, What not to do: