WAKO was established as "World All Style Karate Organization"
TheWorld Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W.A.K.O orWAKO) is an internationalkickboxing 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 bySport Accord.[2] WAKO is recognized by theGlobal Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC).[3][4]
WAKO became a member ofSport 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 inWorld Combat Games,Asian Indoor Games, and the Martial Arts Games (promoted by OCA) in the2017 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 inAntalya, 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]
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.
Also known assemi-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.
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.
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]
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.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other withpunches,knees andkicks. Legs and any other part of the body can be attacked using theshin.
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.
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 theirNational Olympic Committees orMinistry 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.
Tony Palmore - 1978, Wins the gold medal at WAKO World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Tom Rissman in the final, and is also billed as the world heavyweight champion in professional matches; also defeats PKA champion Demetrius Edwards on 80-10-16 in Miami, FL, USA in what is billed as a match to crown the "undisputed" champion
Billed as the super lightweight title (62kg) until 2017-05.
Julya Kiblawi - 2004-04-29 Welterweight title with 64kg limit; still champion as of 05-06-07; the 64kg division retired in sometime before 06-05-02; welterweight division (66kg) is listed as vacant as of 06-05-02 and 07-06-18.
Sanja Stunja - 2005 Super lightweight champion (62kg); still champion as of 07-09-15.
Julia Irmen- 2009 Defeats Barbara Seweryn.
Olja Žerajić - 2010 62kg division renamed welterweight in 2017.
The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations onMonza, 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 andAdidas Kickboxing, two worldwide brands within the sports market.[13][14]
