Kickboxing Rules

Kickboxing has differed very little from its parent art of Muay Thai. The rules are very similar in both sports, such as the incorporation of Clinch fighting. However, in the United States this is disallowed under the rules. The USA kickboxing style allows only striking with the hands or feet and sometimes the shins, but this is no common practice. Some have suggested that American freestyle kickboxing is more a combination of Karate and western boxing rather than comparable to traditional Muay Thai.

However the , punches and kicks in American  kickboxing come directly from Tatsuo Yamada's and Osamu Naguchi's theoretical framework. This is evident in techniques such as the uppercut, hook and the roundhouse kick. In mixed martial arts (MMA), the usage of kickboxing is omnipresent with fighters such as Chuck Liddell representing the style effectively.

1. FULL CONTACT

Full Contact kickboxing rules alows strikes above the shorts. Also the use of approved gloves, foot protection and shin guards are also compulsary. The judjing, there is a  counting of the kicks for each of the fighters taking part. Eight kicks are compulsary per rounds designated kicking rate A knockdown or standing eight second count, is counted as a kick for both fighters. There is a half point penalty for each kick that is missed and disqualification for failing to meet the designated kicking rate in any two rounds for any match of six rounds or less. In fights in 7-11 rounds failing the designated kicking rate in any three rounds means disqualification. For a twelve round fight, if the designated kicking rate is not fulfilled in any 4 rounds, the fighter is disqualified..the kickboxing rounds are two minutes long with a one minute breaks.

2. FREE STYLE RULES

Free style Kickboxing rules are the same as  Full Contact format with the exeption of the following :

a). the roundhouse kicks are not disallowed to the legs above the knee
b). No limited kicking requirement
c). Foot and shin proectionis are optional for qualified fighters
d). If protection is worn it must be worn by both fighterse
e). Muay Thai style shorts usually should be worn
f). sweeps are allowed to the inside or outside of the front or back leg

3. ORIENTAL RULES

Japanese rules of kickboxing follow the above with the exeption of the listed below:

a).One can strike with the roundhouse kick to any part of the leg with the exception of the knee
b). No padding is allowed
c). shorts are compulsary
d). knee strikes are allowed to the body
e). basic clinch work is acceptable
f). rounds are 3 minutes in length
g). title fights are usually 8 rounds

4.MUAY  THAI STYLE RULES

Thai rules follow the japanesel rules except for the following:

a). knees may are allowed to the head
b). all strikes are permitted eg elbow strikes which are practiced in muay thai training
c). hook kicks and spinning hook kicks may be used to the legal targets on the legs
d). world class fights are five rounds in duration