Fighting Styles
About Kickboxing styles
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) - Knees and elbows can be used in addition to punches, kicks and throws. Bouts consist of two, three or five rounds of 2-3 minutes. Standing clinching is used to put the opponent off balance or to execute knee and elbow strikes.
American - Considered to be the least robust of the full contact codes, the striking area is above the waist only (akin to Western boxing). The back-fist may also be used in addition to kicks and punches. The use of knees, elbows and throws are illegal. Six / Eight kicks per round must be thrown to avoid points deduction. Duration of bouts: 2 x 2 minutes, up to 12 x 2 minutes. Pads are worn on the shin and the instep.
Freestyle - Kicks are permitted to any part of the body, except the groin and the lower leg. Throws may also be allowed where stipulated. Instep pads are sometimes permitted. Bouts are comprised of 2-3 rounds (N/C class) and 5-12 rounds (B/A class).
Savate - Developed in France during the 19th Century, it is now becoming one of the worlds premier ring sports. Savatuers wear a one piece tunic, 10oz gloves with wrist protection and boots similar to those worn by wrestlers. Bouts are 2-5 rounds of 1-2 minutes each, kicks score more points than punches.
San Shou (Chinese Kick Boxing) - Most competitions are on a raised platform called Leitai with the fighters wearing protective gear. They are allowed predominantly to punch, kick and throw. This can sometimes be called Amateur San shou. A competition held in China, called the "King of Sanda", is held in a ring similar to a boxing ring in design but larger in dimension. They wear no protective gear except for gloves and are allowed to use knee strikes as well as kicking, punching and throwing.
MMA - Mixed Martial Arts - Currently the most popular fighting style of the present day. This involves the above styles of stand-up fighting combined with judo and wrestling takedowns plus ground work and submissions from Brazilian Jujitsu, Sombo and Submission Wrestling. There are various MMA styles: Vale Tudo, Pancrase and Shootfighting are a few. The rise in popularity is thanks to the UFC and a certain fighting family called the Gracies. Click here for MMA rules.
