However, the rise in popularity of Kickboxing and mixed martial arts ( MMA ) tournaments in Ireland and beyond has led to many of the traditionally popular disciplines such as karate and taekwondo beginning to lose some of their following.

He is also the president of Kickboxing Ireland and vice president of The Irish Martial Arts Commission.

International governing bodies include World Association of Kickboxing Organizations, World Kickboxing Association, International Sport Karate Association, International Kickboxing Federation, among others.

The Kickboxing Association, the first kickboxing sanctioning body, was founded by Osamu Noguchi in 1966 soon after that.

In 1971 the All Japan Kickboxing Association ( AJKA ) was established and it registered approximately 700 kickboxers.

The institutional separation of American full contact karate from kickboxing occurs with the formation of the Professional Karate Association ( PKA ) in 1974 and of the World Kickboxing Association ( WKA ) in 1976.

American kickboxing was promulgated in Germany from its inception in the 1970s by Georg F. Brückner who in 1976 was co-founder of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations.

By contrast, in the Netherlands kickboxing was introduced in its Japanese form, by Jan Plas and Thom Harinck who founded NKBB ( The Dutch Kickboxing Association ) in 1976.

* World Association of Kickboxing Organizations

The All-Japan Kickboxing Association, for which Suzuki had been rated as No. 2, became interested in the American sport of full-contact karate, decided to promote series of mixed-rules bouts between the American full-contact karate fighters and Japanese kickboxers.

* World Kickboxing Association

The International Sport Kickboxing Association based in the United Kingdom have held matches involving Cambodian boxers.

On November 19, 1993 Trevino determined to build her fight record by winning a kickboxing bout against Lapin Padilla for the United States IKBA International Kickboxing Association title. In her second boxing bout, against the stunt double debutante Bridgett Riley, with a decision win over Trevino in Laughlin, Nevada on April 8, 1994.

Trevino having earned an Arizona State Kickboxing Title, the ( IKBA ) International Kickboxing Association Featherweight Title, and the first Fairtex Muay Thai Camp female to win 1995 ( IMTO ) International Muay Thai Organization Kickboxing bantamweight title in Fresno, California.

Kickboxing had not been seen on TV until K-1 was founded in 1993.

The International Kickboxing Federation ( IKF ) was founded in 1992.

It was the first combat sport that adopted the name of " Kickboxing " in 1966, later termed " Japanese kickboxing " as a retronym.

Even though the Inoki / Eddy bout was successful, it was the fight between Urquidez and Suzuki, which shocked Japan, where Japanese Kickboxing had been very popular.

After this bout, he was rated as # 13 at welterweight by World Kickboxing Association ( WKA ), but he announced that he was going to be independent from AJKF in December.

He was TKO only two times, each time because of injury, against Bjorn Bregy in 2005 and in his 2009 bout against 2003 French Kickboxing champion Freddy Kemayo.

Former Kickboxing champ Goussis, 40, of Geelong was found guilty of Moran's murder on 29 May 2008 in the Victorian Supreme Court.

When asked about making the transition from Japanese Puroresu ( Pro Wrestling ) to K1 MMA and Kickboxing Howard was quoted in Maxfighting. com as saying: " Jumping into this sport so late, I have been playing the catch up game since I started.

Kickboxing had become a mainstream phenomenon in Japan by this time and the event was attended by more that 60, 000 spectators at the Tokyo Dome.

" He founded the International Freestyle Association ( IFA ) Kickboxing Club.

The " international kickboxing " ruleset by the International Kickboxing Federation contrasts with the American kickboxing rules in that it allows also low kicks.

Roufus, nicknamed The Jet, has been a six time full contact kick-boxing world champion winning two different weightclass titles under the IKF, International Kickboxing Federation Pro Full Contact Rules Light Heavyweight World Title at Caesars Tahoe Casino in Tahoe, Nevada, USA on January 22, 1994 and the IKF, International Kickboxing Federation Pro International Rules Heavyweight World Title on May 15, 1999 when he defeated Stan Longinidis of Boxhill, Victoria, Australia by TKO at the end of round 9 in Lowell Massachusetts, USA.

On October 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Roufus won the IKF International Kickboxing Federation ' Legends ' Heavyweight Title by forfeit when opponent Mighty Mo failed to pass his Nevada State Physical.

In Kickboxing variants ( for example K-1 ), the preferred win is by knockout.

* Khmer Kickboxing Art Felled by Khmer Rouge Makes Comeback

On December 15, 2001 he defeated Shonie Carter by unanimous decision in San Jose, California to win the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Light Heavyweight Sanda World Title.

On July 10, 1993 both Trevino and Lonnie Shelby rematched each seeking a chance at earning an Arizona State Championship Kickboxing title with the bout ending with Trevino winning by decision.

On January 31 1997, he debuted as a professional kickboxer of All Japan Kickboxing Federation ( AJKF ), and he won his first bout by KO at 3R.

Duke won the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai Rules World Super Heavyweight Title on December 4th, 1998 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, USA over Hiriwa TeRangi of New Zealand by unanimous decision 50-43 on all 3 judges cards.

** Chuck " The Iceman " Liddell had an Amateur Kickboxing record of 20-2 with 16 wins coming by KO / TKO.

Liddell won the International Kickboxing Federation IKF Amateur International Rules United States Super Heavyweight Title on October 17, 1996 in Bakersfield, California, USA when he defeated Scott Harmon by unanimous decision ( 49-45, 48-46 & 49-46 ).

After a brief and successful run as an amateur Kickboxer he turned professional ; winning multiple International And World Kickboxing titles sanctioned by K. I. C. K, ISKA, And WAKO.

He has also been seen in many popular action films such as: Under-seize ; the Sci-Fi dance thriller the Lambadanator ; and the most famous of his films, the Kickboxing Kidd Series I-XII.

Most notable of all Irish martial artists is Karate and Kickboxing Irish, European and World Champion Roy Baker.

Kickboxing is often practiced for self-defense, general fitness, or as a contact sport.

Supporters of Vale Tudo counter that the sanctioned mixed martial arts style that developed in the United States is now so different from traditional Vale Tudo that it should be treated as an entirely different sport, just as Kickboxing is considered different from Muay Thai.

He is the first UK Asian to be a world champion in a contact sport and became four times World Kickboxing Champion, an achievement that has never been beaten.

David dominated the sport of Kickboxing in Japan, winning several titles including an ISKA title and the Universal Kickboxing Federation Junior Welterweight World Champion.