The International Kickboxing Federation is one of the oldest and the largest professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing and Muay Thai in the world and is based in the United States. The IKF sanctions and regulates all aspects of these sports from Semi Contact to Full Contact in both Amateur and Professional levels. The IKF World Headquarters located in Newcastle, California, USA oversees over 2,000 IKF events a year around the world. "The goal of the International Kickboxing Muay Thai Federation is to regulate safe and fair rules and regulations and help provide exposure and opportunities for local, regional, national and international competition among Pro and Amateur Kickboxing and Muay Thai fighters, trainers, promoters and officials. We will, through adherence to and enforcement of these rules and regulations, strive to make competitive Kickboxing and Muay Thai fighting a safe and fair sport as we continue to help bring exposure to and enhance the present as well as the future of the sport we serve around the world, Kickboxing and Muay Thai."
Styles
IKF sanctions and regulates both professional and amateur Kickboxing and Muay Thai around the world in six different rule styles:
The IKF has both male and female titles and both Pro and Amateur rankings.
History
The IKF was established in July 1992 by Steve Fossum and Dan Stell based on their knowledge and experience as former kickboxers, trainers and event promoters. In July, of 1996, Mr. Stell parted ways with the IKF as Vice President to pursue other desires. In December 1996, the IKF launched a website with news updates for various events, worldwide rankings, rules and regulations. In 1998, the IKF expanded into the United Kingdom AND began sanctioning events in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and other European countries. In 2007, Neil Holden took the position of Director for IKF Europe for a while. Replacing Holden was Carl Sams and Colin Payne, both previously in charge of IKF Full Contact activity in the United Kingdom. Both are part of the IKF Europe Team. They are currently foCusing on growth and activity in the United Kingdom as Co-Directors for IKF Europe under all IKF rule styles. The IKF has developed into a global organization under the direction of Steve Fossum and others associated with the IKF World Team. Along with this growth was the creation of the IKF Amateur Tournaments. The IKF created the first amateur kickboxing tournament in the United States in 1999, the IKF USA National Championships. The annual event grew to a North American Championships in 2004 and eventually into the IKF World Classic in 2006. Today the IKF World Classic is one of the largest all AMATEUR Muay Thai and Kickboxing Championship tournaments in the world. Fossum is also the President of the first ever Mixed Martial Artssanctioning body, and is the President and CEO of which oversees several Fight Sport Companies who have a mutual goal of fostering national and international Professional and Amateur fight sport competition through the sanctioning of Fight Sports.
Regulations
IKF Rules & Regulations cover all medical requirements from the fighter to the ringside medical staff. The IKF requires a doctor and at least two paramedics equipped with resuscitation equipment to be on site for all sanctioned events. On March 17, 2014, the California State Athletic Commission officially delegated to the IKF, International Kickboxing Federation the exclusive authority to regulate Amateur Kickboxing and Muay Thai in the State of California.
