The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations is an international organization of kickboxing. The governing body of amateur kickboxing certified by WAKO is created to develop support and govern at an amateur level In addition to holding world championship events, WAKO sanctions the champions of kickboxing. WAKO is the only organisation worldwide that is recognised by the GAISF and the IOC.
History
WAKO originated in Europe in 1976 and formulated the rules and regulations for the new fighting sport de facto, acting as the Kickboxing Federations of the World. It was founded by American Kickboxing promoter Mike Anderson, and his friend, German Kickboxing promoter Georg Brueckner. WAKO's rules are based on democratic principles and are forming the governing body of the sport that is officially registered in Zurich, Switzerland. WAKO is the largest unified kickboxing organization in the world. In 2006 the International Amateur Kickboxing Sports Association and WAKO merged under the umbrella of WAKO, making its acceptance possible by the General Association of International Sports Federations as the governing body for the sport of Kickboxing. WAKO offers 7 different styles: Points Fighting, light-contact, full-contact, kick-light, low-kick, K1-style, and musical forms. Today WAKO can count on 126 affiliated nations in the five continents, with 95 officially recognized by their respective Sports or Olympic Council. WAKO is a member of Sport Accord and is officially recognized as the official Kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord, Olympic Council of Asia, WADA and the International World Games Association. Kickboxing is included in World Combat Games, Asian Indoor Games, and the Martial Arts Games in the 2017 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.
Styles
WAKO supports 7 different styles: four of them are on the tatami and three of them are in the ring,
Tatami Sports
Musical form
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 as semi-contact. Point fighting is a discipline where two contestants fight with the primary goal of scoring defined points and using controlled legal techniques without using full force.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. striking above the waist.
Light Contact in the past was recognised as an intermediate stage between semi contact and full contact Kickboxing. Modern Light Contact has evolved into its own unique style fast and dynamic continuous kickboxing. Unlike Point Fighting, athletes will fight continuously amassing scores over 3x2 minute rounds.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. striking above the waist and below ankle/mid-calf.
Foot sweeps are allowed.
Elbows and knees are forbidden.
Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.
Kick-light
Kick-light is an intermediate stage between semi-kick and low-kick kickboxing.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks, striking the thigh, which can be attacked using the shin.
Foot sweeps are allowed.
Elbows and knees are forbidden.
Clinch fighting and throws forbidden.
Ring sports
Full contact
Full Contact is a discipline of Kickboxing where the intention is to mimic the pressure felt during a real fight.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks, striking above the waist and below the ankle/mid-calf.
Foot sweeps are allowed.
Elbows and knees are forbidden.
Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.
Low-kick
In full contact 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 which can be attacked using the shin.
Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Legs and any other part of the body can be attacked using the shin.
Foot sweeps are allowed.
Elbows on the head 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. You are only allowed one knee strike per clinch exchange.
Competitions
WAKO holds a world championship every two years, with youth and adult 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 their National Olympic Committees or Ministry 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, Russiain September 2013, under the patronage of the IOC and SportAccord. There were three styles at the Combat Games: Low Kick, Points Fighting, and Full Contact.
