Modalities of kickboxing

Currently, kickboxing is divided into 5 competitive modes for assaults, divided into weight categories: semi-contact, light-contact, full-contact, kickboxing, and K1. According to the different federations or associations.

Semi-Contact: It is a combat mode to the point where the two fighters fight in order to score the highest number of punches and their respective scores using legal techniques with speed, focus and concentration. The main feature of the semi contact are the unique and fast technical gestures. The semi contact modality is usually executed with a very slight level of contact, controlling the attack and defense movements. The techniques of punches and kicks are strictly controlled. Valid points are achieved by hitting with and in legal zones. When the fighters are going to start, they collide their gloves and prepare for the referee to start the fight, the time will only be stopped when the referee indicates to give some kind of warning to the fighters or talk to the table judges, or score The executed technique. This modality is very similar to karate-Do competition to the point, where you can mark the blows with the legs and fists on both the head and the trunk, and mow the legs as a sweep. Within Karate this type of competition is governed by the World Karate Federation, which encompasses the 4 styles of modern Japanese traditional karate, Shotokan, Gōjū Ryū, Wadō-ryū, and Shitō-ryū, which have the largest number of practitioners all over the world.

Light-Contact: Competitions are usually executed with very well controlled technical gestures, in combination. In the light contact mode the fighters continuously fight until the central referee pronounces "STOP" or "BREAK". Full contact techniques (boxing punches, some karate or Taekwondo kicks) are used, but these techniques must be well controlled when hitting with and in legal zones. The Light contact has been created as an intermediate modality between the Semi and the Full contact. The central referee does not judge the fighters, he is only responsible for enforcing the rules, the fights can be developed in a tatami or in a ring. There are no low kicks to the thighs or low kick, or knee or elbow blows, sweeps to the feet, or grabs or throws.

Full-Contact or American Kick-Boxing: The KBFC (Kick Boxing Federation of Champions) states that the full contact mode of kickboxing differs primarily from Light Contact in two very important ways; the first is that it includes the vast majority of boxing, karate, and taekwondo techniques, but not open-handed beating; and other techniques such as the fist in rotation, and sweeps to the legs are included. And the second, more important is the search for the out-of-combat or Knock Out (k.o) of the opponent. The scores obtained by strokes and combinations scored are also valid. However, restrictions are maintained on certain tactics such as: low kicks to the thighs or low kicks, knee or elbow punches, and grips or throws.

Kick-boxing: includes boxing punches, penetrating kicks of karate and low kicks of Thai or Muay Thai boxing. Looking for "knock out" or k.o. The scores obtained by strokes and combinations scored are also valid. But blows with the elbow, sweeps to the legs, and grips or throws are not allowed. It is important to note that this modality and Muay Thai are the ones that have given the most mixed martial arts or MMA / AMM; along with some combat sports such as Judo, Brazilian jujitsu, Olympic wrestling, and boxing.

K1: It is given by the famous tournament of the same name that is held in the city of Osaka in Japan, this being the most famous tournament in the world in the form of standing combat, and the one that pays the most money to the winners. This modality is the same as kickboxing, however, greater freedom is given to a greater number of knee strokes, and the use of grips to connect knee strokes; although there is a time limit to the duration of this type of grips, to the neck or trunk of the opponent.