World Association of Kickboxing Organizations

Amateur kickboxing governing body

Not to be confused with World Kickboxing Association.

World Association of Kickboxing Organizations

Abbreviation| WAKO
Formation| 1977
Type| Federation of national associations
Legal status| Active (as per Swiss Law as founded in Zurich on 6 February 1988)
Purpose| Global Development and governance of the sport of Kickboxing
Headquarters| Monza, Italy

Region served

| Worldwide
Membership| National association[clarification needed]

Official language

| English
Affiliations| SportAccord
WADA
International World Games Association
Website| wako.sport
Remarks| WAKO was established as "World All Style Karate Organization"

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W.A.K.O or WAKO) is an international kickboxing organization counting over 120 affiliated countries representing all five continents.[1] WAKO is a major governing body of amateur kickboxing and is responsible for the development of kickboxing worldwide. The organization was officially recognized as an official kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord.[2] WAKO is recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).[3][4]

## History

[edit]

In 1977, WAKO was founded in Europe[1] and formulated the rules and regulations acting as the Kickboxing Federation of the World.[5] It was founded by American Kickboxing promoter Mike Anderson, and his friend, German Kickboxing promoter Georg Brueckner. WAKO was officially registered in Zurich, Switzerland and become the largest unified kickboxing organization in the world.[citation needed] In 2006, the International Amateur Kickboxing Sports Association (I.A.K.S.A) and WAKO merged under the umbrella of WAKO, making its acceptance possible by the General Association of International Sports Federations (G.A.I.S.F) as the governing body for the sport of Kickboxing.[6] 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.[citation needed]

WAKO became a member of Sport Accord and was officially recognized as the official Kickboxing governing body by Sport Accord,[2] 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 (promoted by OCA) 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. WAKO hosts its ordinary General Assemblies in Antalya, Turkey.[7]

In 1991, WAKO PRO was officially established during a WAKO Board meeting in Spain. After a their career as amateurs in the organization, fighters were now able to continue as professional fighters in WAKO Pro.[8]

### Olympic recognition

[edit]

On the 20th of July 2021, the International Olympic Committee officially recognised kickboxing as an Olympic sport, and recognised WAKO as the world governing body for the sport.[9][3][4]

## Styles

[edit]

WAKO supports 7 different styles, four on the tatami and three in the ring.[10]

### Tatami sports

[edit]

#### Musical form

[edit]

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.

#### Point fighting

[edit]

Also known as semi-contact, point fighting is a discipline where two contestants fight with the primary goal of scoring defined points. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

* Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Striking is allowed only above the waist.
* Foot sweeps are allowed.
* Elbows and knees are forbidden.
* Clinch fighting and throws are forbidden.

#### Light contact

[edit]

In the past, light contact was seen as an intermediate stage between semi contact and full contact kickboxing. Modern Light Contact has evolved into its own unique style of fast and dynamic continuous kickboxing. Unlike Point Fighting, athletes will fight continuously amassing scores over 3x2 minute rounds. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

* Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Striking is permitted 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

[edit]

Kick-light is an intermediate stage between semi-kick and low-kick kickboxing. All strikes are controlled; full force is prohibited.

* Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches and kicks. Kicks striking the thigh (only from outside to inside and vice versa) are permitted.[11]
* Foot sweeps are allowed.
* Elbows and knees are forbidden.
* Clinch fighting and throws forbidden.

### Ring sports

[edit]

#### Full contact

[edit]

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

[edit]

In low-kick 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 (only from outside to inside and vice versa) which can be attacked using the shin.
* Foot sweeps are allowed.
* Elbows and knees are forbidden.
* Clinch fighting and throws forbidden.

#### K1-style

[edit]

* Opponents are allowed to hit each other with punches, knees and kicks. Legs and any other part of the body can be attacked using the shin.
* Foot sweeps are forbidden.
* Elbows 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 and are only allowed one knee strike per clinch.

## Competitions

[edit]

WAKO holds a world championship every two years, with youth (18 and under) and adult (18–45) 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, Russia in September 2013, under the patronage of the IOC and SportAccord. There were three styles at the Combat Games: Low Kick, Points Fighting (formally called Semi Contact), and Full Contact.

## World champions

[edit]

### Male

[edit]

Weight class  | K-1 Rules  | Low Kick Rules

|
|

Atomweight (52 kg)  | Vacant | Vacant
Flyweight (54 kg)  | Vacant | Vacant
Bantamweight (56 kg)  |  Luca Cecchetti | Vacant
Featherweight (58 kg)  | Vacant | Vacant
Lightweight (60 kg)  |  Silviu Vitez | Vacant
Super lightweight (62 kg)  |  Rémi Parra | Vacant
Light welterweight (64 kg)  |  Václav Sivák |  Manuel Garcia
Welterweight (66.5 kg)  |  André Santos  |  Thiago Santos
Super welterweight (69 kg)  |  Giorgio Petrosyan |  Jonathan Mayezo
Light middleweight (71.5 kg)  |  Žiga Pečenik  |  Johan Silva
Middleweight (75 kg)  |  Davide Armanini  | Vacant
Super middleweight (78.5 kg)  |  Nikola Todorović  | Vacant
Light heavyweight (82 kg)  |  Sergej Braun |  Nikola Stošić
Light cruiserweight (85.5 kg)  |  Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf |  Andrei Chekhonin
Cruiserweight (89 kg)  |  Gregory Grossi  |  Bojan Džepina
Heavyweight (94 kg)  |  Enrico Pellegrino  |  Romain Falendry
Super heavyweight (+94 kg)  |  Mohamed Bensalem  |  Antonio Plazibat

### Female

[edit]

Weight class  | K-1 Rules  | Low Kick Rules

|
|

Flyweight (48 kg)  |  Silvia La Notte |  Erivan Barut
Bantamweight (52 kg)  |  Sarah Moussaddak | Vacant
Featherweight (56 kg)  |  Loli Munhoz  | Vacant
Lightweight (60 kg)  | Vacant | Vacant
Welterweight (65 kg)  |  Teodora Manić  | Vacant
Middleweight (70 kg)  |  Alexandra Filipová  | Vacant
Heavyweight (+70 kg)  | Vacant | Vacant

## Sponsors

[edit]

The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations on Monza, February 6, 2020, signed contracts with two sponsors for the next four years concerning its protecting equipment and clothing. The winning proposal came from Top Ten and Adidas Kickboxing, two worldwide brands within the sports market.[12][13]

## Notable WAKO Pro world champions

[edit]

* Giorgio Petrosyan
* Sergej Maslobojev
* Cédric Doumbé
* Yohan Lidon
* Chingiz Allazov
* Freddy Kemayo
* Vladimir Mineev
* Redouan Cairo
* Grégory Tony
* Alexei Papin
* Batu Khasikov
* Tony LoCoco
* Mike Bernardo
* Musashi
* Dmitry Shakuta
* Alessandro Riguccini
* Marek Piotrowski
* Antonio Plazibat
* Dževad Poturak
* Anissa Meksen
* Petr Vondráček
* Dricus Du Plessis

## See also

[edit]

* Martial arts portal

* List of WAKO Amateur World Championships
* List of WAKO Amateur European Championships
* Wako-Pro World Grand Prix
* List of male kickboxers
* World Kickboxing Association

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Geoff Berkeley (13 June 2021). "World Associations of Kickboxing Organizations to elect new International Women's Committee chairperson". Inside the Games.
2. ^ a b Abhishek Arora (23 July 2022). "First-ever WAKO Indian Open International Kickboxing Tournament slated to begin on 10th February in capital". Sportskeeda.
3. ^ a b Jackson Rudolph (31 July 2021). WAKO Fully Recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Black Belt Magazine.
4. ^ a b Geoff Berkeley (13 June 2021). WAKO toasts "historic day" after gaining IOC recommendation for full recognition. Inside the Games.
5. ^ "About W.A.K.O". Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
6. ^ "SportAccord Members".
7. ^ Daniel Etchells (27 November 2019). World Association of Kickboxing Organizations changes statutes and elects new Board. Inside the Games.
8. ^ The history of WAKO PRO: Where, when and why? (Part 1). BOEC.com. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
9. ^ IOC session accepted WAKO application for Full Recognition
10. ^ "WAKO rules and regulations". Archived from the original on 2016-11-19. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
11. ^ "WAKO Rules" (PDF). December 11, 2020.
12. ^ "Wako - World Association of Kickboxing Organizations". Wako - World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
13. ^ "Adidas kickboxing", Wikipedia, 2022-12-21, retrieved 2022-12-21

## External links

[edit]

* World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W.A.K.O International)
* WAKO IF News[usurped]

* v
* t
* e

Kickboxing organizations

Governing bodies|

* WKA
* WKN
* WAKO
* WLF
* WMC
* WMF
* PKA
* IFMA
* ISKA
* IKF

Asian promotions|

* EML
* Glory of Heroes
* ILFJ
* K-1
* Krush
* Knock Out
* Kunlun Fight
* ONE
* Rangsit Stadium
* RISE
* Lumpinee Stadium
* Rajadamnern Stadium
* Bangla Stadium
* Shoot Boxing
* Super Champ Muay Thai
* Thai Fight
* Pattaya Boxing World
* Wu Lin Feng

European promotions|

* ACA
* Colosseum Tournament
* DFS
* Enfusion
* FEA
* Glory
* GFC
* KOK
* KO Masters
* OSS Fighters
* TatNeft Cup

North American promotions|

* Karate Combat
* Lion Fight

Oceania promotions|

* King in the Ring

Defunct organizations|

* AJKF
* Bellator Kickboxing
* FFC
* GFC
* It's Showtime
* KICK
* Max Muay Thai
* Muay Hardcore
* Prison Fight
* Rebels
* Strikeforce
* Superkombat
* WLC
* W5
* WCL

* v
* t
* e

W.A.K.O. Amateur Championships

World Association of Kickboxing Organizations

WAKO World Championships|

* West Berlin 1978
* Tampa 1979
* Milan 1981
* London 1983
* London 1985
* Budapest 1985
* Munich 1987
* Mestre 1990
* London 1991
* Atlantic City 1993
* Budapest 1993
* Kyiv 1995
* Gdansk 1997
* Bishkek 1999
* Caorle 1999
* Maribor 2001
* Belgrade 2001
* Paris 2003
* Yalta 2003
* Agadir 2005
* Szeged 2005
* Belgrade 2007
* Coimbra 2007
* Villach 2009
* Lignano Sabbiadoro 2009
* Skopje 2011
* Dublin 2011
* Guarujá 2013
* Antalya 2013
* Belgrade 2015
* Dublin 2015
* Budapest 2017
* Sarajevo 2019
* Antalya 2019
* Jesolo 2021

WAKO World Cadets & Juniors Championships|

* Zadar 2006 (6th Juniors / 2nd Cadets)
* Naples 2008
* Belgrade 2010
* Bratislava 2012
* Rimini 2014
* Dublin 2016]
* Jesolo 2018

WAKO European Championships|

* Vienna 1977
* Wolfsburg 1978
* Milan 1979
* London 1980
* Dublin 1981
* Basel 1982
* Graz 1984
* Athens 1986
* Mestre 1988
* Madrid 1990
* Varna 1992
* Helsinki 1994
* Lisbon 1994
* Belgrade 1996
* Kyiv 1998
* Leverkusen 1998
* Moscow 2000
* Jesolo 2000
* Jesolo 2002
* Budva 2004
* Maribor 2004
* Lisbon 2006
* Skopje 2006
* Varna 2008
* Guimarães 2008
* Baku 2010
* Loutraki 2010
* Ankara 2012
* Bucharest 2012
* Bilbao 2014
* Maribor 2014
* Maribor 2016
* Loutraki 2016

World Combat Games|

* Beijing 2010
* Saint Petersburg 2013

* v
* t
* e

Martial arts

* List of styles
* History
* Timeline
* Records
* Hard and soft

Classification

| Regional origin|

* China
* Europe
* India
* Indonesia
* Italian
* Ireland
* Japan
* Okinawa
* Korea
* Mainland Southeast Asia
* Philippines
* Russia
* Vietnam

|

Unarmed
techniques|

* Arm strikes
* Chokehold
* Punch
* Elbow strike
* Clinch
* Ground
* Headbutt
* Leg strikes
* Footwork
* Kick
* Flying
* Knee strike
* Stomp
* Grappling
* Hold
* Joint lock
* Sweep
* Takedown
* Throw
* Stand-up

Weapons|

* Duel
* Melee weapons
* Knife fighting
* Stick-fighting
* Swordsmanship
* Archery
* Shooting

Training|

* Kata
* Boxing glove
* Practice weapon
* Punching bag
* Pushing hands
* Randori
* Sparring

Grappling|

* Barróg
* Brazilian jiu-jitsu
* Judo (Para judo)
* Jujutsu
* Luta Livre esportiva
* Malla-yuddha
* Pehlwani
* Sambo
* Shuai jiao
* Sumo
* Wrestling
* catch
* Cornish
* folk
* freestyle
* Greco-Roman
* Mongolian
* oil
* shoot

Striking|

* Bando
* Boxing
* Capoeira
* Chess boxing
* Choi Kwang Do
* Dambe
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Kun Khmer
* Lethwei
* Muay Thai
* Northern Praying Mantis
* Russian boxing
* Sanda
* Shaolin kung fu
* Shoot boxing
* Savate
* Taekwondo
* Tang Soo Do
* Tien Shan Pai
* Vovinam
* Wudangquan
* Yoshukai Karate

Internal|

* Aikido
* Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
* Baguazhang
* Tai chi
* Xingyiquan

Full contact /
combat sports|

* Professional boxing
* Kickboxing
* Full contact karate
* Mixed martial arts
* Pankration
* Shootfighting
* Submission wrestling
* Vale Tudo

Self-defense /
combatives|

* Arnis
* Bartitsu
* Hapkido
* Kajukenbo
* Jieitaikakutōjutsu
* Krav Maga
* MCMAP
* Pencak silat
* Pencak Silat Harimau
* Suffrajitsu
* Systema
* Street fighting
* Taekkyon
* To-Shin Do
* Wing Chun
* Silat Melayu

Eclectic / hybrids|

* American Kenpo
* Angampora
* Chun Kuk Do
* Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu
* Jeet Kune Do
* Shooto
* Shorinji Kempo
* Unifight
* Qwan Ki Do

Battlefield|

* Banshay
* Bokator
* Historical European martial arts
* Huiyen Lallong
* Jujutsu
* Kalaripayattu
* Krabi–krabong
* Krav Maga
* Mardani khel
* Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
* Pencak Silat Harimau

Entertainment|

* Fighting game
* Martial arts film (Chanbara)
* Professional wrestling
* Stage combat
* Tricking
* Wuxia

International games

| Martial arts at the
Summer Olympics|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman)
* Demonstration sports
* Budō
* Pistol dueling
* Glima
* Savate

|

Martial arts at the
World Games|

* Ju-jitsu
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Muay Thai
* Sumo
* Former official sports
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Invitational sports
* Aikido
* Wushu

Martial arts at the
Pan American Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
Asian Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Ju-jitsu
* Karate
* Kurash
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling
* Wushu
* 2018 Only
* Pencak silat
* Sambo

Martial arts at the
African Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
European Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Muaythai
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

* Portal
* Outline

* v
* t
* e

International sports federations

ASOIF (30+2)
Summer Olympics Federations|

* AQUA (aquatic sports)
* WA (archery)
* WA (athletics)
* BWF (badminton)
* WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5) (associate)
* FIBA (basketball)
* WB2 (boxing)
* ICF (canoeing)
* UCI (cycling)
* WDSF (dance sport) (associate)
* FEI (equestrian)
* FIE (fencing)
* FIFA (football)
* IGF (golf)
* FIG (gymnastics)
* IHF (handball)
* FIH (field hockey)
* IJF (judo)
* UIPM (modern pentathlon)
* WSK (roller sports)
* FISA (rowing)
* WR (rugby union)
* WS (sailing)
* ISSF (shooting)
* IFSC (sport climbing)
* ISA (surfing)
* ITTF (table tennis)
* WT (taekwondo)
* ITF (tennis)
* TRI (triathlon)
* FIVB (volleyball)
* IWF (weightlifting)
* UWW (wrestling)

AIOWF (7)
Winter Olympics Federations|

* IBU (biathlon)
* IBSF (bobsleigh and skeleton)
* WC (curling)
* IIHF (ice hockey)
* FIL (luge)
* ISU (skating sports)
* FIS (skiing and snowboarding sports)

ARISF (39)
Others recognised by IOC|

* FAI (air sports)
* IFAF (American football)
* FIA (auto racing)
* FIB (bandy)
* WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5)
* FIPV (basque pelota)
* WCBS (billiards sports)
* CMSB (boules)
* IBF (bowling)
* WBF (bridge)
* ICU (cheer)
* FIDE (chess)
* ICC (cricket)
* WDSF (dance sport)
* IFF (floorball)
* WFDF (flying disc)
* IFI (ice stock sport)
* WKF (karate)
* WAKO (kickboxing)
* IKF (korfball)
* WL (lacrosse)
* ILSF (life saving)
* FIM (motorcycle sport)
* UIAA (mountaineering)
* IFMA (muaythai)
* WN (netball)
* IOF (orienteering)
* FIP (polo)
* UIM (powerboating)
* IRF (racquetball)
* FIAS (sambo)
* ISMF (ski mountaineering)
* WSF (squash)
* IFS (sumo)
* TWIF (tug-of-war)
* CMAS (underwater sports)
* FISU (university sports)
* IWWF (waterski and wakeboard)
* IWUF (wushu)

AIMS (20)
Others in SportAccord|

* IAF (aikido)
* WAF (arm wrestling)
* IFBB (bodybuilding)
* ICSF (casting)
* WDF (darts)
* IDBF (dragon boat)
* FMJD (draughts)
* IFA (fistball)
* IGF (go)
* JJIF (ju-jitsu)
* FIK (kendo)
* WMF (minigolf)
* IPF (powerlifting)
* IPSC (practical shooting)
* FISav (savate)
* ISTAF (sepak takraw)
* ISFF (sleddog)
* ISTF (soft tennis)
* CIPS (sport fishing)
* FITEQ (teqball)

former GAISF
observer members (11)|

* WDA (dodgeball)
* FIFG (footgolf)
* IJRU (jump rope)
* IUKL (kettlebell lifting)
* FISO (obstacle)
* IPF (padel)
* IFMP (poker)
* IPSF (pole dance)
* IRF (rafting)
* IRL (rugby league)
* ITSF (table football/soccer)

Others|

* WEKAF (arnis)
* AFLC (Australian rules football)
* WBGF (backgammon)
* ISBHF (ball hockey)
* IBA (bodyboarding)
* WB (bowls)
* IBA1,2 (boxing)
* SJJIF (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)
* IFBA (broomball)
* WCF (croquet)
* WDBF (dodgeball)
* ICFRA (fullbore rifle)
* IGAA (Gaelic football and hurling)
* ATSX (downhill ice cross)
* IKF2 (kabaddi)
* WK2 (kabaddi)
* IKF (kempo)
* FISLY (landsailing)
* IMMAF (mixed martial arts)
* WMRA (mountain running)
* ORSI (ocean rowing)
* IPF (pickleball)
* IQA (quad ball)
* IFMAR (radio-controlled racing)
* IRF (rogaining)
* WSSF (snowshoe running)
* ISF (skyrunning)
* WSSA (sport stacking)
* ITHF (table hockey)
* ITPF (tent pegging)
* FIT (touch football)
* ITRA (trail running)
* IAU (ultra running)

* International Olympic Committee
* International World Games Association
* SportAccord

* 1 IOC recognition withdrawn
* 2 Contested governance

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template