Kickboxing is thought of as a modern martial art however it has its origins to Muay Thai and Chinese Boxing. Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is the national sport of Thailand and it can be traced to ancient ancient battlefield of Thai army. The Thai army besides weapons such as swords
and batons, used close fighting such as arms, legs, knees and elbows. In early Thai Boxing there were no rules, no weight divisions or time limits and it was a very dangerous sport. Rules, boxing gloves and time limits were introduced over the past 50 years.
Chinese Boxing is the traditional martial art that trains the body and mind for health and self defense. It was practiced in China in the military and many Chinese temples, including the Shaolin Temple developed and spread the Chinese Boxing.
Kickboxing combines the hand techniques of
Western Boxing with the kicks of Chinese Boxing. In early 1970s, Karate
experts arranged competitions that allowed full contact punches and
kicks and was called contact Karate. It started because the full contact
fighting was not allowed in karate,
and was fought in open matted areas and later in regular size boxing rings.
Kickboxing legends such as Benny "the Jet", Joe Lewis and Bill "Superfoot" emerged, and Kickboxing became an international sport with the founding of the World Kickboxing Association.