WAKO’s History is tightly connected with the history of Kickboxing in the western world. Already in 1970, WAKO’s legend, Joe Lewis had his first “Kickboxing fight” against Greg Baines in the USA. This was the first fight where boxing gloves were used and the name Kickboxing was mentioned in the announcement. But it was not until 1974 that the first official “World Championship in Full Contact” took place in Los Angeles. Joe Lewis and Mike Anderson were the main organizers at that time. WAKO legends Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith and Joe Lewis were the first Full Contact World Champions.
Creating a new, lasting and strong World Organization was not easy during those turbulent times in the martial art world. It was primarily George Brueckner and Mike Anderson who had the vision and the initiative to create a new “World All-Style Karate Organization” – in short “WAKO”. WAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976 and was founded in Berlin, Germany on February 26th, 1977.
The founder was Mr. Georg Bruckner from Berlin, who promoted the first ever World Championships in semi and full contact karate (as initially the discipline was called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitors representing 18 countries. WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sports including punches (hand techniques) and kicks (leg techniques) for amateur fights with maximum use of safety equipment, the new term KICKBOXING was officially adopted to define the sport and WAKO started to act, since the very beginning, as the authentic Kickboxing Federation in the world. From 1984 till 2013, WAKO was leaded by Mr. Ennio Falsoni (Italy). He organized and consolidated WAKO as respectable International Sports Organization. World Championships were held every two years in different parts of the World. Now, after decades of passionate work, Mr. Ennio Falsoni is Honorary President of WAKO.
After a period of acting presidency (2013-2015), on November 2015 in Dublin, Ireland, Prof. Borislav Pelević (Serbia) was finally elected as WAKO President till 25th October 2018, when Prof. Pelevic suddenly passed away. On the sudden demise of Prof. Pelevic, Mrs. Francesca Falsoni has been elected by the Board of Directors of WAKO unanimously in Maribor, Slovenia, on 19th November 2018 as Interim President. Thereafter, Mr. Roy Baker, President – WAKO European Kickboxing Federation & Vice President – WAKO (IF) has been newly elected by the Extraordinary General Assembly in Milan, ITALY, on 02nd February 2019 as President – WAKO (IF).
Kickboxing is a modern contact fighting sport created on the basis of many traditional combat sports and martial arts. Kickboxing is a unique Western response to many Eastern martial arts. It can be practiced on competitive or recreational level depending on the aspirations of the kickboxer, but for sure it is a sport designed to improve your overall health, strength and endurance. Today WAKO counts on 129 affiliated nations in the 5 continents, of which over 90 are officially recognized by either National Olympic Committee or relevant National Government Sports Authority. WAKO kickboxing has 7 competitive disciplines, three ring and four tatami disciplines.
Ring disciplines : Full contact, Low kick, K-1 Rules.
Fighting area is the ring. Each bout consists of three two minute rounds with a minute break between each round. The intention of kickboxer is to defeat his opponent with legal techniques which must be delivered with full power.
Tatami disciplines : Point fighting, Light Contact, Kick Light and Musical forms (with and without weapons).
Fighting area is the tatami. The intention of kickboxer is to defeat his opponent with legal techniques which must be delivered with controlled power. Each round is two minutes with a minute break between the rounds but number of rounds is different and it depends of the discipline.
Nowadays there are more than 4.000.000 practitioners in more than 40.000 clubs all over the globe. WAKO is promoting Bi Annually Continental and World Championships (in all seven disciplines) and organizes World and Continental Cups and Open tournaments.
Peace and Sport.
As the World Kickboxing governing body responsible for creating, interpreting, managing, coordinating, improving, promoting and organizing activities in all the 5 Continents, WAKO has finally reached the goal of hundred thousand of kickboxers in the World, in fact November 30th, 2018, will remain in our sports history as one of the milestones, because the sport of Kickboxing was granted provisional recognition by the IOC Executive Board. The decision was taken by the IOC Executive Board in Tokyo Japan on 30th November 2018 upon the IOC Sports Department’s recommendation. Kickboxing under the world governing body of WAKO applied for recognition as an IOC sport in 2016 and has underpinned its values alongside IOC by the WAKO to foster, develop and promote the Olympic values.
WAKO ensures development in-line with the Olympic Movement and its various Charters, whose principles are integrated into all documents and policies of WAKO organization.
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