Abbreviation WAKO Headquarters Italy | Formation 1976 | |
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Type Federation of national associations Legal status Active (as per Swiss Law as founded in Zurich on February 6, 1988) Purpose Global Development and governance of the sport of Kickboxing | ||
The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (W.A.K.O or WAKO) 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.
Contents
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 George Bruckner. 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 (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. 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 (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.
Styles
WAKO supports 7 different styles: four of them are on the tatami and three of them are in the ring,
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.
Point Fighting
Point fighting is a discipline where two contestants fight with the primary goal of scoring defined points and using controlled legal techniques with speed, agility, and focus.
Light Contact
Light Contact is an intermediate stage between semi contact and full contact Kickboxing.
Kick-Light
Kick-Light is an intermediate stage between semi-kick and low-kick Kickboxing.
Full Contact
Full Contact is a discipline of Kickboxing where the intention of a fighter is to beat his opponent with sheer power and strength.
Low-Kick
In full contact Kickboxing, there is the possibility of attacking the opponent’s legs with clean kicks.
K1-style
See K-1.
Competitions
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.