Type Private Founded July 2007 (2007-07) | Industry Kickboxing promotion Founder Sergey Chepinoga | |
Headquarters Moscow, Russia, Bratislava, Slovakia, Russia Key people Sergey Chepinoga, President W5, matchmaker | ||
World version W5 (W5 professional kickboxing) is a sports promotion of Russian origin with headquarters in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Moscow, Russia. W5 holds professional kickboxing events in Russia and Europe.
Contents
- W5 background and the first tournament
- W5 structure
- Early tournaments
- World version W5 in 2016
- W5 Fighter Series
- Rounds
- Scoring system
- The main rules
- Weight categories
- Ring
- Gloves and Protective Equipment
- Current Champions
- Notable participants
- References
W5 was established in 2007, when Sergey Chepinoga initiated the very first event in Budva, Montenegro at the rented footbal stadium. To date W5 has promoted more than 38 kickboxing events in locations like Prague (the Czech Republic), Vienna (Austria), Bratislava, Prievidza, Zvolen (Slovakia), Zagreb (Croatia), Ingolstadt (Germany), Budva (Montenegro), Minsk (Belarus), Moscow, Ryazan, Oryol, Kalyazin and many other Russian cities.
W5 background and the first tournament
July 5, 2007 at the rented football stadium located directly on the Budva sea coast, Montenegro, W5 held the very first kickboxing event called "Rame uz rame" (Serb.) (Eng. "Shoulder to shoulder"). The tournament was attended by about 5,000 spectators. The main theme and opposition of the event were "Russia Vs. Balkan countries".
Formally the tournament in Budva was held before the official registration of W5. However, this tournament is considered as the first event in the history of World version W5.
W5 structure
After the premier tournament in Budva Sergey Chepinoga decided to be entirely independent and organize tournaments without involving third-party promotional companies. That's why the W5 own promotional company "Shoulder to Shoulder" (in Russian "Plechom k Plechu") was established and for some period carried out the selection of fighters for W5 events. At the time being "Shoulder to Shoulder" is the independent promotional entity that. W5 has got the official representatives in the number of European countries and in the USA.
Sergey Chepinoga is the president of W5 and matchmaker for W5 events. He works on the W5 projects and develops the global W5 strategy.
Early tournaments
The first W5 tournaments were held under K-1 rules, also the rules of "Bars" which are based on the Russian combat army system have been used at the very beginning. Subsequently, W5 has developed its own rules, which are now used at all the W5 events.
World version W5 in 2016
In 2016 World version W5 will put on seven professional kickboxing tournaments, four of which will be conducted as a special series called "W5 European league". A significant part of all the events scheduled in Europe. There was one event conducted in Russia on April 23 called W5 Grand Prix KITEK during which the famous Russian athlete Alexander Stetsurenko won the W5 world championship belt in the weight category up to 81 kg, he defeated the longtime principal opponent Errol Koning of the Netherlands by KO. On the same night Stetsurenko gifted his championship belt to the boy with restricted abilities who approached him for an autograph and said that he also wants to be a champion.
W5 Fighter Series
By creating its own system of rules W5 also made their own tournament system which runs under the title of "Championship of five continents." The main principle of the W5 global series became the creation of a transparent fighters selection which helped to identify strong athletes, who after going through a series of fights during the year, could fight for W5 world title in the final tournament.
Since 2014 tournaments are called "W5 Grand Prix" which also includes name of the city where the event was organized in and the slogan which the tournament is held under (e.g W5 Grand Prix Vienna Winner's Energy).
Rounds
The fights are three rounds of three minutes. If it's not possible to determine the winner in that time then an extra round is fought. In the title fights for the belts of world champion, intercontinental champion, European champion the number of rounds is five. The break between rounds is one minute.
Scoring system
To determinate the scores uses the ten counting system. Judging is done by three judges. Round winner gets 10 points, the loser gets nine points or less.
The main rules
Weight categories
Male weight categories up to 60, to 67, to 71, to 75, to 81, to 84, to 85, 94 + kg.
Female weight categories up to 54, up to 57 kg, up to 65 kg.
Ring
The W5 ring is designed in symbolic way. Visually it consists of 5x5 square inscribed in a circle, where the circle represents infinity, continuous self-development path and the square symbolizes equality and justice. Such a symbolism is intended to be memorable for the fighters and tournament spectators who could identify themselves with the values of W5.
Gloves and Protective Equipment
During the bout up to the weight class fighters must use eight- or ten-ounce gloves and necessarily protective gear such as mouth guard and protective bandage for groin.