Having started off as an art in self discipline in the Far East nearly 2000 years ago, kickboxing popularly known as Muay Thai, gradually developed into a sport in other parts of the world only last century. Primarily of Asian origin, kickboxing became a much admired sport in Asia after its principal proponent Bruce Lee made fad catch on in the Far East before linking it to the United States of America. Very soon Thai boxing or kickboxing was controlled by the government of Thailand under the World Muay Thai Council.

Quite similar to traditional boxing in punching styles, kick boxing is a standing sport where boxers use martial arts style kicks & techniques to defeat their opponents. But fighting as a rule stops once the opponent hits the ground. Kickboxing is usually confused with Thai boxing called Muay Thai where below the belt kicks and strikes with knees and elbows are allowed as well. Still the term kickboxing continues to be disputed and is associated more with the popular type played in Japan and the US.

It is actually a cousin of Muay Thai promoted in Japan by Osamu Noguchi that was later co opted by the Americans. But still many of the arts practiced on the lines of kickboxing are also referred by that name in India and Burma also.

It was not until the late twentieth century that kickboxing really caught on in a bid for more and fuller contact in the sport denied in traditional regimented martial art forms like karate. But credit goes to Bruce Lee for flagging off kickboxing to the US where in 1970 Joe Lewis, the first world heavyweight kickboxing champion fought a full contact match in Long Beach, California.

He got in touch with karate specialist Mike Anderson for a more full contact version of the sport or full contact karate as it was popularly known then, and later became kickboxing. Officially full contact karate became kickboxing in 1974 when Anderson, with Don and Judy Quine formally sanctioned the sport in Los Angeles to be managed under Professional Karate Association ( PKA ).

It was the beginning of modern day kickboxing. Gradually kickboxing spread elsewhere in the continent where Anderson's friend George Bruckner pioneered it in Germany and other parts of Europe. By 1975 and 1976, kickboxing was becoming an international sport and every body was taking interest in the sport in watching it as well as taking participation in it.

Pioneer full contact fighters were frequenting body gyms and learning secrets from trainers who developed the new strategies for the popular sport. Boxers became stronger, fitter and faster in reflexes to ensure their bouts drew much more crowds to watch the heightened action and excitement. More dynamic version of the sport was lapped up by fighter the world over as the crowds found the version more popular than regimented martial arts like karate.

Sanctioning bodies of kickboxing got started all over the world as the sport was recognized as another martial arts discipline urging promoters to host world kickboxing bouts.