International Kickboxing Federation
Encyclopedia
The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) is a kickboxing
sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.
The IKF also has a sister organization for Mixed Martial Arts
- International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF).
The IKF has both Male and Female titles (State, Regional, National, Continental, Intercontinental & World) and both Pro and Amateur Rankings.
In December 1996, the IKF website was launched at www.jps.net/ikf, but was eventually changed to http://www.IKFKickboxing.com with direct news updates for various events, rankings, rules and regulations worldwide making IKF well-known.
Starting 1998, IKF expanded in the United Kingdom
through Alby Bimpson. Together with his direct associates, Jacqui Thompson (retired from the IKF Europe in 2005) and Mick Fowles, the IKF started sanctioning events in England
, Scotland
, Wales
and Ireland
, as well as Portugal
, Russia
, Greece
and other European countries. Bimpson and Fowles played important role in sanctioning IKF events throughout Europe in unison with the IKF World Headquarters in California
, USA.
In 2007, Neil Holden took the position of Director for IKF Europe for a while, but his other engagements forced him to leave, although he remains very much a part of the IKF team and continues to promote his very successful events with IKF sanctioning. Carl Sams and Colin Payne previously in charge of Full Contact activity replaced Holden as IKF European Directors mainly focusing on growth and activity in the United Kingdom as co-directors for IKF Europe and they continue in this position today.
The IKF has emerged as a major Player and has developed into a global organization under the direction of Steve Fossum and others associated with the IKF World Team.
Fossum is also the President of the first ever Mixed Martial Arts Sanctioning body, (MMA) http://www.iscfmma.com International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) and is the President and CEO of International Fight Sports (IFS) http://www.ifightports.com which oversees several Fight Sport Companies who all have a mutual goal of fostering national and international Pro and Amateur Fight sport competition through the sanctioning of Fight sports.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.
Styles
IKF Sanctions both Pro and Amateur Kickboxing around the world in 6 different rule styles:- American kickboxingAmerican kickboxingAmerican Kickboxing, also known as Full-Contact Kickboxing or American Full Contact Karate, is a combat sport and a style of kickboxing in which two opponents of similar weight fight each other using full contact strikes with their fists and feet to attack the opponent, while keeping similar rules...
: Above the Waist - International ruleset : Leg Kick
- Muay ThaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
: Allowing Knees & Elbows - Sanshou: All of the above along with Throws
- Extreme Gladiators : All of the above along with Throws & MMA Gloves
- Point Kickboxing: Semi Contact
The IKF also has a sister organization for Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
- International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF).
The IKF has both Male and Female titles (State, Regional, National, Continental, Intercontinental & World) and both Pro and Amateur Rankings.
History
The IKF was established in July 1992 by Steve Fossum and Dan Stell based on their knowledge and experience as former kickboxers, trainers of champions and kickboxing event promoters. In July 1996, Vice President Dan Stell left the IKF to pursue other plans. He also retired from the fighting ring but continues an event official for IKF and many other organizations as an event promoter.In December 1996, the IKF website was launched at www.jps.net/ikf, but was eventually changed to http://www.IKFKickboxing.com with direct news updates for various events, rankings, rules and regulations worldwide making IKF well-known.
Starting 1998, IKF expanded in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
through Alby Bimpson. Together with his direct associates, Jacqui Thompson (retired from the IKF Europe in 2005) and Mick Fowles, the IKF started sanctioning events in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, as well as Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and other European countries. Bimpson and Fowles played important role in sanctioning IKF events throughout Europe in unison with the IKF World Headquarters in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
In 2007, Neil Holden took the position of Director for IKF Europe for a while, but his other engagements forced him to leave, although he remains very much a part of the IKF team and continues to promote his very successful events with IKF sanctioning. Carl Sams and Colin Payne previously in charge of Full Contact activity replaced Holden as IKF European Directors mainly focusing on growth and activity in the United Kingdom as co-directors for IKF Europe and they continue in this position today.
The IKF has emerged as a major Player and has developed into a global organization under the direction of Steve Fossum and others associated with the IKF World Team.
Fossum is also the President of the first ever Mixed Martial Arts Sanctioning body, (MMA) http://www.iscfmma.com International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) and is the President and CEO of International Fight Sports (IFS) http://www.ifightports.com which oversees several Fight Sport Companies who all have a mutual goal of fostering national and international Pro and Amateur Fight sport competition through the sanctioning of Fight sports.