The one thing every family should know: "kickboxing" at a competition means one of several formats, each with its own contact level, kit, scoring and youngest age. In the UK most children's competition is WAKO : light, controlled contact, stopped after every score, with a head guard and, for under 13s, a face mask. Continuous light contact starts at 13 and the full power ring formats at 15. 41,80,81
The seven WAKO formats at a glance
| Format | Where | Contact | Stops after each score? | Leg kicks? | Knees? | Youngest WAKO group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point fighting | Tatami | Light, controlled | Yes | No, sweeps only | No | Children, 7 to 9 |
| Light contact | Tatami | Light, controlled | No, continuous | No, sweeps only | No | Older cadets, 13 to 15 |
| Kick light | Tatami | Light, controlled | No | Yes, to the thigh | No | Older cadets, 13 to 15 |
| Musical and creative forms | Tatami | None | Children, 7 to 9 | |||
| Full contact | Ring | Full power | No; points or stoppage | No | No | Younger juniors, 15 and 16 |
| Low kick | Ring | Full power | No | Yes, to the thigh | No | Younger juniors, 15 and 16 |
| K1 Style | Ring | Full power | No | Yes, all of the leg | Yes | Younger juniors, 15 and 16 |
All rows from the WAKO Rules of 2022 and the 2026 categories. 41,43 Head guards are compulsory in every fighting format for every amateur age group. 41
The tatami formats
Common to all four: a 7 m by 7 m mat with a 1 m safety border, 10 m by 10 m for forms; rounds of 2 by 1 minute for children, 2 by 1.5 for younger cadets, 2 by 2 for older cadets and masters, 3 by 2 for juniors and seniors at championships; at most 2 minutes of medical time per fighter. A knockdown after a powerful, uncontrolled strike costs the striker a minus point, a third brings disqualification, and a fighter knocked out may not continue in that tournament. 41
Point fighting
- A referee and two judges; the referee stops the bout at each score and at least two of the three must agree. 41
- Points: punch 1; kick to the body 1; that puts the opponent on the floor 1; kick to the head 2; jumping kick to the body 2; jumping kick to the head 3, only if still in the air when it lands. A 10 point lead ends the bout. 41
- Targets: head (front, forehead, back and side), torso (front and side), feet for sweeps only. Not allowed: top of the head, neck, back of the torso, below the belt, knees, elbows, knife hand, head butts, throws, grabbing, attacking a fighter who is down. 41
- Kit: ; for children and younger cadets; gum shield; breast protection for girls and women; ; elbow pads; groin guard; shin guards; foot protection; V neck top and long trousers; a grade belt optional. 41
- Team events: three a side, one round of 2 minutes each, open weight. events at cups and opens are open weight. 41
- A drawn bout gets one extra minute, then . 41
Light contact
Continuous until "stop" or "break". Three judges count clean hits: 1 for a hand or kick to the body or a hand to the head, 2 for a jumping kick to the body or a head kick, 3 for a jumping kick to the head. A minus point removes 3 from each judge's total; a 15 point lead on two judges' cards ends the bout. Kit as point fighting but of 10 oz, compulsory hand wraps, no face mask, no elbow pads, a round neck T-shirt and no grade belt. 41
Kick light
As light contact, plus controlled kicks to the thigh, inside, outside and back. A deliberately checked thigh kick does not score. No kicks to or below the knee, no backfists, no somersault kicks. Shorts and a sleeveless top. 41
Musical and creative forms
Solo routines, or teams of two or three, against imaginary opponents, 1 to 3 minutes long, scored by judges from 7.0 to 10.0 with the highest and lowest marks dropped. Dance moves, theatrical costumes, special effects and live blades are not allowed; a dropped weapon costs a full point. A traditional martial arts uniform and belt, bare feet in hard styles. From children to seniors. 41,43
The ring formats
Common to all three: ages from 15; a ring of 5.2 m to 6.1 m inside four ropes; 3 rounds of 2 minutes with a 1 minute break for every age group; a referee and three judges, plus kick counters in full contact; the referee counts a to at least 8; three knockdowns in one fight end it, two for younger juniors. Kit: head guard covering the top of the head, gum shield, 10 oz gloves, hand wraps, groin guard, breast protector for women, shin guards, with shin and instep pads for low kick and K1 Style. Full contact is fought in long trousers and foot protection, low kick and K1 Style in shorts. 41
| Full contact | Low kick | K1 Style | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Targets | Head (front, forehead, side) and torso above the waist; sweeps at the ankle | As full contact, plus the thigh (outside, inside, back) | Head, torso and all of the leg, including joints |
| Extra techniques | None | Thigh kicks; shin kicks | Spinning backfist; knees |
| Clinch | Not allowed | Not allowed | Active clinch for 5 seconds with one knee, under the 2022 rules; no clinch, holding or grabbing and unlimited knees from 1 January 2027 |
| Not allowed | Kicks below the waist, backfists, knees, elbows | Kicks to or below the knee, punches to the legs, backfists, knees, elbows | Front and side kicks to the front of the thigh, knee or shin; grabbing the leg; throws; elbows |
| Special rule | At least 6 kicks a round, 18 a bout; up to two minus points for missing kicks | None | None |
All from the WAKO Rules of 2022 and the 2026 K1 Style change. 41,42
Other bodies' versions
- ISKA runs semi contact (body kick 2, head kick 3, jumping head kick 5), light continuous, at about a fifth of full power with a body guard for juniors, freestyle (low kicks to thigh and calf), oriental rules, K-1 rules, and many forms categories. Freestyle, oriental and K-1 bouts are 3 by 3 minutes, with 5 rounds for national and higher titles; professional full contact runs 5 to 12 rounds. 54,55,56
- WKA mat sports: point fighting with backfist and ridge hand but no hooks or uppercuts, face guards allowed for kids and juniors, a light contact section; separate amateur and professional ring rulebooks. 58,59
- Kung fu and karate clubs run semi and light contact too, for example the British Kung Fu Association's Lau Gar kickboxing under rules based on WAKO's. 100
Which format is closest to what?
Point fighting is the closest to sport karate: it stops after each score and rewards control and speed, and full contact grew out of full contact karate. K1 Style is the closest to Muay Thai, but without elbows and, from 2027 in WAKO, without the clinch. 1,6,41,42,102