The story of kickboxing

For younger readers: ages 8 to 11, read aloud if you like. Switch to for teenagers and adults.

1. 1Where does the word kickboxing come from?A karate teacher in Tokyo wants a harder kind of contest, fighters from Thailand come to Japan, and a boxing promoter makes up a new word. · 2 min
2. 2Why did an American champion want a knockout?Joe Lewis wins at point karate and wants more, a big arena in Los Angeles crowns the first champions, and a new group lets fighters kick the leg. · 2 min
3. 3How did Europe get a world body?Georg Brueckner calls a meeting in Berlin, two Dutchmen start a kickboxing association, and a championship that was still called karate grows into the sport WAKO runs today. · 2 min
4. 4When did kickboxing come to Britain?A European championship fills Wembley, a world championship follows, and later a world body is run from a desk in Britain. · 2 min
5. 5What happened when Japan built K-1?A karate teacher turns kickboxing into a stadium show, and its rules spread around the world. · 2 min
6. 6Is kickboxing an Olympic sport?The Olympic Committee recognises WAKO, Los Angeles says no, and the World Games say yes. · 2 min
7. 7What is kickboxing like in Britain today?Volunteers build a governing body, a rule about age is written after a debate in Parliament, and a first class turns out to be pads, not punches. · 3 min

Written from checked sources, listed on the sources page. Pictures are drawn, with computer help, under our direction; none shows a real child. Recorded chapters and words are read by a computer voice; a word not yet recorded uses your device's own voice.