International Kickboxing Federation

The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) is a kickboxing and Muay Thai 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 kickboxing : Above the Waist
• International ruleset : Leg Kick
• Muay Thai: 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 - 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

IKF 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 step back in the ring again as a fighter. During this time he fought 2 more kickboxing bouts before retiring from the fighting ring. Today, along with his other job, he's an event official for not only the IKF but many organizations as well as an event promoter.

In December 1996, the IKF website was launched at www.jps.net/ikf, but was eventually changed to www.IKFKickboxing.com with current news updates for various events, worldwide rankings, rules and regulations. The new site helped make the IKF well-known around the world in under 2 years.

Starting in 1998, the IKF expanded into the United Kingdom through former European Director 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,USA, 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 World Team and continues to promote his very successful events with IKF sanctioning. Replacing Holden was Carl Sams and Colin Payne, both previously in charge of IKF Full Contact activity in the United Kingdom. Both are part of a strong and hard working IKF Europe Team. They are currently fosusing on growth and activity in the United Kingdom as Co-Directors for IKF Europe under all IKF rule styles and they continue 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. Along with this growth was the creation of the IKF Amateur Tournaments. The IKF created the first amateur kickboxing tournament in the United States in 1999, the IKF USA National Championships. The annual event grew to a North American Championships in 2004 and eventually into the IKF World Classic in 2006. Today the IKF World Classic is one of the largest all AMATEUR Muay Thai and Kickboxing Championship tournaments in the world.

Fossum is also the President of the first ever Mixed Martial Arts Sanctioning body, (MMA) [1] International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) and is the President and CEO of International Fight Sports (IFS) [2] 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.

References

• Ensomartialarts.com, articles/?tag=martial-arts - Kickboxing, Wednesday, October 14th, 2009.

External links

• The International Kickboxing Federation Official website
• The IKF World Classic Official website
• The IKF Point Kickboxing Official website
• ISCF MMA, International Sport Combat Federation Official website
• IFS, International Fight Sports Official website