FULL-CONTACT SEMI-CONTACT LIGHT-CONTACT KICK-LIGHT K1-RULES LOW-KICK MUSICAL FORMS AFRICA EUROPE Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Isle Maurice, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania,Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, AMERICA Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakya, Slovenia, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, OCEANIA USA, Venezuela Australia, New Zealand ASIA Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Isl. Rep.Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinia, Philippines, www.wakoweb.com Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, e-mail: [email protected] Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen WAKO MEMBERS 2010 The champions Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith and Joe Lewis in the early days Historical picture: Mike Anderson in a beautiful jumping kick WAKO HISTORY IN BRIEF The legends Ferdinand Mack and Nassiri Nasser in action (World Championships, Olympia Jean Frenette from Canada former WAKO WAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976. The founder since the very beginning, as the authentic international Hall Munich, Germany) World Champion in Musical Forms was Mr. Georg Bruckner, who promoted the first ever world kickboxing Federation in the world. championships in semi and full contact karate (as it was John Graden, Ennio Falsoni and George Bruckner called in those days) back in 1978 in Berlin (Germany) with Today WAKO counts on a market of kickboxers estimated Sponsored by: 110 competitors representing 18 countries. to be more than 5,000,000 practitioners and no less than 8,000 clubs around the globe and sanction more than 1,000 3 years later (1981) WAKO launched the new name for its events a year. These figures speak for themselves. Now, sport - kickboxing - which replaced “full contact karate”. officially recognized by Sportaccord (former GAISF) and by www.budoland.com In the last 29 years, WAKO has added new styles to the OCA, being a member of WADA, WAKO is the sole governing Jeff Smith vs Domenique original two and improved its rules and regulations, acting body for Kickboxing sport in the world. Valera in action in Paris The legend Bill “Superfoot” Wallace makes a beauti- Joe Louis in fighting position ful kick to Ennio Falsoni’s head during a seminar in Troy Dorsey in action during 1987 World Championship in Munich Mr. George Bruckner introduces Ennio Falsoni as new WAKO 1977. president in Munich Sportshall 1987. Mike Anderson on the left. ABOUT WAKO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED KICKBOXING These are the WAKO officially recognized members, either by their National Olympic Committees or by their Govern- KICKBOXING is an umbrella name under which WAKO has ment Sports Authorities – as of April 2010: created different fighting styles: Semi-contact, Light- contact, Kick-Light, Full-contact, K1-Rules, Low-kick, Musical EUROPE Forms, which can satisfy all necessities of its large number Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, of enthusiast practitioners. Since many of the disciplines Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fin- are very popular among the young ones, WAKO have land, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Israel, produced a program introducing it to Cadets and Juniors. Latvia, Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, We have also developed Aero-Kick as a fitness discipline to Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakya, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine. enjoy our techniques, and in many countries it is developing Historical picture from December 2006 where the Sportaccord WAKO President Ennio Falsoni, Sportaccord President Hein Verbruggen rapidly in fitness centers. Combat Games was established. Pictured all international presidents and IAKSA president Horst Prelog after signing the merging AFRICA together with Sportaccord leaders agreement and celebrating victory of Sportaccord membership for Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Isle of Maurice, Kenya, Maurita- Our fighting styles are divided in RING SPORTS and WAKO, Seoul April 2006 TATAMI SPORTS. nia, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Somalia, Tunisia, Zimbawe. Ring sports (Men & Women): Tatami sports (Men & Women) Full-contact Semi-contact ASIA 2006 A MILESTONE • • Afganistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, I.R.Iran, Low-kick Light-contact • • Jordan, Kazahkistan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, IN KICKBOXING HISTORY TO REMEMBER • K1- Rules • Musical Forms Mongolia, Oman, Palestinia, Phillipines, Syria, Taijikistan, • Kick-Light Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen. GAISF/SPORTACCORD Kickboxing as a sport obtained its largest diplomatic suc- PAN-AMERICA cess when WAKO was granted the GAISF’ membership on WAKO SUPPORT D.A.R.E. AMERICA Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, 7th April 2006 in Seoul, Korea. This recognition (which was United States based charity dedicated to providing kids Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela. the skills needed to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and ratified on 17th October 2006 in Lausanne) is a milestone violence. in the life of our organization and for our sport in general. Thanks to Sportaccord, we are today in the position to talk, Over 60,000 DARE police officers have been trained in the negotiate and develop within the official sports’ world. U.S. with an equal number of officers in 54 nations around From now on WAKO will look for IOC recognition like other the world. GAISF sports, will try to enter the World Games, the Asian and African Games, the Mediterranean Games, and to con- American Legacy is producing a new WAKO gear line that tribute in establishing the World Combat Games, together will be sold all over the world. Out of each product sold with our colleagues in Sportaccord. WAKO has agreed to donate 1 $ to D.A.R.E. Because we care. WADA Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah and Nasser Nassiri We have signed the World Anti Doping Code and worked out anti-doping rules accepted by WADA, rules that we have implemented among our members. Programs have WAKO ASIA and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) been made, tests have been carried out both in and out WAKO ASIA Continental Division, leaded by Mr. Nasser of competition. In general we have a strong focus to make Nassiri, got the recognition of the Olympic Council of Asia kickboxing a clean sport. (Kuwait) on 28th May 2007 during OCA’s 50th Board meeting. OCA have included Kickboxing in its activities like: Merging WAKO-IAKSA » 2nd Asian Indoor Games held in Macau, China 2007 WAKO have incorporated IAKSA, another World organization » 1st Asian Martial Art Games held in Bangkok Thailand 2009 which had been competing with WAKO for almost two decades. » 3rd Asian Indoor Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam 2009 The agreement about the merging process was signed in Seoul, Korea, and we completed the merging incorporating We must not forget that because of our success in 2006 IAKSA, in October 2006 in Croatia with an extraordinary WAKO also took part in the 9th AFRICAN GAMES held in general assembly which voted also new statutes. Alger, Algeria in 2007. SPORTACCORD COMBAT GAMES SPORTACCORD COMBAT GAMES is a multisport event for all combat sports members of Sportaccord. Every 4 years these games will celebrate, involve and show the world our fantastic sports and all the action and enthusiasm they bring. Only the best of the best athletes will participate from each International Federation and everybody will enjoy our top athletes’ performances and achievements. The first edition of the Combat Games will take place in Beijing from 27 August to 4 September 2010 in the same fabulous sport halls used in 2008 Olympics. WAKO, as the governing kickboxing body in the world and a proud member of Sportaccord, are participating with great enthusiasm in these Games. We will have the chance to compete with all the original combat sports, some of them already a part of the Olympic programme, like Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo and Wrestling. The 13 sports present in Beijing are: Aikido, Boxing, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Wushu. The Combat Games are under the patronage of the IOC. WAKO wants to thank Sportaccord President, Mr. Hein Verbruggen, honorary IOC member, in bringing our sports together. With his support and knowledge he has given us and rest of the combat sport family a unique opportunity to develop and create opportunities. Sponsored by: www.budoland.com IT`S ALL ABOUT FOCUS ATHLETES – All our actions and activities shall be created cadets. Today WAKO organize separate Championships for in the spirit of fair play and to protect and to serve our Juniors and Cadets. athletes and members. REFEREES – Good referees and judges are vital for the HEALTH AND SECURITY – we care about our fighters using success of any event and to fair play. only best possible equipments and safeties, and advising them about weight