The History of KICK International

American combat sports were introduced to the American public in 1973 when ABC wide World of entertainment televised the most watched sporting event of the decade as Telly Savalas ( Kojack) and Mike Anderson ( Kickboxing Developer founder of PKA) captured the imagination of the viewers with the images of martial arts competition in FULL CONTACT.

Television once again became the springboard for Martial arts growth in 1982 when Koplar Communications and Anheuser Busch developed a syndicated series of events from Las Vegas to New York directed and sanctioned under K.I.C.K. by Frank Babcock, Fred Wren, Larry Castor, Ken Norton and Chuck Norris.

1988 saw the emergence of The 88 Olympics and Tae-Kwon do took center stage as the focus of an emerging Nation – A Korean sport exhibiting the mastery of Korean kicking techniques. In the same year Frank Babcock organized the historic syndicated televised series of events featuring Don "The Dragon" Wilson against Branko "the Bull" Cikitik of Yugoslavia.

1989 brought about by the influence of Chuck Norris and many other movie stars the next series of Kickboxing cable programming delivered by Kick International produced, directed and distributed by Frank Babcock on Primetime Sports and in 43 countries creating a wave of martial arts followers and contributors of a myriad of kickboxing organizations that watered down the legitimacy of the sportin the USA while Kickboxing grew at an astounding rate throughout Europe.

2006 brings about a historic development in the arena of Martial Arts sports. In October the General Assembly of International Sports Federations approved kickboxing as a World recognized sport under the direction of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations. In November, Kick International has been delegated as the recognized National Governing Body on behalf of WAKO and to file for recognition under United States Olympic Committee. Under WAKO In the United States Kick International governs programs for amateur combat sports encompassing: Musical forms for Empty hand competition and Weapons no contact point competition, light contact, semi contact, full contact low and high kick, Muay Thai-K1 and Mixed Martial Arts amateur sports.

As a 501c3 not for profit organization established exclusively for amateurs to focus on developing amateur athletes who aspire for recognition and a future professional career in martial arts. KICK has been a recognized sanctioning body in Florida since the early 1980's. Our existence here predates the IKF and the ISKA.

It was KICKBOXING's Golden Age and well represented by Florida finest who where KICK World Champions; such as, Don "the Dragon" Wilson, known to all as the greatest kickboxer ever (later to star in over 28 movies), James Warring, later to become the International Boxing Federations Cruiserweight World Champion and in the Guiness Book of World Records, Thaddeus Pryor, now directing and producing film in Hollywood, Steve Shepherd three time Kick Champion and famous promoter, and Richard Allen Hill, now a practicing Physician in sports medicine, to name a few.

It was the four above who took on the first Superpowers fight in West Palm Beach, sanctioned by Kick and televised around the world. The Soviet team went down in defeat including Vitali Klitchko, later to become World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, but who was bested by James Warring. Steve Shepherd was the promoter for the sellout.

As Kick promoters there were monthly shows in Cocoa Beach by Don Wilson in the 80's and the same by James Warring in Miami in the 90's. Also, One of the largest and most prominent events ever held in kickboxing took place at the Orlando Convention Center when Don Wilson fought the undefeated Branimar Cikatc from Yugoslavia in 1984. Heavily favored to lose, Wilson broke both hands before before knocking out Branko. Jhoon Rhee, Chris Penn, Steve Lee and other stars were in the well attended televised event. Hector Gomez, now one of the more popular mixed martial art judges in Florida also fought that night. The following June, Kick co-sanctioned with the WKA another star studded televised show where again, Wilson, Warring and Florida's legendary Chris Anderson defended their titles.

After the fall of the Soviet Empire, KICK took the show to Moscow where the largest attended Kickboxing event ever took place (35,000 spectators)and Richard Hill (now Dr.), defended his title with dignataries all over the world in attendance including Chuck Norris as Kick"s Ambassador. By Kick's invitation the ISKA was invited to co-sanction the event. This was another show that was televised worldwide.

Today as the sport develops and expands into: K-1, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts; Kick has ridden the wave and sanctioned events throughout North America and represents the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) now in 130 countries represents more kickboxing and has a longer standing history than any other organization in existance. Additionally, Kick has always kept safety first in it's sanctioning while at the same time teamed up with Charities; such as, the the Military forces, Firemans' Fund, the Police Athletic League and now D.A.R.E to grow the sport while advancing charitable causes.

KICK has always set out to differentiate itself with outstanding officials, medical staffing directed by three outstand Doctors who have served on with the USOC and have written our proprietary medical service manuals for competive combative sports. A set of rules to specifically differentiate amateurs coming up and professionals who have dedicated their training to a career, whereas other organizations for the most part have followed professional rules. KICK is a sanctioning body and does not promote events, unlike other organizations which promote their own events.

KICK has a working relationship with DARE and has filings applications for the USOC while our World organizing body has filed for recognition with the IOC and will be represented at the Sport Accord in Beijing at the World Combat Games at the end of August.

Kick International is a federally approved not-for-profit 501c3 Missouri Corporation dedicated to the advancement of safety in our sport of Mixed Martial arts and kickboxing, whose participating athletes strive for recognition in a highly competitive sport which requires practice and dedication to excel in mind, body and spirit. Kick International created and directs Performance Parenting and Youth Development programs while serving as the National Governing Body in North America for the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations ( WAKO) which is the exclusive world governing body approved under the General Assembly of International Sports Federations. As such the GAISF, now referred to as the Sport Accord, is formatting and guiding our sports for future Olympic acceptance.

KICK INTERNATIONAL is dedicated to the administration, promotion, development, and unification of amateur martial arts sports under WAKO in the United States.

With its headquarters located in Missouri. KICK International sponsors a host of programs, from developing the sport and its athletes at the local, regional and national levels. As well as, sponsoring national and International dual competitions and coordinating teams for International events.

Behind the scenes is a network that administers, governs and regulates many of the various aspects of martial arts and kickboxing in the United States. This organization comprised of athletes, officials, coaches, administrators, medical personnel and enthusiasts is Kick International Inc, under the direction of WAKO.

KICK International’s outreach programs sponsor national and International competitions, clinics and a training camp for athletes, coaches and officials. Kick International also provides instructor certification, introduction and funding for elementary educational school programs featuring our physical and mental developmental programs and Parenting with a purpose based on martial arts lifestyle athletics and awareness with available opportunity for grant funding locally and nationally

KICK INTERNATIONAL, which is grouped into geographical regions, provides the foundation of KICK INTERNATIONAL.

KICK INTERNATIONAL schedules national championships annually.
Young athletes get their start in amateur kickboxing through the Junior Kick-Start program, a program for athletes ages eight to 17. The Junior Kick-Start program cultivates the reservoir of talent that supplies our future athletes, national champions, and potential gold medalists of tomorrow.

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