Kick Boxing is one of the newest martial arts in the world—it was born in the United States during the 1970s. At that time, martial artists grew deeply disillusioned after enduring endless rounds of Karate tournaments.
During the 1970s, a martial arts revolution unfolded, partly spurred by the influx of Asian films and the explosive rise of martial arts schools like Vovinam, Khong Thu Dao, Shaolin, and Thai Boxing throughout both America and Europe. In that era, the motto “Assert Yourself!” resonated widely, permeating the martial arts community.
The United States has long been known for absorbing the world’s finest cultural elements into its own heritage. Driven by a passion to forge a martial art with a unique character, Americans strove to set new technical standards—aiming to stand shoulder to shoulder with the illustrious martial arts of Southeast Asia. They naturally embraced the elite techniques from around the globe, blending the leg strikes of Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean systems with the refined, intricate moves of Shaolin, in order to create an “optimal style.” Yet, not every element made the grade!
The exploration and experimentation with Asian martial arts ignited fierce controversies. That “nightmare” may soon fade, but the most significant issue remains that such debates have yet to achieve worldwide consensus. When kickboxing fighters first donned their gloves, observers were astonished—if not downright shocked—by their ability to endure blows far beyond anything seen in previous competitions.
More than twenty years have passed since the earliest trials by kickboxing practitioners. Today, it is finally recognized as a valuable martial art—one with deep historical roots that is poised to flourish in the future. Traditional martial arts schools still thrive, even growing stronger over time. In fact, we can clearly see that Karate, beyond its conventional Northern and Southern styles, has integrated Shaolin hook punches and devastating spinning strikes, thereby ushering in a new era of combat evolution.
Today, kickboxing stands as a captivating martial art, refined over two decades of experimentation and the elimination of ineffective techniques. Like all martial arts, its practitioners have faced numerous challenges to secure their place in the spotlight.
This book is designed to reveal a range of techniques—specific strikes and forms—that will enable you to train independently as a kickboxing fighter, or, if you are already a martial artist, to further enhance and refine your skills. It requires you to delve into and analyze the dynamic interplay between you and your opponent, for it is only through rigorous research and practical experimentation that a martial artist can fully unleash their latent potential.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to Geoff Britton, a visionary thinker and extraordinarily gifted martial artist, whose invaluable insights have inspired this work. With keen insight and profound understanding, he once declared, “The martial arts school is the crucible in which the essence of fighting prowess is forged!” This book is my tribute—a recounting of all the experiences and wisdom he has passed on to me.
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