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World Kickboxing and Karate Association
Abbreviation	WKA
Formation	October 1976
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	National associations
Official language	English
President	David Sawyer
Website	https://wkainternational.com/
Remarks	WKA was split from Professional Karate Association (PKA) in 1976.

The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) also known as World Kickboxing and Karate Association,^[1] is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning body for kickboxing and Karate.^[2]^[3]

History

In 1976, the WKA was founded by Howard Hanson in the United States and originally named World Karate Association. The organization was the first non-profit governing body to use an independently controlled rating list and the first to establish a world championship division for women and the first to include countries from Asia.^[4] The organization secured network broadcast in the US and Japan and became a major sanctioning body for professional karate. Early stars of the WKA included Benny Urquidez, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Kevin Rosier and Graciela Casillas.^[4] According to martial arts author John Ritschel, "The WKA became successful by finding common ground between Western and Eastern full-contact fighting culture, thereby creating and defining a culture for the sport that improved the recognition of full-contact competitions."^[5]

The WKA reported that it had had 52 of its events in televised syndication worldwide in 1981, compared to 48 events broadcast by rival federation PKA (the Professional Karate Association) that year.^[6]

The WKA later developed on the European continent with Champions like Rob Kaman and Fred Royers. In 1991, Howard Hanson sold the WKA to Canadian Dale Floyd which was followed by a fade in the organization's North American activities.^[3] In 1994, Paul Ingram took over the WKA and established its world headquarters in the UK, which led the appointed European directors Fred Royers from Holland and Jean-Paul Maillet from France to leave in January. At the time, WKA was the second largest professional sanctioning organisation in the World.^[7] By 2011, the WKA had 129 offices worldwide and was the best known governing body among the rival federations in kickboxing.^[8] In 2013, it had 40 member nations.^[9]

In December 2018, David Sawyer based out of New Zealand took over the management of the WKA as president.^[3]

The World Kickboxing Association sanctions fights worldwide fought under the WKA ruleset.^[10]^[11]^[12]

From October 31 to November 4, 2022, the organization is set host the 2022 WKA World Championships in North Wales.^[13]

WKU split

In 2012, the manager of the WKA split away to form World Kickboxing and Karate Union (WKU), sponsors such as KWON, which formerly supported the WKA,^[14] also moved to the WKU.^[15]Paul Ingram took the WKU too court in Germany winning several decisions to take ownership of the WKU name causing the WKU to become WKUWORLD/GCO.

From 29 September 2012 WKA had new management: Michele Panfietti began serving as World President and Cristiano Radicchi began serving as General Secretary. From December 2016, the management was passed back to Mr Paul Ingram, and the WKA headquarters was transferred back to Birmingham, England.^[16]

Ruleset

Under its professional ruleset it sanctions boxing, full contact karate and kickboxing, low kick, K-1 and Glory Kickboxing, as well as Thai boxing and Muay Thai.^[17]

Using substances banned by one of the appropriate organizations isn't allowed, WKA supervisors, promoters and the official medic can perform tests on the competitors. Failing a test, or failing to provide a sample can result in a two year ban. Tests are performed by a qualified person of the same sex.

Competitions are held inside of a ring not smaller than 20 square feet or larger than 24 square feet, with four ropes surrounding it. Referees judging the bouts must be certified by WKA.

Full contact karate fights consist of two twelve minute rounds for men, and two ten minute rounds for women. European and national title bouts consist of two ten minute rounds for men, and two eight minute rounds for women. All other regional and state fights consist of two eight minute rounds for men and two six minute rounds for women. For boxing and all forms of kickboxing and karate, rounds consist of three three minute rounds for Class B athletes or five three minute rounds for Class A athletes, depending on the experience of the competitors. Class B athletes are those with seven amateur wins. They are promoted to Class A after achieving eight Class B wins. There is always a minute of rest between rounds. Rounds are scored based on eight counts, effective striking, ring control and style specific techniques.

All competitors wear competition appropriate attire, with compulsory groin protectors for men and breast protectors for women, with both additionally having to use a mouth guard. Full contact karate athletes wear foot protectors, with the exception of title bouts, should the champion demand otherwise. 10 oz gloves are used in all divisions, unless fighters up to and including middleweight agree to use 8 oz gloves.

Bouts in which one of the fighters has missed weight are permitted, provided the weight differential doesn't exceed 3.5% of the weight division allowance or 3.5 kg, whichever is less.

Aside from this, WKA also certifies Karate and kickboxing colored belts and black belts, ranging from 1st to 9th Dan for kickboxing or 1st to 10th for Karate.^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]

Weight classes

Weight class name	Upper limit	Gender
Atomweight	46 kg (101.4 lb)	Female
Super Atomweight	48 kg (105.8 lb)	Female
Flyweight	50 kg (110.2 lb)	Female
Bantamweight	53.5 kg (117.9 lb)	Male / Female
Featherweight	57 kg (125.7 lb)	Male / Female
Lightweight	60 kg (132.3 lb)	Male / Female
Super Lightweight	63.5 kg (140.0 lb)	Male / Female
Welterweight	67 kg (147.7 lb)	Male / Female
Super Welterweight	70 kg (154.3 lb)	Male / Female
Middleweight	73.5 kg (162.0 lb)	Male / Female
Super Middleweight	77 kg (169.8 lb)	Male / Female
Light Heavyweight	80 kg (176.4 lb)	Male
Cruiserweight	83.5 kg (184.1 lb)	Male
Super Cruiserweight	90 kg (198.4 lb)	Male
Heavyweight	95 kg (209.4 lb)	Male
Super Heavyweight	Unlimited	Male

References

^ "WKA Official Rulebook 2011: Chapter I" (PDF). WKA World. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ Delmas Alain, Callière Jean-Roger, Histoire du Kick-boxing, FKBDA, France, 1998
^ ^a ^b ^c "History of Kickboxing". Pro Kick. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b Corcoran, John and Farkas, Emil. Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People. Gallery Books, New York (1983) p. 60.
^ Ritschel, John (2008). The Kickboxing Handbook. New York: Rosen Publishing. p. 16.
^ Corcoran, John (1994). The Martial Arts Sourcebook. New York: HarperPerennial. p. 88. ISBN 0062732595.
^ "Archived copy". WKA Magazin. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Bridle, Bob; Gilbert, Richard, eds. (2011). The Sports Book: The Games, the Rules, the Tactics, the Techniques (2nd ed.). London, New York, Munich, Melbourne, and Delhi: DK Books. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-7566-7231-7.
^ Wilson, Ed, ed. (2013). The Sports Book: The games, the rules, the tactics, the techniques (3rd ed.). London, New York, Munich, Melbourne, and Delhi: DK Books. p. 237. ISBN 9781465414540.
^ "Title Belt Sanctioning". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^ "Abdallah becomes World Kickboxing Association Cruiserweight champion". The Jordan Times. 7 May 2016.
^ "WKA-PH holds first tourney for 2022". The Manila Times. 8 March 2022.
^ Mike Tweed (3 August 2022). "Whanganui Muay Thai fighter Haimona Tamati selected for world champs". The New Zealand Herald.
^ "Archived copy". www.wka-magazin.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Petrushyn, Alexander (9 June 2021). "Partners/Sponsors - WKUWORLD". Retrieved 2021-10-13.
^ "WKA International Team". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020. ^{[dead link‍]}
^ "World Kickboxing AssociationWorld Karate Association" (PDF). 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020. ^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Dan Grading". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^ "WKA Kickboxing Black Belts". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^ "WKA Karate Black Belts". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^ "Certificates and Black Belts". 45yearswka.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.