Just the Facts... FACTS OF IKF KICKBOXING

• The IKF is the largest, strongest and most organized Sanctioning Body of Kickboxing events in the world!
• The IKF Website is the most read and most visited kickboxing organization website around the world today featuring current kickboxing news, upcoming events schedule as well as training tips and other related info for the sport. The site is the highest ranked kickboxing site on the web and has more information about kickboxing than any other site on the Internet!
• The IKF sanctions kickboxing events and has members on every continent around the world and in nearly every country including, but certainly not limited to: USA, Canada, Mexico, England, Wales, Scotland, Belarus, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, Argentina, Ireland, Denmark, Russia, Myanmar, Japan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobango, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Greece, Holland, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Costa Rica, Iran, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon, Croatia, Belgium, Syria, Spain, Romania, Uganda, Turkey, Armenia, Poland, Bulgaria, Jordan and many, many more...
• The IKF sanctions more amateur and pro "KICKBOXING" events around the world than any other kickboxing sanctioning organization! Many others who "Claim" to do more are including "Point Fighting and Forms/Kata competition." No other organizations comes close to the number of KICKBOXING events the IKF sanctions around the world.
• IKF Events attract between 500 (Small amateur events) and up to 15,000 spectators in major venues around the world!
• IKF Kickboxing events are seen on TV in many UK & European Countries (England, Greece, Russia, etc.) along with being televised in Asia and Australia. Although IKF Events have been televised previously in the USA (Ex: ESPN, Showtime & PPV), the IKF is hoping to soon negotiate a regular weekly series with a major network in the USA.
• The IKF is the ONLY Kickboxing Sanctioning body that updates their Rankings (Amateur and Pro) monthly if not sometimes, weekly. These rankings include both amateur and pro kickboxers from around the world!
• For individuals looking to train or actually compete in kickboxing, the IKF has a listing for all major kickboxing schools around the World on the IKF website! In the USA and Around The World.
• The IKF has more "KICKBOXING" event promoters, trainers and participants worldwide than any other organization with both male and female fighters ranging in age from 8 to 45!
• The martial Arts and soccer are the two sports, which are truly worldwide in popularity and acceptance. An estimated 200,000,000 individuals around the world practice at least one form of martial arts.
• In the early 80's it was estimated that there were approximately 11.3 million students in the Martial Arts. Today, in 2001, that number has increased greatly. It is estimated that over 50 million people train in some form of "Kickboxing" (Fitness/Aerobic or Competitive)
• Most individuals in kickboxing range from the ages of 16 to 35. However in the IKF there are participants as young as 8 and even a World Champion at age 44.
• There are over 30,000 martial art schools in the United States alone. Of those, 3/4 instruct kickboxing as either a fitness program and/or for actual competition.
• Every night on TV you will see some form of martial arts or kickboxing move on commercials and in the night's programs. From movies to sitcoms, martial arts kickboxing is clearly a feature for action.
• The sport of kickboxing has attracted major sponsorship donating millions of dollars to the sport around the world. These include companies such as Budweiser, Miller, Winston, Dodge, Chevrolet, Holiday Inn, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Sony and many more.
• Sales of martial arts gear and related equipment have doubled since 1983.
• Books on kickboxing and martial arts are still the highest rated checkout books out of all book categories.
• Martial art videos continue to be top rental at every video store around the world.
• There are over 10,000 actual "Competitive Professional" kickboxers around the world today and thousands more competing n the Amateur level.
• The average number of spectators who attend a kickboxing event in the USA is 800. Some amateur events can be less but many of the larger, professional events attract crowds over 10,000.
• The rules of kickboxing promote safety for the competitors with fewer injuries than boxing that require hospitalization.
• When kickboxing was a regular program on the TV Network ABC in the United States, it was estimated that over 2 million viewers regularly watched the weekly program. The viewers of this program showed an exceptional strength in the male audience between the ages of 18 and 35.
• However today, those numbers are far greater as established on other Kickboxing events shown sporadically on TV and cable networks. In addition, the audience now includes a more even amount of both male and female and the age range has shifted to include both a younger (10 and up) and older audience as well.
• Kickboxing has rated very strong in all U.S. ethnic and minority television audiences.
• Approximately 40% of all kickboxing-viewing households showed incomes in excess of $40,000 per year, making kickboxing spectators some of the most affluent of all sports enthusiasts.
• Many of the fortune 500 corporations feature kickboxing as a fitness program at their facilities.
• In only it's 3rd year, 2002, (1999, 2000 & 2001) the IKF hosted the largest ever, Amateur Kickboxing Championship Tournament Event Finals ever in North America. With well over 200 participants from nearly every state, the event proved the growing number of participants in the sport today. In all, over 500 amateur kickboxers competed on regional levels to qualify for the National Finals.
• As previously mentioned, the IKF Sanctions events around the world. Here are just some of the places IKF events are held throughout North America: Arizona: Phoenix, Mesa. California: Fresno, San Jose, Fairfield, Monterey, Redding, Vacaville, Roseville, Bakersfield, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Colorado: Denver. Florida: Orlando, Daytona Beach.Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Valdosta, Savannah, Thomaston, Jackson, Macon. Kansas: Olathe/Kansas City. Hawaii: Honolulu, Pearl City. Illinois: Peoria, Chicago, Springfield, Sauget, Rockford. Indiana: Kokomo, Ft. Wayne. Iowa: Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids. Massachusetts: Boston. Missouri: Kansas City, St Louis, Jefferson City. Nebraska: Omaha. Nevada: Reno, Tahoe, Las Vegas. New York: New York. North Dakota: Minot, New Town. Oregon: Eugene. Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh, Butler. Rhode Island: Warwick. Tennessee: Memphis, Nashville. Minnesota: Forest Lake, Carlton. South Carolina: Greenville, Simpsonville. Texas: Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston. Wisconsin: Madison, Milwaukee, Hayward, Green Bay. CANADA: Calgary, Alberta. Toronto, Ontario. Montreal, Quebec. Red Deer, Alberta. Winnipeg, Manitoba. MEXICO: Tijuana, Puerta Vallarta.
• IKF Pro Champions are from all over the world and have been some of the biggest names in Kickboxing. They include, but are not limited to: Dennis Alexio, Rick Roufus, Don Wilson, Duke Roufus, Chris Wright, Kongnapa, Ramona Gatto, Danny Steele, Cung Le, Manson Gibson, Dave Marinoble, Anthony Bartanalli, Fernando Calleros, Paul Biafore, Holly Ferneley, Cung Le, Rudi Ott, Ali Hallack, Enn Fairtex, Boonkerd Fairtex, Khunpon, Ole Laursen, Jong Sanan Fairtex, Matt Skelton, and Dmitry Shakuta just to name a few.

THE 5 STAR MISSION OF THE IKF

1. CREDIBILITY: To Provide legitimate title holders and establish a legitimate and detailed monthly ranking system for both Amateur and Professional Kickboxers.
2. FAIRNESS: To Oversee all IKF rules, regulations and bouts to assure fairness, quality and competitive spirit among all kickboxers.
3. RECOGNITION: To Recognize all Kickboxers, Trainers, Promoters, Officials and Sponsors who assist in promoting the Sport of Kickboxing.
4. SUPPORT: To Provide Professional Assistance to all IKF event promoters to help make each event a financial success.
5. UNITY: To Promote unity among all sanctioning bodies, organizations, schools, fighters, trainers and promoters so the sport of kickboxing can grow to its fullest potential.