Ok, this may be a dumb question, but when I have asked others, they only told me: "well, that is what the IKF has called it, so that is what it is". My Question then, is: Why is above the waist rules referred to as "full contact" when IR and MT rules allow way more contact to way more parts of the body?? When I fought in 93, we called it "american rules" or "above the waist" rules. Then I was out of the loop for some time, and when I started training with Jeremy Harminson, he would call it FCR and it confused me.

So will someone please tell me why the term "full contact" is used when the rules do not allow nearly as much contact as the others???

Thanks, Pete

Full contact rules kickboxing or full contact rules karate is a relative term in contrast to light- or semi-contact sparring in martial arts tournaments from which American kickboxing evolved.

Here's my guess. When kickboxing in the US began, it was called Full Contact Karate, right? Well, maybe after a while they got tired of confusing this new sport with the point stuff. So they dropped the karate part all together and just called it "Full Contact". Thats just a guess though.

Back in the 70's kickboxing was known as full contact karate. PKA is the Professional Karate Association. The WKA was once known as the World Karate Association and later switched the K to kickboxing. At least that is what I have heard. Brooks Mason or Ray Thompson would be the guys to ask. They are OLD they remember! lol

Pete,
Forgive me but I'm confused. Are you saying that "full contact rules" fighters do not fight as hard as IR & MT guys? You did say that IR & MT guys use way more contact to way more targets. That leads me to believe that you think that "full contact" guys do not bang like the IR & MT guys. Just because we do not kick the legs doesn't mean we don't bang.

I think he meant that MT/IR have MORE targets to attack (ie: leg kicks, knees, etc) as opposed to FC who kick above the waist only.

Hey Ray,

No, not at all. I did not mean for it to come across that way...sorry. I have had about 30 FCR bouts, I know ALL the rules style guys "bang". I just meant that in IR and MT, more of the body is a target area, which to me would mean more "full" contact than the FCR rules. I guess I just did not word it right. But, by the other replies, I think I understand why the "full contact", since the Karate was light and semi contact..full contact would be the next logical choice.

It still is very confusing to people though to refer to it as "Full Contact", especially new junior's parents. Why isn't it still referred to as "above the waist" or "American rules" like it used to be, or does it depend on the sanctioning body?

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I've only heard the term full contact used in North America to describe this rules style. It confuses my friends from Europe & Asia when you have to explain that "full contact" isn't actually that at all. Then we clarify that it isn't international kickboxing but American rules kickboxing and then they know. Perhaps stick with that?

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Pisand

PKA Karate was called 'Full-Contact' Karate in the 70/80's. With the Rules having all Kicks above the waist. It changed to being called 'Full-Contact' Kickboxing in the late 80's and has been ever since. This describes Kickboxing with all Kicks above the waist. The Leg-Kick fights were called IR and the knees/leg Kicks being called Oriental Rules and Knees,leg-kicks and elbows being the MT rules....