The exact history of Kick Boxing is explained quite easily.
Boxing was the sport of the gentlemen for hundreds of years, backed by the Marquis of Queensberry rules, and promoted to popular acclaim and many tickets sold. After all, this was the manly test, the pudding test, and the true top dog’s choice.
In the 1960s, Karate reached the shores of the United States. He took the country by storm. Dojos appeared on the scoreboard, tournaments spread across the country, and a new gentlemen’s sport threatened to take over.
Except boxing wouldn’t go away.
And, after the exam, there seemed to be good points in both practices.
Boxing had faster training methods, it was better for immediate self-defense, it improved the body in a more aerobic way, etc.
Karate, however, had those damn kicks.
The kicks used to be considered “dirty fights”. But now they were in fashion. And they were MUCH better for street self defense because a well-placed kick to family jewels and a bully was bankrupt.
So how about we put karate kicks with boxing punches?
And the chivalrous art of kickboxing was born.
It became popular first in tournaments, then it became a popular form of defense and conditioning in America’s gyms. People loved the no-nonsense man-to-man training methods.
Now, there are a couple of problems with the sport of kick boxing. Actually, these are important issues that you should pay attention to.
To mention just one of those problems, punches are thrown in a circular fashion from the shoulders, while kicks use a more linear type of motion. This is actually an awkward combination and the result is that karate kicks have degraded. People now kick and let the body rock (exposing the back). In addition, when launching the kicks, the energy comes from the Tan Tien, which is an energy center located in the body about two inches below the navel. Boxing does not use this energy center. Therefore, there is a certain “collision” of concepts.
So what is the solution?
Study both. Study good boxing form for six months. Get cardio, lift your muscles, learn what it’s like to be in a fight (subject to the rules of the ring and your kick boxing club in particular). Then explore classical martial arts. Look for a better relationship between punches and kicks, explore the energy centers used in the practice of Karate.