Full contact: what you need to know about American boxing

What is American or full contact boxing?

American boxing, or full contact, is a martial art that allows kicks and punches. She mixes techniques from French boxing, English boxing, karate and taekwondo. Blows can only be sent above the belt, to the chest or to the head of the opponent.

The origin of the discipline

In the United States, in the 1960s, karate was practiced without contact between the adversaries. There is therefore no major risk for the fighters. 

However, high-level karatekas wish to develop their sport. They want to integrate this dose of contact which is not present until now.  

The famous actor Bruce Lee also brings up this idea. He encourages the real combat with some protections for the body and boxing gloves.

Encounter trials are carried out following these new forms of combat. The valuation is put on Control used to achieve touch his opponent. The KO still remains unattainable. The fights therefore attract neither sponsors nor television. 

Karatekas are once again evolving their martial art. This time they seek to promote the power punches and kicks, rather than just touching the opponent. In Los Angeles, in 1974, this is how the full contact karate, Or full contact.

When journalists talk about full contact in other countries, they refer to the sport as American boxing. This name makes it possible to differentiate it from other foot-and-fist boxes such as the French boxing or even the Thai Boxing.

Authorized keys

The practice of American boxing is divided into two disciplines: full or full contact without low kick (or low kick), and full contact with low kick.

Full contact without low kick

In full contact without a low kick, fighters can deliver kicks fist :

• on the front and side of the head
• on the front and side of the body

With their feet, the same targets are achievable. Only one new target is added to the list: the above the head.

A sweeping technique, interior or exterior, is also possible on the front leg of your opponent. It must be practiced at the height of its ankle or just above.

Full contact with low kick

In this version of the discipline, fighters can hit both legs of their opponent. To do this, they aim at the inside or outside of their thigh with a so-called kick. circular. 

However, sweeping remains only authorized on the front leg. 

How is full contact practiced?

As with all combat sports, the practice of full contact is also regulated. In France, it is American Boxing Federation and Associated Disciplines (FBA-DA) which aims to structure and of develop discipline on a national scale.  

The progress of a boxing match

All American boxing fights take place on a regulated ring under the supervision of a central referee. 

The duration of a fight varies between 3 and 5 rounds of 2 minutes according to age category, class and type of competition. A minute of rest is granted between each round.

Table judges rate the fighters at the end of each round. They evaluate the shots counted as well as the dominance of one or the other to get one out. dominant individuality. In a fight, these judges are numbered 3 minimum, sometimes 4.

Two foot judges count all valid kicks thrown during the match. 

Each fighter must achieve 8 kicks validated per round. If this number is not reached during a round, the boxer must retrieve it during the next recovery. If this rebalancing is not carried out at the end of the next round, it is then declared losing.

Full contact bans

During a match without a low kick, certain behaviors are not authorized:

• giving head shots or knee
• to turn your back to his opponent
• hit below the belt, in the genitals where the legs of his opponent
• type it throat, there neck (back of the head) or the back of his opponent
• strike a fallen opponent or on the ground (who has one hand or one knee on the ground)
• oil his face or body excessively

Depending on the seriousness of the infraction, a fighter may be sanctioned by warnings, of the penalty points or one disqualification.

What are the categories in American boxing?

In order to ensure perfect fairness during boxing fights, participants are categorized according to class, gender, age and weight.

The classes 

American boxing practitioners are divided in 4 classes : 

• class VS (Honor) 
• class B (Hope)
• class HAS (Elite)
• class A Professional

A class A fight will not exceed 5 rounds while in class A Professional, a meeting lasts 7, 10 or 12 rounds.

A boxer who reaches category A Professional cannot subsequently move down to amateur status. 

To change class, a fighter must have more than 24 points.

These points are awarded as follows:

• 4 points for a fight won
• 2 points for a match null
• 1 point for a fight lost

Age categories

This category is determined by the year of birth of the practitioner, on September 1st of the sports season. 

In full contact, a practitioner can only competefrom the age of 18.

Two categories are then differentiated for males and females:

• Juniors : of 18 to 19 years old
• Seniors : of 20 to 35 years old included 

Furthermore, no age upgrade is possible.

Weight categories 

Concerning the weight of boxers, the categorizations differ for men and women. 

It is also important to remember that a fighter who begins a season in one category must finish it in the same category. 

For men

In men's competitions, boxers are divided into identical weight categories whether they fight in Juniors or Seniors. However, only Seniors have a name for each category.

• less than 51kg : Fly
• less than 54 kg : Rooster 
• less than 57kg : Feather
• less than 60kg : Light
• less than 64 kg : Super Light
• less than 67 kg : Middle mid
• less than 71kg : Super Midweight
• less than 75 kg : AVERAGE
• less than 81 kg : Mid-heavy
• less than 86 kg : Heavy, light
• less than 91 kg : Heavy
• more than 91 kg : Super Heavy

For women

For women, the categories Juniors And Seniors follow the same categorization in terms of weight: 

• less than 45kg : Fly
• less than 48kg : Rooster
• less than 52 kg : Feather
• less than 56 kg : Mid-Light
• less than 60kg : Light
• less than 65 kg : AVERAGE
• less than 70kg : Mid-Heavy
• more than 70 kg : Heavy

Equipment for full contact boxers

As in all combat sports, practitioners must wear suitable and regulated equipment during a match.

The clothe 

All competitors, men and women, must wear:

• A pants “American boxing” type 
• and an belt colored

The boxers also wear, either a T-shirt, be one bralette. 

Mandatory protections

Boxers must protect themselves from their opponent's blows with: 

• of the boxing gloves 
• of the foot protectors
• of the Shin pads without reinforcement
• a shell
• A teath protecter
• A chest protector for women
• A olympic helmet without cheekbone

For women, the anatomical shell is optional and wearing a helmet depends on the category.

The port of bandages under the gloves is also accepted and checked before and after the fight.

To conclude: what to remember about American boxing

As you will have understood, American or full contact boxing is a recent discipline which has been able to export internationally and attract many practitioners all over the world. Here are the 5 essential points to remember about American boxing:  

1. This sport allows techniques of punches and of kicking 
2. His practice is particularly inspired by other martial arts such as karate and the boxing
3. It is divided into two disciplines: full contact without low kick and full contact with low kick
4. In competitions, fighters are distributed according to their gender, their age, their weight and their class
5. Many rules govern fights to protect boxers (outfit, compulsory protection, prohibited blows)

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