WAKO is fostering participation of persons with disabilities in para-kickboxing and promoting their inclusion in sport activities as a very important segment of their life, ensuring their inclusion in all aspects of society. An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us. WAKO launched the first para-kickboxing demonstration back in 2016, when  five para-kickboxers aged 15–18 young para-kickboxers from Maribor presented their skills during the European Kickboxing Championships.  That same year, Tomaž Barada, kickboxing champion and member of the WAKO Board of Directors, organized an auction of his most significant kickboxing trophies to raise funds for continuing work with inclusive groups in his sports center. In the years that followed, the development continued with the creation of rules and the formal definition of the para-kickboxing discipline, which required a multidisciplinary approach and strong involvement from WAKO’s expert committees. Soon, a dedicated Para and Inclusive Committee was established, with Jesús Equía (ESP) elected as its Chair. In 2024, demonstrations of para-kickboxing were held during the European Championships in Athens, and later during the European Junior Championships in Italy. In the Pan American region—especially in Argentina, Venezuela, and Brazil—para-kickboxing has also been actively developed, with athletes performing within continental championships since 2023. This year, at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, para-kickboxing competition in technique performance was held for the first time, where athletes were evaluated according to the rules and medals were awarded.

"On this World Kickboxing Day, November 30th, 2025, let us celebrate the strength and unity we've forged together. Thank you to every athlete, coach, president, official and supporter for your dedication and spirit. Together, we have built a vibrant community that transcends borders and inspires greatness in each other. Here’s to where we are and the incredible journey ahead!" WAKO President - Mr. Roy Baker #onewako #onechampion

Women in Sport Committee Meeting Abu Dhabi, November 25, 2025 Athlete Corner • Updates from athletes on current projects and achievements • Discussion of challenges faced and support needed • Sharing best practices and inspirational stories Next Activities • Planning upcoming initiatives and events • Coordination with partners and stakeholders 8 March activities • Proposals: New ideas for celebrating the day • Awards: Recognition of outstanding contributions in women’s sport • Interviews: Media engagement with athletes and committee members • Celebration: Activities to highlight the day Regular Engagement • Two interviews scheduled every month with athletes, coaches, or leaders in sport • Aim: Increase visibility and promote women’s participation New technologiem Workshops • Upcoming workshop focused on AI applications in sport • Topics: Data analysis, performance tracking, and innovation in women’s sport • Opportunity for collaboration and knowledge.

Explore the dynamic world of kickboxing, blending traditional martial arts with modern athleticism. Learn about WAKO’s seven competitive disciplines. Why We Stand Out Kickboxing is not just another combat sport—it’s a dynamic blend of traditional martial arts and modern athleticism. What sets kickboxing apart is its unique Western adaptation of Eastern martial arts, creating a sport that caters to everyone, whether you’re aiming for high-level competition or simply looking to boost your fitness. At its core, kickboxing is designed to improve your health, strength, and endurance, offering both physical and mental challenges. WAKO kickboxing takes this even further, with a diverse range of seven competitive disciplines that test a wide variety of skills. We offer three ring disciplines and four tatami disciplines, each with its own unique flavor and set of rules: Ring Disciplines: Full Contact, Low Kick, K-1 Rules In our ring disciplines, bouts take place in a boxing ring, where kickboxers engage in three intense rounds, each lasting two minutes, with a minute to regroup between rounds. The goal is simple: to outmatch your opponent using legal techniques delivered with full power and precision. This is where strategy, strength, and skill come together to create the ultimate test of endurance and combat ability. Tatami Disciplines: Point fighting, Light contact, Kick light and Musical forms (with and without weapons) In our ring disciplines, bouts take place in a boxing ring, where kickboxers engage in three intense rounds, each lasting two minutes, with a minute to regroup between rounds. The goal is simple: to outmatch your opponent using legal techniques delivered with full power and precision. This is where strategy, strength, and skill come together to create the ultimate test of endurance and combat ability. Global Reach and Influence Today, WAKO is a truly global organization, representing 135 affiliated nations across five continents. Of these, 106 countries are officially recognized by their respective National Olympic Committees or Government Sports Authorities. With over 4 million practitioners training in more than 40,000 clubs worldwide, WAKO has grown into a powerhouse of kickboxing, promoting biennial Continental and World Championships, along with numerous World and Continental Cups and Open Tournaments. Official Recognitions: A Testament to Excellence WAKO has earned widespread recognition from prestigious sports bodies around the world. Some of its notable affiliations include: IOC (International Olympic Committee) – Officially recognized since November 30th, 2018. GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) – Formerly known as SportAccord. IWGA (International World Games Association). ARISF (Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations). FISU (International University Sports Federation). WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). CIFP (International Fair Play Organization). OCA (Olympic Council of Asia). IWG (International Working Group of Women in Sport). Peace and Sport. Milestones in WAKO’s Olympic Journey A defining moment in WAKO's history came on November 30th, 2018, when kickboxing was granted provisional recognition by the IOC in Tokyo, Japan. This was the culmination of a journey that began in 2016 when WAKO applied for recognition as an IOC sport. The recognition was solidified on July 20th, 2021, when the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo granted WAKO full recognition, underlining its commitment to promoting and upholding the values of the Olympic movement. WAKO's continued growth and alignment with Olympic principles led to its shortlisting for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and confirmed participation in the 2023 European Olympic Games in Krakow. Key Achievements and Partnerships WAKO’s path to global recognition has been marked by several key milestones: 2005: Adoption of WADA anti-doping code. 2006: Merger with IAKSA and GAISF recognition. 2007: WAKO Asia becomes a member of the OCA. 2012: Initiated membership with AIMS. 2014: Joined IWGA. 2016: Partnership with Fair Play and Peace and Sport. 2017: FISU recognition and partnerships with the International Working Group on Women in Sport and FICS. 2018: IOC provisional recognition. 2019: ARISF recognition. 2021: Full IOC recognition and confirmation of participation in the 2023 European Olympic Games in Krakow. WAKO continues to evolve, aligning its growth with the Olympic Movement, integrating its values and principles into every facet of the organization’s policies and activities. As the world governing body for kickboxing, WAKO stands at the forefront of the sport, ensuring its development, integrity, and international success.

Welcome to WAKO, the global governing body for kickboxing. Explore news, events, and resources, and join the worldwide community of kickboxing champions. Click here for more Click here for more Add a Title Breaking News 1 2 3 4 5 WAKO FOCUS WAKO India Open International Kickboxing Cup 2026 Wed 04 Feb Delhi 04 Feb 2026, 09:10 – 08 Feb 2026, 17:30 Delhi, KD Jadhav, Wrestling Indoor Stadium, IG Indoor Stadium, ITO, Vikram Nagar, Delhi, 110002, India More info Details WAKO World Championship Fri 21 Nov Abu Dhabi 21 Nov 2025, 08:30 – 30 Nov 2025, 07:30 Abu Dhabi, Al Khaleej Al Arabi St - Al Rawdah - Al Ma'arid - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates More info Details SLOVENIA OPEN WAKO TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL INVITATION Sat 15 Nov Zagorje ob Savi 15 Nov 2025, 09:00 – 18:00 Zagorje ob Savi, Cesta 9. avgusta 44a, 1410 Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia More info Details Uzbekistan Kickboxing World Cup Tue 07 Oct Tashkent, Uzbekistan 07 Oct 2025, 09:00 – 12 Oct 2025, 17:30 Tashkent, Uzbekistan More info Details Load More Africa WAKO Africa, a branch of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), is dedicated to developing kickboxing throughout Africa as a non-profit, non-political organization. Asia WAKO Asia, under the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), represents kickboxing across Asia, functioning as a non-profit, non-political sports body. Europe WAKO Europe, part of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), is a non-profit, non-political entity representing and advancing kickboxing throughout Europe. Oceania WAKO Oceania, a division of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), is a non-profit, non-political body representing kickboxing in the Oceania region. Pan-America WAKO Pan America, part of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), promotes and represents kickboxing across the Americas as a non-profit, non-political entity. Excellence WAKO is committed to developing world-class athletes, focusing on high standards in training, competition, and sportsmanship. Through rigorous discipline and a passion for excellence, WAKO athletes embody the spirit of perseverance and skill required at the Olympic level. Respect At the heart of WAKO is mutual respect. We promote fair play and ethical conduct among athletes, coaches, and federations, mirroring the Olympic ideal of respect for competitors, the sport, and the global kickboxing community. Friendship WAKO fosters global connections and camaraderie through its international events. By bringing athletes from diverse cultures together, we build friendships, encourage cultural exchange, and strengthen the spirit of unity that the Olympic movement represents.

Discover WAKO IF’s certified black belts worldwide. Explore names, ranks, and locations of elite kickboxing athletes in our global directory. WAKO IF Black Belt Certified A Global Community of Excellence and Mastery The WAKO IF Black Belt Certification Directory celebrates the exceptional athletes who have achieved the highest honor in kickboxing. This directory is a testament to their dedication, skill, and commitment to the sport, showcasing certified black belts from around the world. Each name listed here represents years of rigorous training, technical mastery, and adherence to the values of WAKO IF. These athletes and coaches are ambassadors of excellence, demonstrating the pinnacle of what it means to be part of the WAKO community. Explore our global directory of certified black belts, categorized by rank, location, and discipline, and join us in celebrating their achievements. WAKO Grading System is highly recommended but OPTIONAL for the National Federations/WAKO members. It has been approved by the WAKO IF Board in occasion of the last meeting held on 29.11.2024. Note: WAKO black belts certificates on list have been released since 2019 WAKO Grading Programme for Kickboxing by WAKO Grading and Syllabus Committee_update April 2025 WAKO Black Belt Dan certificate & seminar fees by Chairman Tomaz Barada 2024-02-10 WAKO International Black Belt ID certificate & card by Chairman Tomaz Barada Filter items by Country Austria Belgium Brasil CHILE Croatia Danish Denmark Denmark Germany Greece INDIA India Ireland Italy Japan Liechtenstein Malta Namibia Norway Poland Senegal Singapore Slovenia South Africa Taiwan Turkey Grade First Name Surname Country Date of issue 10th black belt degree Roy Baker Ireland 30/06/2022 9th black belt degree Ing. Ernst Dörr Austria 18/07/2024 9th black belt degree Kazuyoshi Ishii Japan 18/05/2024 9th black belt degree Salim Kayici Turkey 26/03/2019 9th black belt degree Espen Lund Norway 01/07/2022 9th black belt degree Donato Milano Italy 26/02/2025 8th black belt degree Andrzej Palacz Poland 14/12/2010 Honorary 8th black belt degree Bassirou Diomaye Faye Senegal 07/11/2024 7th black belt degree Rudy Van Den Bruel Belgium 28/03/2022 7th black belt degree Antonios Mavrommatis P. Greece 12/04/2023 7th black belt degree Geert Lemmens Germany 15/11/2020 7th black belt degree Tomaz Barada Slovenia 01/11/2024 7th black belt degree Marc D´Hondt Belgium 28/03/2022 6th degree black belt Jurgen Schorn Germany 29/01/2019 6th degree black belt Santosh Kumar Agrawal India 12/04/2023 6th degree black belt Henrik Fyhn Denmark 01/05/2024 6th black belt degree Tomasz Mamulski Poland 21/06/2014 6th black belt degree Piotr Siegoczyński Poland 03/07/2022 6th black belt degree Zoran Cicvara Croatia 07/01/2014 5th degree black belt Seyed Alireza Kashfizadeh Denmark 01/05/2024 5th degree black belt Aslam Mahomed South Africa 20/11/2022 5th degree black belt Alberto Borsatto Italy 14/03/2023 5th degree black belt Henryk Piwowar Poland 21/01/2024 5th degree black belt Yvonne Farley Turkey 26/03/2019 5th degree black belt Martin Jevsinek Austria 18/06/2021 5th degree black belt Lars Krusaa Denmark 23/02/2023 4th degree black belt Andreas Riem Germany 29/01/2019 4th degree black belt Rudi Brunnbauer Germany 29/01/2019 4th degree black belt Rainer Gerdenitsch Austria 26/01/2024 4th degree black belt Gerhard Tuschla Austria 01/07/1987 4th degree black belt Henrik Sejer Denmark 01/05/2024 4th degree black belt Thomas Olsen Danish 01/05/2024 4th black belt degree Nicky Van Esbroeck Belgium 01/06/2024 3rd degree black belt Daniel Pedersen Denmark 01/05/2024 3rd degree black belt Michael Madsen Denmark 01/05/2024 3rd degree black belt Frederik Yssing Denmark 01/05/2024 3rd degree black belt Elvis Kanita Topcibasic Denmark 01/05/2024 3rd black belt degree Mirosław Karwiński Poland 21/01/2024 3rd degree black belt CARLOS ALBERTO MACHADO HODGSON Taiwan 20/08/2022 3rd degree black belt LIN YU-SHIH (KATIA) Taiwan 20/08/2022 3rd degree black belt Murat ünüvar Denmark 01/05/2024 3rd degree black belt Michael Lampert Liechtenstein 16/12/2021 3rd black belt degree Pfeiler Stefan Austria 17/02/2024 3rd black belt degree Andrzej Śliwa Poland 20/11/2024 2nd degree black belt Jan Larsen Danish 01/05/2024 2nd black belt degree Tomasz Pasek Poland 21/01/2024 2nd black belt degree Pfeisinger Birgit Austria 18/02/2024 2nd black belt degree Ryszard Żółty Poland 21/01/2024 2nd black belt degree Rafał Tronci Poland 21/01/2024 2nd black belt degree Aleksander Religa Poland 21/01/2024 2nd Degree blackbelt Andrzej Śliwa Poland 26/01/2020 1st black belt degree MIGUEL ANGEL ARANEDA CASTRO CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree MARCELO AQUILES VERGARA DURAN CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree FERNANDA AURA MOYA CORTÉS CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree RAJESH RATHINAM INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Lennert De Meyer Belgium 01/06/2024 1st black belt degree JASON LIM BOON KHENG Singapore 20/08/2022 1st black belt degree DANIEL EDUARDO CORDOVA FLORES CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree MUHAMMAD NAZRI BIN SUTARI Singapore 20/08/2022 1st black belt degree Kenzo Vandenbrande Belgium 01/06/2024 1st black belt degree Neyens Evelyn Belgium 01/11/2020 1st black belt degree Costel Grigoras Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Jessica Geerinck Belgium 10/02/2023 1st black belt degree Sikora Christian Austria 14/04/2024 1st black belt degree Sorger David Austria 05/05/2024 1st black belt degree Herlich Rowena Austria 17/02/2024 1st black belt degree KANNAN SEKAR INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Mühlböck Ralf Austria 18/02/2024 1st black belt degree Jannie Gouws Namibia 08/06/2019 1st black belt degree Anthony Blanquart Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree JASVANT SINGH INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Terence Bewa Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Joram Vanhoutte Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Zsilvai Zoltan Belgium 10/02/2022 1st black belt degree Skorup Armin Austria 17/02/2024 1st black belt degree Dominik Rzepka Poland 03/07/2022 1st black belt degree SURESH BABU CHANDRA BABU INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Bart De Meyer Belgium 01/06/2024 1st black belt degree YOORDANA DANEIS BAEZA VERDUGO CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree Gasselseder Dominik Austria 05/05/2024 1st black belt degree Herlich Matthias Austria 17/02/2024 1st black belt degree HERNÁN FRANCISCO PEREIRA DÍAZ CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree VINOTH KUMAR JANARDHANAN INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Vincenzo Mangini Malta 01/12/2019 1st black belt degree Ecker Günter Austria 05/05/2024 1st black belt degree Ecker Dominik Austria 05/05/2024 1st black belt degree VIVEK ANILA SATHEESH INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree CHANDRU SELVAKUMAR INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Ronny Vandenbrande Belgium 01/06/2024 1st black belt degree Vladimir Kim Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Jason Gyselinck Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree JUAN CARLOS ROJAS ANCHUNDIA CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree EDUARDO OVIEDO CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree DALTON PARDO SANCHEZ CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree VALENCIA YIP YIN TUNG Singapore 20/08/2022 1st black belt degree Brandstätter Manuel Austria 17/02/2024 1st black belt degree Zaida Ossman Belgium 10/02/2023 1st black belt degree Roman Bushchak Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree IVAN GALAZ SEPULVEDA CHILE 23/04/2023 1st black belt degree JOEL LYE JUNHAO Singapore 20/08/2022 1st black belt degree Ahmad Mahomed South Africa 10/12/2022 1st black belt degree Mahmood Mahomed South Africa 10/12/2022 1st black belt degree SATHISH THIRUMAL INDIA 25/04/2023 1st black belt degree Delano Müller Namibia 12/09/2015 1st black belt degree Corentin Besonhé Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Jelle Van De Merlen Belgium 01/07/2022 1st black belt degree Jenifer Brusseel Belgium 26/02/2022 1st black belt degree Kevin Santon Belgium 16/02/2020 1st black belt degree Patrick Pircher Liechtenstein 29/01/2019 1st black belt degree Matteo Preys Belgium 20/05/2022 1st black belt degree Steiner Bernhard Austria 17/02/2024 1st black belt degree Axelle Deruddere Belgium 01/06/2024 1st black belt degree Paulo Ricardo Gayer Pereira Da Costa Brasil 29/01/2019 1st black belt degree Franzen Nikolaus Austria 05/05/2024 1st black belt degree Tomasz Bodzioch Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Brunner Philip Austria 18/02/2024 1st black belt degree Kinga Konieczny Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Jarosław Malinowski Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Przemysław Sobkowiak Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Julian Graboś Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Karol Winiszewski Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Patryk Jach Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Adam Chełmiński Poland 21/01/2024 1st black belt degree Patryk Matczak Poland 21/01/2024