WAKO WORLDWIDE ISSUE 02 IS OUT NOW! The next generation. One global community. The stories shaping the future of kickboxing. WAKO is proud to announce the release of Issue 02 of WAKO Worldwide, the official monthly magazine bringing together the people, events, achievements and developments driving kickboxing forward across the globe. The September 2026 edition puts the spotlight on the next generation of athletes, following the WAKO World Youth Kickboxing Championships in Jesolo, Italy, where 3,700 athletes from 79 nations, representing 4,874 entries, came together on one global stage. But WAKO Worldwide goes far beyond competition results. This latest 24-page edition explores the people behind the sport, the values that unite our international community and the opportunities shaping kickboxing's future. Inside Issue 02: 🥊 The Next Generation – Celebrating young athletes, their achievements and the friendships that extend beyond the medals. 🌍 Around the World – News and developments from Asia, Europe and the Americas. 🏅 The Road Ahead – Kickboxing's place at the World Games 2029 and the journey towards the European Games 2027. 👩 Women in Sport – Recognising initiatives creating more opportunities for women across kickboxing. 🤝 Beyond the Fight – Para and Inclusive Kickboxing, safeguarding, education and athlete development. 📢 Leadership & Community – Updates from the WAKO General Assembly, coaches, officials and the people helping our sport grow. Featuring a message from WAKO President Roy Baker, this edition reflects the progress, ambition and shared values of an international sporting community that continues to grow stronger. One WAKO. One Champion. One Brand Globally. 📖 WAKO Worldwide – Issue 02 | September 2026 OUT NOW – Discover the stories behind the sport. #WAKO #WAKOWorldwide #Kickboxing #OneWAKO #WorldKickboxing #YouthKickboxing

WAKO has defined the qualification criteria for the European Games 2027, which will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 16–27 June 2027. As in 2023, three kickboxing disciplines have been confirmed for the Games. The official qualifying event will be the WAKO European Kickboxing Championships, taking place in Skopje, North Macedonia, from 6–15 November 2026. The road to Istanbul starts in Skopje!

TO ALL WAKO MEMBERS Dear Presidents and General Secretaries, Please be informed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2027 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 10 September 2026 and enters into force on 1 January 2027. You can find the major modifications for the 2027 Prohibited List in the 2027 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes. The Therapeutic Use Exemption Program We would like to remind that Athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to determine whether they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). Educational resources  WADA has also provided educational resources which can be accessed on the Agency’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL), while an Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2027 List is expected in December. We kindly ask all WAKO National Federations to forward this e-mail and information to all of your affiliated clubs and members (athletes, coaches, medical personnel, team officials and other Athlete Support Personnel). Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that all kickboxing athletes and their support personnel are properly informed about and prepared for the changes to the 2027 Prohibited List. Best regards, Barbara Falsoni WAKO Administration www.wako.sport

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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.

Meet WAKO’s accredited referees from around the world. Explore their profiles, expertise, and contributions to ensuring fair play in kickboxing. WAKO Referees Setting the Standard for Fair Play and Excellence The referees of WAKO are at the heart of ensuring fair competition and upholding the integrity of kickboxing across the globe. Our accredited referees are skilled professionals dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of officiating in every match, ensuring a safe and fair environment for all athletes. Name gender country Abdulaziz Yousef Alobeidli male United Arab Emirates Abdulaziz Alhammadi male United Arab Emirates Abdulzahra Al-Battat male Iraq Ahmed Al-Wuhaili male Iraq Ahmed Alsunni male Libya Ahmed Khashoei male United Arab Emirates Ahmet Tül male Turkey Akin Ortakci male Turkey Alali Mohamed male Syria Albin Musa male Kosovo Alen Afoio male Kyrgyzstan Ales Skledar male Slovenia Ali Hikmet male Turkey Allal Khaled male Algeria Ana Farias female Chile Ana Isabel Sordo female Spain Anan Meksawan male Thailand Anar Mammadov male Azerbaijan Andrei Majakov male Estonia Ani Minkova female Bulgaria Antonio Cerundolo male Switzerland Aydin Agabeyov male Azerbaijan Aykut Tikicieri male Turkey Azamat Sumambayev male Kazakhstan Bahrom Hudayberdiev male Uzbekistan Bao Yuan Wu male China Beata Sekowska female Poland Biser Georgiev male Bulgaria Bobirzhan Artykbaev male Uzbekistan Bunyaon Phengwuek male Thailand Carlos Patacao male Angola Cecylia Pudlicka female Poland Chayanon Awikunpraset male Thailand Choi Jae Hyeok male Korea Christine Felber female Switzerland Claudio Baccolini male Italy Czaba Orhalmi male Hungary Dana Abdulla male Iraq Daniel Vaglenov male Bulgaria David Ramon male Israel Deepak Siloach male India Denis Lahtikov male Estonia Dennis Viktor Beuster male Norway Dinmukhammed Mussabekov male Kazakhstan Dionysios Filippoulos male Greece Dominik Szymcak male Poland Donchai Thathi male Thailand Donchai Thathi male Thailand Dragana Vitkovic female Bosnia&Herzegovina Drioui Mohamed male Morocco Eddie Smadja male Israel Eduard Spakov male Lithuania Elif Celebi male Turkey Emad Sakher male Jordan Evgenii Musalimov male Moldova Fadhil Al-Ogaidi male Iraq Fahadeid Alshammari Male Saudi Arabia Fateh Mezine male France Fatima Rezaei female United Arab Emirates Filippos Papantoniou male Greece Filiz Pektas female Turkey Gabor Szabo male Hungary Gary King male Canada Geoffrey Aldridge male Great Britain Georgi Georgiev male Bulgaria German Germanov male Bulgaria Giuseppe Elisen male Italy Goran Simurina male Serbia Gunay Haciyeva male Azerbaijan Gurkan Sahbaz male Turkey Günter Ecker male Austria Hadjam Mohamed male Algeria Hakan Ozdemir male Turkey Halil Isik male Turkey Hassan AIYamani male Jordan Heejung Kim female Korea Henrik Matic male Croatia Hong Tao Pang male China Houhannad Nayroukh male Palestine Hristo Kalaydzhiev male Bulgaria Hristo Marinov male Bulgaria Huda Zergan female United Arab Emirates Hui Ping Lei male China Hüseyin Findik male Turkey Ibtissam Ahmoud female Morocco Imad Naouchi male Lebanon Irina Markova female Latvia Isabelle Jeannot female Mauritius Ivan Dercacenco male Moldova Ivan Jesic male Croatia Ivson Carmo male Brazil Jacqueline Walters female Canada Jan Frana male Czechia Jan Michalik male Slovakia Jana Bednarova female Czechia Janusz Wielgosz male Poland Jaouad Andaloussi male Morocco Jatuplon Rachplonsaen male Thailand Javier Alberca male Spain Jean-Louis Gaudioso male France