About Wako India

WAKO INDIA came into existence in 1995 to Promote, Govern and Regulate Kickboxing Sport in India and is the only Federation affiliated to World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) & Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. Of India, Head Quartered in Faridabad, Haryana. Having it’s presence in 29 States & 3 Union Territories.

WAKO’s History is tightly connected with the history of Kickboxing in the western world. Already in 1970, WAKO’s legend, Joe Lewis had his first “Kickboxing fight” against Greg Baines in the USA. This was the first fight where boxing gloves were used and the name Kickboxing was mentioned in the announcement.

But it was not until 1974 that the first official “World Championship in Full Contact” took place in Los Angeles. Joe Lewis and Mike Anderson were the main organizers at that time. WAKO legends Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith and Joe Lewis were the first Full Contact World Champions.

Creating a new, lasting and strong World Organization was not easy during those turbulent times in the martial art world. It was primarily George Bruckner and Mike Anderson who had the vision and the initiative to create a new “World All-Style Karate Organization” – in short “WAKO”.

WAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976 and was founded in Berlin, Germany on February 26th, 1977.
The founder was Mr. Georg Bruckner from Berlin, who promoted the first ever World Championships in semi and full contact karate (as initially the discipline was called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitors representing 18 countries. WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sports including punches (hand techniques) and kicks (leg techniques) for amateur fights with maximum use of safety equipment, the new term KICKBOXING was officially adopted to define the sport and WAKO started to act, since the very beginning, as the authentic Kickboxing Federation in the world.

Kickboxing is a modern contact fighting sport created on the basis of many traditional combat sports and martial arts. Kickboxing is a unique Western response to many Eastern martial arts. It can be practiced on competitive or recreational level depending on the aspirations of the kickboxer, but for sure it is a sport designed to improve your overall health, strength and endurance.
Today WAKO counts of 130 affiliated nations in the 5 continents, of which 105 are officially recognized by either National Olympic Committee or relevant National Government Sports Authority.