“The ring where Kickboxing was born”
The original Kickboxing · Japan, since 1964
The original Kickboxing · Japan, since 1964
Kickboxing is a martial art of Japanese origin, created by boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi in 1964, who also founded the first association in the world: WKBA, World Kick Boxing Association.
On his travels as a promoter, Mr. Noguchi discovered Muay Thai in Thailand. He promoted the event known there as “Japan vs Thailand”, featuring the Japanese fighters Osawa, Nakamura and Kurosaki (Osawa and Nakamura defeated the Thai fighters, and Kurosaki lost by knockout).
With this 2–1 victory, Mr. Noguchi returned to Japan with a new project which he named Kickboxing, without modifying any of the strikes permitted in Thailand, all of which are still allowed today: punches, elbows, kicks, knees and clinch.
In 2009, Mr. Noguchi named Kaicho Ihara as his sole successor, handing over the Presidency of WKBA and all its rights. Since then, WKBA has grown as the original and most important professional Kickboxing organization in Japan.
Today, more than 50 years after its creation, millions of people around the world practice Kickboxing and enjoy all its benefits as a martial art, self-defense, contact sport and fitness discipline, at both professional and amateur level, thanks to the conviction of great men who make history.
To spread Kickboxing around the world and to promote the healthy development of young people through sport.
The new vision under the presidency of Kaicho Ihara is to develop Kickboxing worldwide.
To bring the original Kickboxing founded by Mr. Osamu Noguchi to every country in the world, with its true rules of competition and training, with its legacy and its authentic spirit.
Japanese boxing promoter and creator of Kickboxing. On his travels he discovered Muay Thai in Thailand and returned to Japan with a new combat project to which he gave a name of its own: Kickboxing.
In 1966 he founded the first kickboxing association in the world, and in 1976 the World Kick Boxing Association. Under his leadership, Kickboxing went from being a challenge between schools to a sport with rules of its own and international reach.
In 2009 he named Ihara Kaicho as his sole successor, handing over the Presidency of WKBA and all its rights, so that the legacy of the original Kickboxing would remain in the hands that knew how to safeguard it.
“Mr. Osamu Noguchi is the creator of Kickboxing and also the creator of WKBA, with more than 50 years of history.
On 25 October 2009, upon the retirement of President Noguchi, I assumed the presidency of WKBA and ShinNihon Kickboxing Association. Today we have founded the WKBA INTERNATIONAL section to develop the finest Kickboxing and to organize WKBA activities in the different countries.
I am certain that WKBA will develop the highest level of Kickboxing around the world.
Shinichi Ihara — Ihara Kaicho — is one of the most respected and legendary figures in the history of Japanese Kickboxing: President of the WKBA and of the Shin Nihon Kickboxing Association, founder of the prestigious Ihara Dojo in Tokyo, and direct heir to the legacy of Osamu Noguchi, the man who created Kickboxing and coined its name.
Five-time World Champion with 119 professional fights across four decades and five continents. For more than 30 years as a manager he has guided over 500 Hispanic fighters around the world, developing Spanish, European and World champions in Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA.
Direct disciple of Ihara Kaicho and Osamu Noguchi, transmitter of the legacy, training method and fighting style of Japanese Kickboxing. 5th-dan Kyokushinkai (Japan) and author of three books on the history and philosophy of the discipline.
Personal Secretary to Ihara Kaicho and International General Manager of the WKBA.
WKBA Kickboxing is the original one: the discipline created by Osamu Noguchi without modifying any of the strikes permitted in Thailand, all of which remain today — punches, elbows, kicks, knees and clinch.
Its fight nights are held at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, the historic stage of Japanese kickboxing.
The history and philosophy of Japanese Kickboxing, preserved in writing by Diego González La Volpe, WKBA International Technical & Sports Director.
As a sports organization, from 2024 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, WKBA broadened its vision in the promotion of disciplines such as MMA, including Bare Knuckle Fighting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ-NOGI.
Mixed Martial Arts, known worldwide as MMA, is a full-contact combat sport that allows the combination of techniques from a wide variety of traditional and modern martial disciplines. Fighters may use both stand-up strikes and grappling and submission techniques on the ground.
To be competitive, MMA athletes train three main facets of combat:
Stand-up fighting (Striking). Uses Boxing, Muay Thai and Kickboxing techniques to master punches, kicks, knees and elbows.
Takedowns and transitions (Clinch and Wrestling). Integrates disciplines such as Olympic Freestyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Sambo and Judo to take the opponent to the ground or defend against takedowns.
Ground fighting (Grappling). Relies heavily on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Luta Livre to execute joint locks, chokes and control positions.
Although the sport was born with very few restrictions under the «Vale Tudo» concept in Brazil, modern MMA is strongly regulated to protect the athletes' health. Bouts are generally held inside a cage or ring.
Weight divisions. Fighters are strictly grouped by category, from flyweight to heavyweight, to guarantee fair bouts.
Duration. Standard professional bouts last 3 rounds of 5 minutes; title or main-event bouts extend to 5 rounds.
Prohibited actions. Strikes to the back of the head or spine, eye gouging, kicks to the head of a downed opponent, biting and low blows are strictly forbidden.
Live the wonderful experience of the magic of Japanese Kickboxing and its true history, told by its protagonists, in the oldest Kickboxing dojo in Japan — with the possibility of fighting at the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
With great pride, we open the Training Internship System and the Uchideshi System (live-in disciples) for foreign practitioners at the WKBA Ihara Dojo headquarters in Daikanyama, Shibuya, Tokyo — led by Diego González La Volpe, in the presence of the great Ihara Kaicho.
Both programs may be individual or for a full national team / dojo, and are open to beginners, amateurs, professionals and every lover of Japanese Kickboxing — with an official Japanese certificate diploma authenticated by Ihara Kaicho.
Ask via WhatsApp+54 9 11 2732-8255 · Lic. Nadia Bronn Balbis · WKBA Secretariat
If you love Japanese Kickboxing and want to receive your certificate diploma as an Official Personal Member of the WKBA.
Become a memberIf you want your brand to become a living part of the real history of Kickboxing.
Sponsor the WKBA+54 9 11 2732-8255 · Lic. Nadia Bronn Balbis · WKBA Secretariat
World Kick Boxing Association
7-8 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-0034, Japan
Headquarters (Japan): +81 3-3780-1338
International contact: +34 671 79 27 09