| World Association of Kickboxing Organizations | |
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WAKO amateur logo |
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| Abbreviation | WAKO |
| Formation | 1975 |
| Type | Federation of national associations |
| Legal status | Swiss Law as founded in Zurich on February 6, 1988 |
| Purpose/focus | [1] |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Location | Monza, Monza and Brianza, Lombardy |
| Region served | Worldwide |
| Membership | National association |
| Official languages | English |
| Chairman | Ennio Falsoni |
| Affiliations | SportAccord WADA |
| Website | http://www.wakoweb.com/en/ |
| Remarks | WAKO was established as "World All Style Karate Organization". |
The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (W.A.K.O or just WAKO) is one the international organizations of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord. It is formed with two organization WAKO for amateur sports and WAKO PRO for professional sports, and besides holding world championships, they sanction the champions of kickboxing in 6 rules.
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It started its activities in Europe in 1976[2] and created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sport and acted, as the Kickboxing Federation of the World. It was founded by Georges Bruckner. Today, W.A.K.O is the largest unified kickboxing organization in the world. In 2006, the International Amateur Kickboxing Sports Association (I.A.K.S.A) and W.A.K.O merged, making it possible for their acceptance by the General Association of International Sports Federations (G.A.I.S.F) as the governing body for the sport of Kickboxing.[3] W.A.K.O offers 8 different styles: semi-contact, light-contact, full-contact, kick-light, low-kick, K1-style, aero-kickboxing and musical forms. Today W.A.K.O can count on 126 affiliated nations in the 6 continents, with 75 officially recognised by their respective Sports or Olympic Council
W.A.K.O holds a world championships every two years, with youth (18 and under) and adults (18-45) on separate years; only national teams are accepted. Each member country can present only 1 competitor in each weight class. Competitors are commonly the national champion of their weight class in that particular kickboxing style and many are also officially recognised by their National Olympic Committees or Ministry of Sports.
WAKO kickboxing is one of thirteen combat sports participating in the first Combat Games being held in Beijing, China under the patronage of the IOC and SportAccord.
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