Last week an international kickboxing tournament was held in Larnaca. But what exactly is it? We sent a writer ringside to find out
WHEN I told my editor that I loved extreme sports, the last thing I expected was to be facing the feet and hands of a two-time European professional kickboxing champion a week later.
At the Kickboxing World Championship at the Kition Sports Hall in Larnaca, I donned a pair of boxing gloves and squared up to Pambos Giorgoudes. Thankfully, it was not a real fight but only a demonstration by Europe’s number one-ranked kickboxer.
Giorgoudes said that kickboxing is “not only practised in competition but it is a sport which combines many elements such as fitness, self-defence, discipline, flexibility and weight loss. It is also an activity that raises an individual’s self-confidence”.
Responding to the general public’s association of kickboxing with extreme violence, the 30-year-old went on to say that “it is only violent if an individual decides to make it violent. I believe it’s the most complete sport because you’re using every part of your body”.
As well as taking part in international tournaments, Giorgoudes is also a kickboxing teacher and runs his own school at the Total Muscle and Fitness Gym in Larnaca. “I have about 100 students who come for lessons, both men and women, aged between six and sixty”.
But he urged people wishing to take up the sport to make sure their instructors are suitably qualified. “In Cyprus, there is a big problem with cowboy operators. For example, a labourer, who is physically strong, may decide to open a gym in the basement of his home. The public should be aware that these people have absolutely no professional kickboxing qualifications. There are only six recognised kickboxing gyms on the island in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos”.
He also said the image of kickboxers as super-fit, aggressive fighters should not put people off the sport.
“No basic fitness is required to begin with. You can start with the basics, such as footwork and slowly build up your level, doing more and more every day. It is also worth noting that if somebody takes up kickboxing for non-competitive purposes, injuries are extremely rare. Once you step into the ring, that is when injuries can happen. These include broken noses, ribs and arms, bruising to muscles and cuts”.
He went on to say that the secret of kickboxing “is to learn to control your fear of being hurt and to face it head-on”.
The Kickboxing World Chamionship is an amateur event where contestants fight “not for money, but for the glory”. Even so, professional scouts and agents were in Larnaca in their numbers, looking for the next big star.
It’s a far cry from the world of K1, where fighters, including former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, can earn $250,000 a bout.
In professional kickboxing contests, participants wear only gloves, a mouthguard and a groin protector. But in amateur events, such as this, fighters are given the added protection of head, shin and foot guards.
There are six different fighting styles: light contact, semi contact, full contact, low kick, oriental and thai, the difference being what part of the body you are allowed to strike your opponent on. In the oriental style, a fighter is also allowed to hit with his or her knees, while elbows are allowed only in thai kickboxing.
In total, there were eleven different weight divisions while most of the finals were on the last day of the championship and were broadcast live on TV. I had managed to secure a ringside seat, so sat back to enjoy the action.
The evening began with music, flashing lights and an exhibition of different moves by a man dressed as a Ninja. But once the real action got underway, I looked on in awe at the fighters’ strength, technique and bravery.
First up was the men’s full contact –60 kg final between local favourite Vangelis Tsirimokos of Greece and Yuri Gorshkov of Russia. After three rounds lasting 90 seconds each, the Greek fighter was unable to break through his opponent’s tight defence, with the Russian running out a comfortable points winner.
The next bout was the women’s light contact –65 kg final featuring Ukraine’s Tetyana Nikolaenko in the red corner and Maria Konstantellou in the blue. The Greek fans, who were drowned out by the exuberance of their Ukrainian counterparts, were once again left disappointed, as Nikolaenko took the spoils by a unanimous decision.
Watching these exceptional athletes was thirsty and tiring work, so I was particularly happy when a scantily-clad PR girl suddenly appeared with a supply of Shark Energy Drinks from one of the event’s official sponsors.
The men’s team semi contact final between Greece and Italy was next and the Greek supporters finally had something to shout about as both Kostas Taboureas and Miras Ermis viciously knocked down their opponents for victory.
Sitting in my ringside seat, I could really appreciate the tremendous power of the fighters as each blow, whether a punch or kick, would be accompanied by a massive thud. I could also see sweat and saliva flying off their bodies at regular intervals.
Having naively considered myself as an ‘expert’ following my lesson with Giorgoudes earlier that afternoon, I was by this point extremely grateful to be outside rather than inside the ring.
A short history of kickboxing
The origins of kickboxing can be found in Thailand in the 2,000 year-old discipline of Muay Thai fighting. In 1702, during the reign of King Pha Chao Sua, he disguised himself to box with ordinary people. ‘The Tiger King’, he loved Muay Thai so much that he often fought incognito in village contests, beating the local champions.
Soldiers have trained in and used the techniques for as long as there has been an army in Thailand.
The modern sport of kickboxing traces its origins back to karate during the mid 1970s, when fighters were keen to take their sport to the level of a full contact fight, where they could use their arsenal of attacks to their potential.
Gradually, this full contact karate evolved into what is today known as kickboxing, with the rules and fighting style remaining similar to those that the early bouts were fought under.
