The World Association for Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) has chosen the fighters for the US Team who will compete at the next adult World Championship to be held in Coimbra, Portugal from September 26th to October 2nd, 2007.
According to the official website, WAKO World Championships are held every two years, with youth (18 years-old and under) and adults (18-45 years-old) in separate years. All participants have to be citizens of the country they represent and meet the pre-qualification requirements prior to selection.
Even though there are up to 11 recognized kickboxing styles, the assigned divisions at the World Championship are Semi Contact (Point Fighting), Light Contact (Continuous Fighting), Full Contact, Low Kick, Thai Kick, Musical Forms/Weapons, and Aero Kickboxing.
While there are at least six other major international kickboxing organizations, which all host competitions, WAKO aligned itself with the International Amateur Kickboxing Sport Asssociation (IAKSA) in 2006 in order to be accepted as governing body by the General Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF). This tactical move has enabled WAKO to grow into the probably largest unified kickboxing organization in the world, since its inauguration in 1976.
The competition rules at the official WAKO website state that:
You must have a WAKO Sports Pass and a Medical Release to Compete
In World Championships you must be a member of your country's team, and you must be a citizen of the country you are representing.
In Semi-Contact and Light-Contact each fight is 3 rounds of 2 minutes each (10 point lead)
In Weapons there are NO weapon releases (rules are subject to change)
In Forms and Weapons "non-martial arts moves (gymnastics)" are limited, please review rules carefully.
