K-1

K-1 is a kickboxing combat sport that combines standup techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing and traditional Boxing, among others. The name is a play off the abbreviation of Formula 1, which is F-1. The sport was first formed by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin karate competition fighter who had formed his own organization, Seido-kaikan karate, in 1980. Seido-kaikan arranged several successful organization challenge events against other martial sport organizations, originally using rules based on the Kyokushin Knockdown karate rules, but gradually adapting and changing closer to kickboxing rules. In 1993 Mr. Ichii founded the K-1 organization exclusively as a kickboxing sport organizations, closely cooperating with, but independent from, Seido-kaikan.

There is currently a 70.5kg (155lb) weight division in K-1 called K-1 MAX ("Middleweight Artistic Xtreme").

The K-1 organization is currently headed and promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) of Japan. FEG also promotes HERO's mixed martial arts events, with headliners such as Genki Sudo, Royce Gracie, Bob Sapp, Kazushi Sakuraba and Don Frye. Both promotions regularly cross-promote, and some of FEG's contracted fighters have fought in both circuits.

Rules

Regular K-1 matches are contested under the following rules:

• Each match is three or five rounds in duration, with each round lasting three minutes.
• The match can end by Knockout, Technical Knockout, Decision, Disqualification, Draw or No Contest.
• Both the referee and the ring doctor have full authority to stop the fight.
• The fight is scored by three judges on a ten-point must system (The winner of each round receives ten points, and the loser receives nine or less. If the round is even, both competitors receive ten points).
• If there is a draw after three rounds, the judges' scores are thrown out and one or two extra three-minute rounds are contested. The judges' decision will then come from the scoring of each extra round only. If, after the extra round(s), there is still a draw, the judges will decide a winner based on the flow of the entire match, considering even the slightest difference. A fight can only end in a draw if both fighters go down at the same time and cannot get up, or in the case of accidental injury in the late stages of the contest.
• The three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical knockout).
• The mandatory eight count is in effect (the referee must count to at least "eight" on all knockdowns).
• The standing eight count is in effect (the referee has the right to declare a knockdown on a fighter who appears to be in a dangerous condition to continue in the match).
• A fighter can be saved by the bell only in the last round.

In K-1 single elimination tournament matches:

• Each match is three rounds in duration.
• The three-knockdown rule becomes a two-knockdown rule for all matches except the final.
• One or two reserve fights are held prior to the single elimination matches. If for any reason a fighter who wins and advances through the brackets is unable to continue, a reserve match competitor, or the fighter's opponent from the most recent match, takes his place. There are certain exceptions to this rule (i.e. a fighter who lost a match by knockout might not be eligible to replace another fighter).
  

Fouls

The following actions in K-1 are considered fouls:

• Using the head or elbow to deliver a blow
• Attacking the opponent in the groin
• Delivering wrestling or judo throwing or submission techniques
• Thumbing, choking or biting the opponent
• Punching the opponent in the throat
• Attacking the opponent while he is down or in the process of getting up
• Attacking the opponent after the referee calls a break
• Holding the ropes
• Using offensive language to the referee
• Attacking the back of the head with a punch
• Attempting to cause the opponent to fall out of the ring
• Voluntarily exiting the ring during the course of a match
• Attacking an opponent who turns around and shows his back (unless the opponent loses his will to fight)
• Delivering a backspin blow in an unauthorized area
• Charging inside the opponent's arms with the head held low (inducing a head-butt)
• Fighting in a passive manner (without attacking), including continuous holding and clinching
• Attacking more than once while holding the opponent's kicking leg, or while holding the opponent's neck with both hands

A fighter is penalized as follows:

• Caution - verbal reprimand by the referee
• Warning - fighter is shown a yellow card
• Point Deduction - fighter is shown a red card

Two cautions result in one warning. Two warnings result in a point deduction, and three point deductions in one round can result in a disqualification.

A red card is shown automatically if a fighter commits a foul with malicious intent.

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