Kickboxing is fairly new to the Western world - it's only about 30 years old, compared to boxing, which is nearly 200 years old. In Kickboxing class, participants are required to wear padded gloves and foot gear and, in some leagues, helmets and shin guards. Because it is a realistic, practical method of fighting, it has grown into a popular sport. Kickboxing techniques combine elements of Karate and Muay Thai; both the strategy and techniques from kicking and boxing. It mixes foot techniques from Karate and fist techniques from Muay Thai.

Kickboxing schools compete in four different types of combat: semi-contact, light-contact, full-contact and low-kick. All these systems follow precise rules and regulations throughout the world.

The original form of Kickboxing surfaced in Japan. It evolved from Muay Tai techniques and was designed to effectively counteract that style. Later, full-contact karate first surfaced as American Kickboxing in January of 1970 when Joe Lewis (known as the father of American Kickboxing), influenced by his training sessions in boxing and with Bruce Lee, staged the first contact bout, knocking out Greg Baines to become the first heavyweight champion. In fact, another popular kickboxer during this seminal movement was American movie star Chuck Norris. Although this style of Kickboxing lost its popularity shortly after, some rules were changed and it once again gained popularity in the mid '90s. Now in Kickboxing schools, most elbow and neck wrestling moves have been eliminated, which gives Kickboxing a more singular identity that is familiar with Western audiences. It now more closely resembles boxing rather than grappling arts like Judo.