New Zealand

Kickboxing is not so much a single matial art as it is a Martial Sport that emerged in the 1970's when the great fighters of that time such as Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Don Wilson, and my all time favortie benny Urquidez got tired of Point Fighting and began to look for something new.  Inspired by Muay Thai Kickboxing which is a very fast, aggressive, and powerfull art that originated in Thailand. 

The new martial art included techniques from the traitional arts such as Taekwon-Do and Karate with punches of western boxing.  Kicboxing matches are much like boxing matches but with less rounds.  kickboxers wear hand and feet pads and no form of grappling is allowed (unlike it's muay thai counterpart).  When in a Kickboxing match you must throw a minium amount of kicks or you are penailzed. 

kicboxers do not train with philosphy in mind, instead they train with only one goal to win.  If they are not training there techniques, they are training there bodies to devolpe more stength, speed, and stamina.   

Links:

• The World of Arts