September 2004

As the IKF Message board Admin in september of 2004, I presented a series of questions to IKF President Steve Fossum about Chuck Norris' new WCL, (World Combat League - www.worldcombatleague.com) and other things about the IKF. Here is that discussion below.

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Q & A To
IKF President Steve Fossum (R)

1. ADMIN: There seems to be a lot of discussion about the WCL on the message board. Should we allow it?
   • Mr. Fossum: It's a tricky question and i'm not sure what action should be taken. If we don't allow it, the fighters will think we don't want them to grow as fighters. If we allow it, we have some IKF Promoters asking WHY are we wallowing news about a non IKF Sanctioned event. Either way, we become a target. those who want to keep it here don't see the reality of why we, as a business, may not want to support the WCL. However, those not wanting us to allow WCL posts may not see that it could help the "Fighters" of our sport. the truth is, the real action is more complex than just a simple yes or no. That's why I have been staying out of it.
     
     
2. ADMIN: Do you think the WCL good for kickboxing?
   • Mr. Fossum: I'm not sure. It is clear that the WCL DOES NOT want to call "THEIR" new sport Kickboxing so how does it help kickboxing? Really now, this is the fact, but NOT the whole issue here. Just seeing kickboxers fighting in such a high profile event will be good for the fight sport, as long as the WCL still gives credit to the sport of kickboxing itself. Time will tell if this happens. simply put, the WCL has made it clear that they do not want to associate with "kickboxing", so should we feel the same way, as Kickboxers, towards the WCL? I'm not sure.
     
     
3. ADMIN: Do you think the WCL is good for the Professional Kickboxer?
   • Mr. Fossum: "YES!!" I say YES because it is providing them Great Opportunities! If these Pro fighters were staying active and fighting often and getting paid well, none of them would need the WCL. However, this is NOT the case, as we all know. The new WCL is providing a venue for these many great fighters. They are NOT IKF Fighters, they are FIGHTERS!
     
     
4. ADMIN: Do you personally or financially fear the WCL?
   • Mr. Fossum: Is this interview about kickboxing or the WCL? haha.
     
     
5. ADMIN: Sorry, I just wanted to hear more about your opinions on the WCL.
   • Mr. Fossum: OK, fair enough. I do not fear financially for the IKF from the WCL. However, I fear what "Could" happen to Professional Kickboxing as a whole, if all the Professional Kickboxers sign some type of contract with the WCL. This has not happened, nor has anyone said it will happen, I'm only saying, "IF" it comes to this. Call me Selfish, but I'm honest. If the WCL succeeds and pays these fighters thousands of dollars a year, I am VERY HAPPY for these fighters, who wouldn't be. Again though, if it means we won't be able to see some of them on regular kickboxing events, I will be selfish and say, this part of the sport will be surly missed. So to answer, I don't fear the WCL, I only fear if it takes away what our sport is. They want to have 24 teams of 7, which will take, with the alternates, nearly 200 Professional Kickboxers. Are there 200 Professional Kickboxers in North America? Again though, this threat has not been presented, so we may never have to worry about it.
     
     
6. ADMIN: Are you Jealouse of the WCL?
   • Mr. Fossum: That's it, be like Ray and put me on the spot. haha. Ok, to be honest, Of course I am.... at least I think I am, in some ways. I think anyone here would be a little if they are not involved with something as exciting as the "Preception" of the WCL. In a way. Who wouldn't want to have millions of dollars to promote shows like the WCL has done on the last two? ALL of us would. Of course I wish we had the money to do something like this for the sport of kickboxing. However, we don't have the money Chuck Norris has or the connections he has and it's clear, with such money, Great Things can be built. Along with Mike Sawyer and Cory Schafer, they seem to be creating an exciting sport that many are interested in. There must have been a reason they turned away from the iska, (Not being negative, or taking a stab, just making a point) and it seems to be the new exciting sport of the WCL. So I wish them the greatest success and hope they make a lot of "Deserving" Pro fighters happy and rich. This is something we have ALL wanted to see for a long time and it appears Cory, Mike and Chuck did not believe it was going to happen in the sport of Kickboxing, as it is today. So, they invented something with a new, and in their opinion, a more exciting format.
     
     
7. ADMIN: Do you wish the IKF was involved with the WCL?
   • Mr. Fossum: Of course I do. Again, who wouldn't? Look at all the people who wanted to be involved with K-1 when it grew. We may have the same thing here in the WCL. Although it's not on TV yet, if it is, it's great for these Pro Fighters. Even better if they can actually make a living at it! However, Cory made it clear to me that Chuck did not want to associate with ANY Sanctioning body. So, end of story.
     
     
8. ADMIN: Will the IKF support the WCL?
   • Mr. Fossum: Hmmmm. Are you setting me up? haha, Is this a trick question? I mean, do we support the WKA, ISKA? Does Burger King support McDonalds? The WCL has made it clear they don't need the IKF, so why should we "Openly" support them with things like allowing news about them be on our message board? Fair is fair right? The WCL isn't advertising the IKF on their web site, so why should we allow anyone, even those not officially associated with the WCL?
     
     
9. ADMIN: Have you been to a WCL event?
   • Mr. Fossum: No, but I do hope to attend the upcoming Las Vegas event.
     
     
10. ADMIN: Do you like the Team concept?
    • Mr. Fossum: I think it's exciting in theory, but I have had mixed reactions from others. I personally think it has some great potential. i just wish it was more like kickboxing and not a new sport. Again, call me selfish, but if a Team League were to be created, I would like to see each member fight 3, 2 minute rounds and move to the next fighter.
      
      
11. ADMIN: Do you think the WCL will make it to TV?
    • Mr. Fossum: I learned a theory once, and it helped us grow the IKF. When we started, of course we were not the biggest or the best, so i put this theory into action, the theory was, "If you can't be the best, be different, and you become the BEST!" I'm not stabbing at Chuck, Cory or Mike, I'm just saying, they were smart in making something different. in doing so, they may get through those TV doors that have been closed on so many kickboxing people for so many years. The skill and talent and of course, the key part, the money is all there, and with money, so much more is possible, like creating elaborate productions like the last 2 WCL events. They didn't make money on them, but they Promoted them. If TV likes what they see, along with sponsors, these guys will have a winning sport.
      
      
12. ADMIN: What is the next big thing for the IKF?
    • Mr. Fossum: Wow, a question about the IKF. haha. I was hoping this moment would come. haha.
      
      
13. ADMIN: Sorry, it's just that there has been a lot of discussion about the WCL and some want to know where you stand.
    • Mr. Fossum: OK, to answer your question, we have a lot of things in the works all the time, as anyone does in their business, but as far as a "Big Thing", we are currently focusing on our magazine right now. "IF" we find enough $$ to do it, we could create a lot of exposure for our sport. We all know a KICKBOXING magazine, a GOOD ONE, is Much needed to bring more media exposure to our sport. This has been a dream of ours for years and the time is now to put it into action. Or as we have always said, "Enough of the TALK, we need to WALK the WALK!" Anyone out there care to give us some winning lotto numbers? haha.
      
      
14. ADMIN: With the upcoming IKF World Tournament what can we expect to see different this year?
    • Mr. Fossum: Well, of course the fighters from outside North America will be a welcome edition, but for everyone, the big news from IKF HQ here will be the AWARDS! We plan to have some GREAT AWARDS at this years tournament! Not just for the Champions, but ALL the fighters. The venue (US Cellular Center) is an AWESOME venue, a real arena. for those who missed it last time we were there, they surly don't want to miss it this years. for spectators it's great too, and for the fighters, it's AWSOME!
      
      
15. ADMIN: Aren't you missing something here? A new addition maybe?
    • Mr. Fossum: Oh ya, my wife Toni may kick me for forgetting. haha. We are expecting our first child in August, so she may not be able to make it to the event. Hopefully, I won't be called away for an early arival. She's due August 12th.
      
      
16. ADMIN: Congratulations, is it a boy or girl?
    • Mr. Fossum: Not sure yet, but if it's a boy, I think I will have plenty of places to send him for kickboxing training. haha. If a girl, I think Toni plans on making a princess out of her. OK... so do I...
      
      
17. ADMIN: Thanks Steve, anything else you want to add?
    • Mr. Fossum: Can't think of anything, but if you want to do this again, I'm in. It was kinda fun.

If you have questions for our next "Q & A With Steve Fossum" thread, please e-mail me at admin@ikfkickboxing.com

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