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IKF/TKO USA
Amateur Kickboxing Championships... The True Test
for All USA Amateur Kickboxers!
As the the largest sanctioning body for Pro and Amateur Kickboxing in the
World, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
will once again present the Largest Amateur "Kickboxing ONLY"
Tournament in North America.
Last years event (The 4th year of this event) numbers were under the
expected growth pattern
due to the 9-11 tragedy but actually more than we had anticipated due to the
travel issues of 9-11. Of the 244
registered fighters, 202 actually showed up to "Walk the Walk". Of them, (Some
not making their weight limit and other reasons)
2001 actually
entered the fighting ring to
"Walk the Walk!"
Of the actual 200 who had a fight once there, 131 were above the waist Full
Contact American rule style Kickboxers, 38 were International leg kick rules and
31 were MuayThai fighters. They fought a total of 134 bouts over 2 days to
determine the best amateur kickboxers in America in their perspective divisions.
In the end, there were 64
IKF USA Championship Title Belts awarded,
40 in Full Contact, 14 in International and 10 in MuayThai Rules.
Of the 61, 2001 USA
National Champions, 18 made it back to the 2002 National Finals
Tournament. Of them, 15 made it back to the National Championship Finals Bout.
Of them, 13 of the 15 would retain their 2001 USA National Tournament Title. It
was a sporting event that showed the very best of American Amateur Kickboxers.
The 2002 event was a huge success as fighters and trainers came from all
over the United States, including Hawaii to "Walk
The Walk!" Some would be victorious in their quest to be
called the 2002
IKF National Champion, while others would need
to say at least they gave their all amongst the best. Based on the four years
the event has been held, not only has it more than doubled its number of
competitors, but it also has become the standard assessment for amateur
kickboxers in the USA.
The IKF Nationals Tournament is a
unique event for kickboxers and is the kickboxing equivalent to the golden glove
tournament for amateur boxers. The event is the incubator for the future of the
sport. The fighters compete at regional events held throughout the United States
to determine their seed/ranking for the National Finals Tournament. Those
competitors that do not compete in a Regional Event will have to start from the
bottom and fight their way up to the championship match.
In this process of elimination, competitors could fight up to three to four
times over the weekend before winning a championship. Each match is three rounds
in length and two minutes each round. The competitors pay an entree fee to help
cover tournament expenses and also pay their own travel expenses to attend the
event. Most competitors don't mind the expenses and are even more motivated to
try harder knowing that winning one of the $200 Brass & Leather Title Belts
is worth it all! They can also rest assured that the tournament has fair judging
and safety precautions, therefore rules of competition and headgear like in
amateur/Olympic boxing is strictly enforced.
Although last years (2002) National Finals event was a bit under the
expected growth rate due to the 9-11 tragedy of the previous year, of all the
past IKF Nationals Tournaments, last
year's event was more successful in regards to the level of competition which
improves every year. Like any event such as this, in previous years following
the first, more kickboxers hear of the quality of the event and more come out of
the woodworks to "Walk The Walk!" Some after the event
that were confident of victory before it all started found themselves saying, "oh
well, they really came to fight this year...I'll be back to go for it again next
year!" They now realize that the IKF
Nationals Tournament is a must for serious kickboxers and is setting the
standard for who are TRULY the best Amateur Kickboxers in America! |
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The International Kickboxing Federation
has been the front runner in recognizing past champions who have contributed to
the sport of Kickboxing. It doesn't matter which organization they fought for,
the only thing that matters is that they are recognized kickboxers who helped
grow this great sport in their respective divisions or styles. Last year's event
was swarmed with past and current amateur and pro champions who realize the
impact of the IKF Nationals Tournament.
Many of them are now training up and coming champions of their own. Just to
name a few of those in attendance over the years were IKF
World Champions
Dave "Madman" Marinoble, Anthony "Powerhouse"
Bartenelli, Duke Roufus, Kongnapa, Mike Labree along with other Champions
such as Kevin Hudson, Jim Zbilski, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny "Superfoot"
Davis, Chuck Wolfe, Bookerd Fairtex, Bob "Thunder" Thurmond,
Curtis Bush, Scott Mincey and many others...
After speaking with many of these champions, all had the same general
feelings about the tournament... "Think of where Kickboxing would be
today if we had this type of tournament years ago, it would now be an Olympic
event!" Several of them cringed to think of the prizes they had fought
for as compared to the beautiful awards these National Amateur Champions were
receiving. The championship belts alone would make most past champions envious
as well as proud of those whom they were presenting them to after their victory.
Moreover, the winners received beautiful black hooded jackets with the IKF Nationals Tournament logo. They also receive a
pair of autograph boxing gloves also embossed with the IKF
Nationals Tournament logo. All the 2nd place finishers received a finalist
medal. And as in past years, everyone will receive a
Wipps
Brainpad/Mouthpiece.
Past and current champions alike are excited about the Nationals. Past
champions know that it was their blood, sweat, and tears that provided this
moment for fighters today. These great champions promised even more
participation from their gyms for the 2003 Nationals and were proud to be a part
of this momentous event.
This years 2003
IKF/TKO USA National
Amateur Championship Finals
location is the U.S. Cellular Center Arena
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA.
The arena has a total of 16,200 square feet on the actual arena floor and
30,000 square feet total making plenty of bleacher seating for spectators. It
is one of the most impressive entertainment venues in the midwest. It also
has 4 locker rooms for the participants and plenty of warm-up area surrounding
the outside of the arena bowl.
This years Host Hotel is the
Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel. It is
connected by hallway to the event venue, the US Cellular Center and connected by
12-block skywalk system to numerous shopping and dining options and 2 theatres,
the Theatre Cedar Rapids and the IMAX Theatre. The hotel is located 10
minutes from the airport and they do have free shuttle service. All 275 rooms in
the 16-story hotel feature cable TV and in-room movies, coffee maker, hair
dryer, ironing board/iron and there are non-smoking rooms available. Hotel
offers concierge level, business center, fitness center, indoor pool, and sauna.
Top of the Five rooftop restaurant and Front Street Lounge, serving lighter
fare, are both open 7 days a week.
So, amateur kickboxers across this great nation, the "white glove"
is off, the line is drawn in the sand and the challenge is issued, Train hard
and get ready to
"WALK THE WALK" AND BRING IT ON!
to the 2003 IKF/TKO Regionals and
USA National Championship Finals...
YOUR TRUE TEST TO BE THE
BEST!
"WALK THE WALK!" Bring
It ON!
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
The IKF
USA National Amateur Championship Tournament is open to both men and women "AMATEURS"
ages 8 and up from the USA.
SEEDING & Placement
- Regionals to Finals
- REGIONAL SEEDING TOURNAMENTS
In
each Regional Seeding Tournament, fighters will be fighting to determine their
seeding at the National Finals. Regardless of their bout outcome, all fighters
will be welcome to the 2003 USA National Finals event.
- *PREVIOUS
CHAMPIONS
All previous years Champions do not have to compete at
their regionals to determine their seeding at the National Finals. ALL previous
years Champions will recieve an automatic **#1
Seeding at the National Finals Event. Like any Champion, it's their title to
defend and they will be ready to defend it... "Bring
It ON!"
- (**) If you are a previous year "North American Champion," 'AND' a
previous year USA Champion you will be the top seed in the spot you won the
North American tournament at. If there is a USA Champion and a North American
Champion and BOTH were at the USA Nationals, the North American Champion would
be seeded #1 followed by the USA Champion at #2 seed. If a North American
Champion did not participate at the previous years USA Nationals, he/she would
be a number 2 seed behind the USA Champion of the previous year.
- (*) If you are a previous years
Champion (Junior/Children Included) and you plan to attend this years USA
National Tournament, you must defend the title in the same weightclass
and the
same rule style as the title you won last year. Otherwise, you will be
required to register and become seeded through your regional seeding tournament
if there is one in your area.
- SEEDING FOR FIGHTERS WITHOUT A REGIONAL
If there is no regional in a fighters area, they have 2 choices. 1: To
travel to register at the regional seeding tournament closest to them and attend
it to assure a strong seeding or, 2: To simply register as a "Walkover"
fighter to attend the Nationals. "IF YOU DO NOT
REGISTER AT ANY REGIONAL SEEDING TOURNAMENT, YOU WILL HAVE A LOWER SEED THAN
EVERYONE WHO DID PARTICIPATE AT A REGIONAL SEEDING TOURNAMENT."
You do not need to be living in a state that is listed for a regional seeding
tournament. Again, if you are not in a state that is included in a regional
seeding tournament you have the 2 choices above. iIF YOU ARE living in a state
that is included in a regional seeding tournament you MUST REGISTER for
this regional event to qualify to attend the National finals. If you do not
register for the regional event in your area you will NOT BE ALLOWED TO
ATTEND The National Finals.
YEARLY TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONS
The WINNERS of the each division will be
crowned the
IKF USA National Amateur Champion. There
will only be 1 USA National Amateur Champion.
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