W.A.K.O. European Championships 1981
Encyclopedia
W.A.K.O. European Championships 1981 were the fifth European kickboxing
championships hosted by the W.A.K.O.
organization organized by one of the pioneers of Irish kickboxing George Canning. The championships were open to amateur
men based in Europe
only although each country was allowed more than one competitor per weight division, with the styles on offer being Full-Contact and Semi-Contact kickboxing. By the end of the competition regular leaders West Germany
were the top nation with the largest amount of medals, with Great Britain
in second and Italy
third. The event was held in 1981 in Dublin, Ireland.
to over 84 kg/+184.8 lbs
, with all bouts fought under Full-Contact
rules. More detail on Full-Contact's rules-set can be found at the W.A.K.O. website, although be aware that the rules have changed since 1981. Notable winners included future K-1
world champion Branko Cikatić
winning his third European gold medal in a row, and Ferdinand Mack continued his domination of the -69 kg division, winning his third gold medal at a W.A.K.O. championships (world and European). By the end of the championships Great Britain
was the top nation in Full-Contact just about beating West Germany
into second with two golds, two silvers and three bronze medals.
to over 84 kg/+184.8 lbs
. The top nation in Semi-Contact was West Germany
with a total of five gold medals.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
championships hosted by the W.A.K.O.
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations is one the international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord...
organization organized by one of the pioneers of Irish kickboxing George Canning. The championships were open to amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
men based in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
only although each country was allowed more than one competitor per weight division, with the styles on offer being Full-Contact and Semi-Contact kickboxing. By the end of the competition regular leaders West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
were the top nation with the largest amount of medals, with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in second and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
third. The event was held in 1981 in Dublin, Ireland.
Men's Full-Contact Kickboxing
Absent from the 1981 world championships in Milan, Full-Contact returned to the W.A.K.O. European championships in Dublin. There were the usual seven weight divisions, ranging from 57 kg/125.4 lbsPound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
to over 84 kg/+184.8 lbs
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
, with all bouts fought under Full-Contact
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
rules. More detail on Full-Contact's rules-set can be found at the W.A.K.O. website, although be aware that the rules have changed since 1981. Notable winners included future K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
world champion Branko Cikatić
Branko Cikatic
Branko "The Croatian Tiger" Cikatić is a Croatian former heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian born fighter to achieve international success...
winning his third European gold medal in a row, and Ferdinand Mack continued his domination of the -69 kg division, winning his third gold medal at a W.A.K.O. championships (world and European). By the end of the championships Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
was the top nation in Full-Contact just about beating West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
into second with two golds, two silvers and three bronze medals.
Men's Full-Contact Kickboxing Medals Table
| -57 kg | Michael Kuhr  |
Howard Brown | Uguz |
| -63 kg | Godfrey Butler | Klaus Friedhaber |
Sasha Stojanovich  |
| -69 kg | Ferdinand Mack |
Sandry Ravessoud  |
Wellington |
| -74 kg | A. Tommei |
Wilson | Dev Barrett |
| -79 kg | Branko Cikatić Branko Cikatic Branko "The Croatian Tiger" Cikatić is a Croatian former heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian born fighter to achieve international success... |
Dieter Herdel |
Steve Babbs |
| -84 kg | Flavio Galessi  |
Spika |
Cabo |
| +84 kg | Winston Greenwood | Miljenco Sarac |
Michele Panseri |
Men's Semi-Contact Kickboxing
The Semi-Contact category differed from Full-Contact in that fights were won on points given to superior skill, speed and technique and physical force was limited - more information on Semi-Contact can be found on the W.A.K.O. website, although the rules will have changed since 1981. As with previous events there was seven weight divisions, ranging from 57 kg/125.4 lbsPound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
to over 84 kg/+184.8 lbs
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
. The top nation in Semi-Contact was West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
with a total of five gold medals.
Men's Semi-Contact Kickboxing Medals Table
| -57 kg | Coughlan | Luciano |
Paladino |
| -63 kg | Mark Aston | Mike Schiller  |
Vosak |
| -69 kg | Fritz Bissot |
Ottavio Panunzio |
Roberts |
| -74 kg | Hans Hinz |
Federico Milani |
Clive Parkinson |
| -79 kg | H. Hirschganger |
Ivan Wray | Sehic |
| -84 kg | Harald Edel |
Alfie Lewis | Walter Meneghini |
| +84 kg | Rudiger Malzahn |
Leavey | Price |
Overall Medals Standing (Top 5)
| Ranking | Country | Gold  |
Silver  |
Bronze  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... |
7 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles... |
4 | 4 | 5 |
| 3 | Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
1 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century.... |
1 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
1 | 1 | 1 |
See also
- List of WAKO Amateur European Championships
- List of WAKO Amateur World Championships
- List of male kickboxers
- List of kickboxing organizations