CHUCK NORRIS & THE WORLD COMBAT LEAGUE

In the July 2006 edition of Black Belt Magazine, it is reported that on March 3, 2006, Chuck Norris launched the World Combat League.  The World Combat League is a professional kickboxing league that is team kickboxing in which each member fights two three minute rounds.

The teams represent cities and each team has six fighters; 5 men and one woman. The teams that night were from the cities of Los Angeles (Stars), Las Vegas (Gators), Dallas (Dragons), and Denver (Destroyers).  There are two conferences, the Western and Eastern.  Right now, the World Combat league only has four teams.

Cory Schafer the League’s commissioner noted in the article that the “…WCL places a premium on athletic kicking skills, which is designed to create a more action packed fight.  No holding, clinching, throwing, grappling, or wrestling is allowed. If a fighter tries to slow the pace of the bout by avoiding his opponent or not fighting aggressively, the referee calls ‘passivity” against the person and awards the opponent a point. Ideally, each round will feature two stand-up fighters going full-bore to score as many points for their teams as possible.  Three judges score each round based on the number of knockdowns, the extent of damage inflicted and the number of clean strikes landed.”

Each contest is twelve rounds and each fighter fights in a predetermined weight class.  The league takes world-class fighters in kickboxing, karate and taekwondo instead of having them fight up to 12 rounds, the World Combat League have them fight two rounds, which in theory will provide for a non-stop action packed round.  Giving the audience more action per round, fighters go full speed in every round.

The article further informs that fancy kicks are “rewarded with a greater point value.  Unlike in mixed martial arts events, chokes and grappling techniques are not part of the equation, and no Muay Thai kicks are allowed to the knees…Kicks are allowed to the lead leg above the knee, but they must not be part of a combination attack.”

Each time a penalty occurs a point is given to the other team.  The score is displayed on a large digital billboard, allowing spectators to keep tabs on their favorite fighter.

Cory Schafer states, “ All the athletes are professionals and are paid above kickboxing scale,” He adds, “We look forward to securing television contracts, bringing in big-name sponsorship and developing a program similar to other league sports, which will allow the fighters to make a full-time living doing what they love to do.”

The fight world is still evolving and changing for the better.  The Business of Boxing wishes Chuck Norris and the World Combat League much success!

Keep Your Guard Up and Keep Kicking!