Kickboxing in Nigeria

The sport

Kickboxing in Nigeria

Kickboxing is known as a group of stand up warfare sports that is based on punching and kicking. It is a sport that grew out of karate mixed with boxing, and in Japan with Muay Thai, in the 1960s and 1970s. It is mainly serving as general fitness, contact sport or as a self-defense sport.

In kickboxing, kicks, as well as punches, is required to give to a legal spot target with absolute determination, speed and focus to develop a strong contact. Competitors in kickboxing put on gloves in their hands to throw a punch and use bare feet to kick.

The rules guiding the kickboxing says that the player can make use of kicks, strikes and punches to hit above the waist of the opposing player and also using knees and elbows are not allowed. In some kickboxing competitions, the use of shins is not allowed.

During a kickboxing competition, the fight takes place in a ring with the referee that will be in charge of the fighter safety and he will also make sure he abides by the rules of the game while the judges take note of the legal techniques and also points on the electronic scoring system.

Kickboxing has grown to be a popular sport in almost all parts of the world and is quite increasing in Nigeria in terms of awareness and popularity in order to compete with its counterpart - Boxing. In Nigeria, the sports/game is being governed by professional bodies such as Kick-Boxing Federation of Nigeria and Kickboxing Association of Nigeria.

The Nigerian kickboxing team participated in the 5th African Kickboxing Championship in Yaounde, Cameroon and won three gold, Nine Silver and four bronze medals which made them to be placed third on the table behind Algeria and the host Cameroon that finished first and second respectively. The championship was held from 23 April to 29 April, 2018.

Checked 30 September 2026

Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games and African Games

Kickboxing is not a Commonwealth Games sport, and it was not on the African Games programme in 2003, 2015, 2019 or Accra 2023. Nigerian kickboxers compete at WAKO African and world championships and in the professional ranks.

The next African Games are in Cairo, Egypt, from 20 January to 7 February 2027. See the full medal stories on our Commonwealth Games and African Games pages.

Benefits of kickboxing

Sports is good for the body as it is one of the ways the body can exercise and stay fits, kickboxing is more than just sports has many health benefits that it comes with;

Kickboxing boost one’s confidence because it is being practised for self-defence for some people; thereby helping one to learn how to defend his or herself.

Kickboxing also can help to improve coordination, which helps in coordination of the eye and also movement stability.

It can go a long way in reducing stress; it’s a good exercise for weight loss and it can also serve as an energy booster, it makes one be more disciplined because the rule of the game requires discipline and determination.

Kickboxing also serves as a mental workout; you exercise your mind while bringing together combination using punches, kicks, knees and elbows.