Rick Dobson - WAKO (NZ/Oceania) President

Georg Bruckner promoted the first ever World Championships  in semi and full contact karate ( as it was called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitors representing 18 countries.

WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sports, and has acted since the very beginning, as the authentic Kickboxing Federation of the world.  In the WAKO World Championships,  only national teams are accepted.  Each member country can present only 1 competitor in each weight class, therefore each representative is the premier competitor in that category, from their country.
 

Rick Dobson was awarded the Presidency of WAKO for New Zealand in 2005. he has a very long history of Martial Arts and Business coming from a Karate background with over 30 years of experience in both the Karate and Kickboxing fields. His prior competitive titles range through Karate & Kickboxing including competitive National and International titles, and positions of National coaching/managing.

On gaining the presidency his objectives were to develop WAKO Kickboxing in NZ and given two years to place a National team into the World championships. Rick attained the objective within 12 months by holding National Semi and Full contact Championships in New Zealand and also by placing a National Team into the World Championships in Hungary 2005.

Rick assisted WAKO with their acceptance into GAISF, and gained the Presidency of Oceania to go with the New Zealand title. This being awarded from the Board of Directors for WAKO in Hungary 2005. WAKO was accepted and recognised as a Sport by GAISF (General Assembly of International Sports Foundations) in 2006. WAKO holds the recognition for Kickboxing sports. The International federation of Muaythai (IFMA) hold the recognition for Muay Thai.

New Zealands first team of Juniors 10yrs old to 17 yrs old, competed in Croatia in 2006, and the New Zealand senior team in Portugal in 2007. Rick has been invited to take the first WAKO-PRO team to England for the coveted WAKO-PRO world title fights in 2008.

For his devotion to WAKO and Kickboxing, he was awarded a High level sports awards for Administration and management in New Zealand, and recognised for this work by WAKO by receiving the 6th Degree by Dr Falsoni, President of WAKO.

WAKO (NZ) has adapted the International rules following approval by WAKO to allow NZ fighters the ability to fight with less protection than adviseable. In National competition fighters must wear full protection in their first ring fight, following this, they have the option of wearing Headgear, and Shin/Foot protectors, although WAKO (NZ) do advise that all protective equipment is worn. During Semi contact competition, all protection is worn although Shin & Instep protectors can be worn instead of Kickboxing Boots. Shorts are allowed providing they are Martial Arts attire. Groin Guards for Full contact and mouth guards for all contact competition are mandatory.

Membership Number 00199

WAKO (NZ) follow the following disciplines, Ring Sports: Full Contact which includes Over waist kicks and a minimum of 6 kicks per round. No knees, elbows or spinning back fists. K1style: As full contact but, Kicks can be to legs. One Knee strike per time allowed. Spinning backfist allowed. Mat Sports: Semi-Contact Points, Semi contact, referee stopping the match each time a strike to a scoring area is witnessed. Semi-Contact Continuous, Continuous sparring similar to a Ring match but lighter contact  and fought on a mat. Both mat competitions are scored with points for different technique. Musical Forms: Forms produced to a musical background, scoring the competitor on his/her abilities, synchronization and skill.

The following video outlines the history and direction of WAKO both internationally and in New Zealand.