W.A.K.O. World Championships 1993 in Budapest were the joint ninth world kickboxing championships hosted by the W.A.K.O. organization arranged by Hungarian kickboxing president Richard Leyrer. As with the 1985 world championships the organization had suffered a temporary split due to political differences, and a previous event had been held in Atlantic City earlier in the month. These political differences would be resolved in the near future and the organization would be re-united.

The Budapest event was open to amateur men and women from across the world – with 500 participants taking part from 47 countries. The styles on offer were Full-Contact, and for the first time ever at a W.A.K.O. championships, Low-Kick (more information on the styles can be found in the relevant sections below). Another first was that women could now take part in Full-Contact kickboxing, whereas before they could only take part in less physical styles. At the end of a very competitive championships, Poland were the top nation in terms of medals won, with Morocco a very close second and France just behind in third. The event was held in Budapest, Hungary over four days, starting on Thursday, 25 November and finishing on Sunday, 28 November. An estimated 3,500 spectators attended the championships.

Full-Contact

Making a re-appearance to a W.A.K.O. world championships after being absent at London 1991, Full-Contact involved the participants trying to win the contest either by points or by stoppage – more detail on the rules can be found at the W.A.K.O. website, although be aware that they may have changed slightly since 1993. The men had twelve weight classes ranging from 51 kg/112.2 lbs to over 91 kg/+200.2 lbs, with several new divisions being added, while, for the first time ever, women were allowed to participate in Full-Contact at a W.A.K.O. event, with six weight divisions ranging from 48 kg/105.6 lbs to over 65 kg/+143 lbs. Poland was the strongest country in Full-Contact with four gold, one silver and one bronze medal by the end of the championships.

Men's Full-Contact Kickboxing Medals Table

Light Bantamweight -51 kgMariusz Cieśliński Irlan Mozhanov Vladimir Solodovnik Andrej Ossirny Bantamweight -54 kgVelimir Sablic Djusipov Birdjan Laszlo Toth Askar Mozhanov Featherweight -57 kgMohamed Hadifi Marco Lorusso Rinat Zagipulliw Aleksei Ouvarov Lightweight -60 kgViktor Aksuytin Philippe Allagbe Yuri Zukovsky Vladimir Matvinsky Light Welterweight -63.5 kgPiotr Bartnicki Oleg Zinoviev László Szűcs Victor Shiderbaev Welterweight -67 kgÁrpád Szabó Viatselav Timofeev Lionel Berger Wojchech Wiertel Light Middleweight -71 kgYuri Fedun Yevgeni Prokudine Valery Horushenko Guran Malakanja Middleweight -75 kgFrank Schmidt Barnabas Budai Peter Madsen Nasser Nassiri Light Heavyweight -81 kgGerald Philippot Alex Kivgilo Wieland Beust Grigory Naumenko Cruiserweight -86 kgParis Vasilikos Jean-Marc Koumba Kaj Lindgren Valentin Molchanov Heavyweight -91 kgSamir Usenagić Peter Vensen Erkbnai Kutibaev Jozef Charabcek Super Heavyweight +91 kgAlmaz Guismeev Nicolai Pychkov Hubert Numrich Zoran Zijan

Women's Full-Contact Kickboxing Medals Table

Bantamweight -48 kgMichelina Giagnotti Marie Laure Niviere Outbihit Kaltoum Toula Tsolaki Featherweight -52 kgVirgine Ducros Eleni Voidou Aluira Nazarova Jana Primodko Lightweight -56 kgSnejana Bortcheva Iwona Gozowska Tajana Kulida Oxana Vargockaia Middleweight -60 kgAgnieska Rylik Galina Gjumlijska Lougou Mina Alona Tverdolchleb Light Heavyweight -65 kgDaniella Somers Stanka Savcic Abdir Ibriq Soumia Debrani Heavyweight +65 kgDragana Ignjatić Natalie Laufray Dani Vamvakidoy Leila Topic

Low-Kick

Making its debut at a W.A.K.O. championships, Low-Kick is similar to Full-Contact kickboxing only differing in that it allowed kicks below the knee – more detail on Low-Kick rules can be found at the W.A.K.O. website, although be aware that there may have been some rule changes since 1993. Only men were allowed to participate in Low-Kick with twelve weight classes ranging from 51 kg/112.2 lbs to over 91 kg/+200.2 lbs. A notable winner was Andrei Dudko (who would later win the K-1 USA Championships 2000) taking gold in the +91 kg division. Morocco were the strongest nation in Low-Kick winning four gold medals.

Men's Low-Kick Kickboxing Medals Table

Light Bantamweight -51 kgDariusz Jung Aleksej Klitckine Gleb Akimov Gabor Aburko Bantamweight -54 kgDimitar Peshev Ajal Borissov Viatcheslav Tislenko Timur Chrednichenko Featherweight -57 kgEl Bacha Sulaiman Slimane Kebaili Giuseppe Grieco Konstantin Timofeev Lightweight -60 kgYuri Bondarenko Raba Boukaz Yuri Ivanov Gilles Lachaux Light Welterweight -63.5 kgAhmed Gounane János Gönci Eugeny Desinov Welterweight -67 kgMohamed Ouali Drazen Erlic Vladimir Bulba Csaba Molnár Light Middleweight -71 kgAndor Filo Vadim Ukraincev Mohamed Mecherar Vladimir Pashin Middleweight -75 kgHuber Prundu Valery Shumak Mihaly Tijzai Armen Maruossian Light Heavyweight -81 kgMustapha Lahksem Aleksander Zygostev Peter Jammons Bido Basovic Cruiserweight -86 kgCharti Bowat Artem Tanajan Goran Scekic Laszlo Polyak Heavyweight -91 kgAndrei Churizov Sami Akin Vesko Cejovic Faoy Tarraf Super Heavyweight +91 kgAndrei Dudko Andrei Bukhanuk Raynal Fucho Michail Simov

Overall Medals Standing (Top 5)

Ranking Country Gold Silver Bronze 1 Poland 5 1 2 2 Morocco 5 0 2 3 France 5 5 5 4 Hungary 2 3 5 5 Crimea 2 2 5

See also List of WAKO Amateur World Championships List of WAKO Amateur European Championships List of male kickboxers List of female kickboxers

References

External links WAKO World Association of Kickboxing Organizations Official Site