Anyone got any opinions about what happened to kickboxing and why it faded away after huge popularity?
I wouldn't consider kickboxing hugely popular in the 80's unless you're talking about it being used for fitness and aerobics. There are many different styles in kickboxing coming from all parts of the world. American, Japanese and International rules are all different. Japan is as close to full contact as it comes. International kickboxing can range from semi to full contact and they don't kick below the waist in America and Australia. Not to mention the rise of MMA over the past 20 years.
Possibly. Blame Dennis Alexio for getting paralyzed in Kickboxer The whole movie was about Muay Thai.
you're both wrong. kickboxing was gaining in popularity but a lack of stars and the fracturing of the sport killed it in the us. there weren't a lot of recognizable names to begin with, and with sanctioning bodies rushing in to make their money, it kept the best from fighting each other and the combination made it just fizzle away.
Who said we were talking about the US? Fact is Muay Thai has overtaken KB in most countries as the preferred stand up style. Whilst you may have a point with the US scene this is not the case with the UK, Europe and the UK.
