Kickboxing began in Europe and America as an option to traditional martial arts and is often allied with mixed martial arts. Although not really considered one of the martial arts, many of the competitors who enter the sport have skills in martial arts and were often included with the best competitors in their chosen sport. Many expert boxers also get into the sport of martial arts, after a trainer has taken the time to teach them how to kick.

The purpose of a kickboxing match is to out punch and out kick an opposing player to the point where they cannot fight anymore or until the last of the round when the judges will determine the winner of the match. Unlike a kickboxing tournament, the athletess in a kickboxing match will typically wear some defensive gear, such as mouth guards, boxing gloves, and a groin shield. This is to take care that the athletes in the match do not have lasting damage from their bout in the ring.

There are a lot of different kinds types of kickboxing that may be featured in a match and a number of the differences in style are geographic in nature. Several countries, including France, India, and Cambodia, have developed their own styles of kickboxing which can be distinguished by several, such as if the athletes are allowed to wear shoes or shin protection. In a number of games, the rules of the event will reflect the common type of kickboxing performed in that location.

In the American style of martial arts, participants in the game are allowed to strike other participant with their hands or their feet anywhere above the belt. Using elbows and knees to hit the opposing player is not allowed and in most cases, participants are not allowed to use their shins to strike their opposing player either. Each round in the meet will typically last for 2 or 3 minutes and each match consists of 3 - 12 rounds.

Other types of martial arts follow the same general rules, but with minor modifications that leave room for the use of an individual style. For example, in the Japanese style of martial arts, elbows and knees may be used to strike your rival and the contestant is allowed to strike below the belt as long as the groin area is not hit.