Sport. History Kickboxing
Kickboxing is an art with incredibly strong and ancient roots which go back to the 3rd millenium BC to the Ancient Babylon from where we received the first information on the existence of the noble fisticuffs. Already in the antique times, the enlightened by that time Greeks practiced a very rough kind of single combats where the blows were delivered with hands as well as feet. That being said, the hands were given a certain preference. In Ancient Holland, in the times described in the novel about Till Ulenspigel, the invitation to measure one another's strengths with the rival "in a fair fight with hands and feet" was not a rarity. After a lapse of centuries, the English aristocrats gave birth to boxing. Initially it was allowed to strike blows not only with hands but also with feet and even the head. The fighters scuffled barehanded while the gloves were used only during trainings in order not to cripple the joints for nothing. However, boxing was gradually transforming and becoming less bloody and cruel. The first rules appeared, which were created by G. Brown in 1743 as, early as in the era of the glove fights, the so-called "Brown Code".
In 1783 new rules were created which determined more specifically the circle of the allowed fighting grips, rights and duties of the expostulating sides. In 1865 Marquis Queensberry in co-authorship with the journalist G.Chambers developed new rules, which were called the "Queensberry rules". The main principles of these rules became the basis of the rules, by which the competitions of professionals as well as amateurs take place today. After the World War II, together with other trophies, the national wrestling called "karate" was imported to America and Europe from the conquered Japan. The release in Europe of films with the participation of Bruce Lee, and the growing fashion of everything Oriental served as a certain push to large popularity and development of Eastern combats in Europe. In May 1974, American M. Andersen and German G. Brucker organized and held the first European karate tournament of all styles and the first intercontinental meeting Europe-USA with the participation of 88 sportsmen, black belts holders. The English term "kickboxing" appeared approximately at that time.
Kickboxing represents a harmonic alloy of the classic English boxing and karate. A little later, elements of technique from taekwondo and Thai boxing were added to kickboxing. Since then kickboxing became and is up to now that martial art which united the centuries-old traditions and experience of the West and the East more successfully, being a spectacular and dynamic kind of combat, attracting a lot of attention of the audience and demanding harmonic development of physical and psychological qualities from the sportsmen. In February 1977 the World Association of Kickboxers' Organizations was created which included over 50 Federations of various countries of all continents.
In Uzbekistan kickboxing began to develop in the end of the 1980s. In the beginning of 1990s the boxing coach Shakir Zakirov and his son, master of sports in boxing, Batir, being inspired byt the idea of the brothers Edem and Rustam Osmanovs, founded the first sports club of kickboxing in Uzbekistan "Bilur" and, later on, officially registered the Federation of kickboxing in Uzbekistan.
Batir Zakirov, under the direction of his father gained the title of Champion of Asia among professionals. Together with his father he trained the fourfold champion of the world Almas Yusufov, champion of the world Akmal Zakirov, as well as many other famous sportsmen which won and raised the Uzbek flag on various international tournaments. Since 2001 the Federation was headed by Sardor Tashkhodjaev, which got to the business of uniting the uncoordinated clubs and separate sections. We met him in his office and had a conversation.
How people come to Kickboxing?
Sardor Tashkhodjaev coaches girls too. Arzimatova Dilnoza is trained by him for 5 years already and is the first girl of Uzbekistan to become a world champion of 2003 in Greece. He coaches Irina Sadchikova for 7 years already and became the prizewinner of world competitions in 2002 on Rodos island.
- Sardor, sports for you is work or your lifestyle?
- Sport is everything to me, even though it sounds banal. I devoted myself to this and I do not see myself in any other activity. This is my world.
- Did you want to be a sportsmen in your childhood?
- No, I did not even suppose that I will be at the head of such an organization, and will in some way be related to sports. I wanted to be a military man, dreamed of the special uniform.
- So what happened? Why did you change your mind?
- I changed my dream. I was 6 years old when Muhammad Ali came to Uzbekistan. (In 1978 he visited Tashkent and Samarkand. Note by editors) Here in Tashkent he met with many famous people, was present on many sports events. I was lucky to be on one of these events. We were just making our first steps in sport and engaging in boxing. I still remember how he passed by me. A crowd of journalists was following him. Can you imagine what kind of an event this was for a 6-year-old child! It changed my life. I was thinking then that here is a man who succeeded thanks to sports, made a career. I decided that I will also succeed.
- How were your school-years? What kind of relationships did you have with your teachers?
- It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Some of the teachers treated me very well. For example, the literature teacher simply adored me, probably because I studied her subject diligently. Thanks to her I fell in love with Russian language. To be honest, I dated many girls in youth, which "fell for me" only because I could speak finely and a lot in Russian. Then, in 1970 - 1980s I belonged to that part of the youth, which did not accept anything traditional. It was impossible to impose on me something that I did not wish to do. I always defended my point of view, fought for fairness, especially in sports. Of course, in that period this was useless but since I am a sportsman the result was important for me. I differed sharply from the standards, from the correct monotony of the soviet time.
- So the childhood impressions turned you into a sportsman. Who makes repeated kickboxing champions from the other boys?
- All the achievements of the Federation were preceded by immense work, toil of many coaches and consultants. I will not say anything new, the most important factor of success is the confidence and mood of the sportsman. Then 50% of the victory will be guaranteed. Probably, the inner energy, which emanated from Ali passed on to me. It is true, one can envy Sardor's inner energy and enthusiasm. Apart from the Federation, Sardor is the director of the centre for struggle with drug addiction under the kickboxing Federation. A psychologist by profession, he treats those who are addicted to this horrible addiction for many years already. 
- Sardor, I know as both of us are good friends that you have graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Tashkent State University. I always wanted to ask you, what do sports and philosophy have in common? Why did you decided to study on this faculty?
- At that time, in order to work on managing positions, it was necessary to complete the philological or economic faculty. We had real teachers. In the soviet time, education was necessary as the pledge for the future success, there was order, there was discipline. I think that this is lacking in the contemporary institutes of higher education, of course, there are exceptions. Discipline and responsibility in education is simply essential. It is not important if you are studying at the expense of state budget resources, or at the expense of your parents. In sports, however, the same treatment to each sportsman, the stereotype view on everybody only interferes. Those colossal burdens which we were to survive, simply exhausts. Not everyone could endure - some left sports, others took interest in drugs. I could not submit to this and decided that I should create a principally new method of preparation of sportsmen. Then, in 1996 I opened my own sport school. It was located on the bank of the Anhor canal. I developed a new non-standard approach to each sportsman. Here, my knowledge in psychology and philosophy helped me. However, honestly speaking, I was able to perfect my theoretical knowledge only in practice.
- Sardor, sport is everything for you but there are expenses in each profession.
- There are costs. It is the lack of time. I, for instance, am not married yet (laughs). Seriously, I have to encounter in my work such people which seat at wrong places and think about their own benefit. In our work we are helped by completely different people. I am thankful to our sponsors for their support.
- Let's now talk about something else. What do you value the most in people?
- In people I value constancy the most. A human can change in outward appearance, can behave differently but his inner content, his principles should stay unchanged. I value good friendly relations, especially if they have been formed many years ago. It is not important whether they have been formed with a man or a woman.
- What should the woman of your dreams be like? If it is not a secret, did you find your "second half"?
- Probably, yes. I just do not want to make a show of this, I am afraid to put it off.
- Tell us something about her. What kind is she?
- She is very noble. She knows the particulars of sports. Very mobile and stubborn, knows what she wants from life. We decided to wait a little with marriage. She agrees with me. In order to make a wedding according to all Uzbek traditions a lot of money is needed. Talk about dowry! We calculated and have come up with US$ 3000 - 4000. (These are 3 years earnings by Uzbek measures. Note by editors). We cannot afford this for the time being. I really want to go on a trip somewhere on the islands, just the two of us with this money. I still have that childish desire not to be like everyone. We cane be happy without organizing these receptions and banquets. This is the unexpected romantic side of Sardor Tashkhodjaev that we discovered. He, like thousands of people, is preparing to celebrate New Year these days.
- Sardor, in conclusion of our conversation, tell us a small recipe of a drink or dish, which real kickboxing champions consume or love.
- I cannot tell the recipe, you have to ask this from my mother. All our boys simply love sweets, medovik (honey cake) or bugursaks (traditionally this dainty is often prepared in Uzbekistan for Eid), what can be better than home-made pastry.
I love spicy food, Korean salads and, of course begodi (Korean dish from dough and meat. Note by editors). There is a Korean cafe nearby and we usually have lunch there.
- Sardor, how and when will you celebrate New Year?
- We have a tradition, we go to the mountains each year, we have a small house and so our entire "kickboxing family" spends New Year's Eve there. It is very amusing and wonderful, what else do you need to spend the best holiday of the year?
Taking this opportunity I would like to congratulate all the readers of the magazine with New Year and wish the fulfillment of all dreams, happiness and, of course, love.
By Karina Bagdasarova
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