History of American Kickboxing: Pioneers, Rivalries, and Global Influence: Exploring the Rise of a Dynamic Combat Sport Through Different Fighting Cultures
About this ebook
Look at the rivalries that helped the sport grow, starting with the rivalry between East Coast and West Coast fighters and culminating in US kickboxers battling international counterparts. And find out about the legendary fights, great fighters, and smart promoters who turned neighborhood fights into sports sustaining.
The readers will also learn how the more complete restriction of k’s competition rules and techniques has formed a modern set including Muay Thai and boxing. The book also defines challenges in the development of the kickboxing sport: the decline of the sport, its emergence in the era of popularity of mixed martial arts, and the fact that martial arts centers and training systems have come to stay in many parts of America.
From movie theaters to neighborhood gyms, this book examines how American kickboxing carved out its niche in the movie industry, changed personal fitness fads, and shaped a new crop of fighters. It also digs into what the sport means and how women smashed barriers in the ring.
If you love martial arts, enjoy watching fights, or just want to know how traditions grow and stick around, this book gives you a thorough look at American kickboxing's journey.
Discover more
About the author
Leighton Tokunbo Shepherd is a 67-year-old martial artist and teacher who has dedicated over five decades of his life to Judo. Based in Beijing, China, where he’s lived most of his life, Shepherd’s passion for Judo began as a young man when he first stepped into a small dojo and fell in love with its balance of strength, strategy, and discipline.
Shepherd isn’t just someone who practices Judo—he lives it. Over the years, he’s competed, taught, and mentored countless students, always focusing on the deeper lessons behind the techniques. To him, Judo is more than a martial art; it’s a way of facing life’s challenges with confidence and adaptability.
In addition to his work on the mat, Shepherd has spent years reflecting on how the principles of Judo apply to life outside the dojo. Through his teaching and writing, he shares how anyone—whether they practice Judo or not—can benefit from its lessons in resilience, balance, and self-discovery.
Now semi-retired, Shepherd continues to teach in Beijing and is a respected voice in the martial arts community. His straightforward, relatable style makes his insights accessible to everyone, whether they’re seasoned martial artists or complete beginners.
From Falling to Flying is his way of sharing what Judo has taught him over a lifetime—about falling, adapting, and thriving, not just in Judo but in life itself.
