The Ontario government and Premier Dalton McGuinty are now recognizing Kickboxing Ontario as the governing body for the amateur game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick DoyleThe Canadian Press
The Ontario government under Premier Dalton McGuinty, once an obstacle to mixed martial arts, is now recognizing Kickboxing Ontario as the governing body for the amateur game.
Last year, the McGuinty government allowed an Ultimate Fighting Championship event for the first time. The card drew 55,000 fans to the Rogers Centre in Toronto in April.
But the kind of amateur mixed martial arts that Kickboxing Ontario will oversee is entirely different from the pro UFC brand, government spokesperson Rob Foote says. Kickboxing Ontario will manage the amateur mixed martial arts (AMMA) that involves only light contact, with an array of rules to foster safety.
AMMA has been unregulated, Foote said. "This is a way to bring an unsanctioned sport at the amateur level under the auspices of a regulating body," he said. "That means there is a framework to ensure that the sport will be able to better protect and provide safety and rules and training and proper coaching."
The province has been working for two years with Kickboxing Ontario to build a regulated framework. Kickboxing Ontario president Jim Marinow is a 40-year veteran of martial arts.
From now on, Kickboxing Ontario will be required to sanction every amateur event and appoint a chief official to oversee every aspect of the competition. This official has the authority to shut down any competition that is not following association rules and policies.
"Because of the stuff shown on TV, kids are interested," Foote said. "But MMA is completely separate. This is not the kind of thing where the professionals get the guy and are pounding him on the ground. In [the AMMA] you win a bout by winning on points."
The entry level AMMA discipline (for young people aged 10 to 19) occurs on mats resembling those used for judo and karate. When athletes in AMMA go to the mat, no hits to the head are allowed.
The status brings with it obligations to ensure that guidelines are followed.
Marinow could not be reached immediately for comment.