kickboxing weight classes · weight classes · kickboxing
Kickboxing Weight Classes (kg & lb): WAKO, GLORY, ONE
By Simon Jounan · Founder of MyFightPrep · Kickboxer & Muay Thai fighter
Published · 7 min read
Contents
Kickboxing weight classes depend on who runs the event. WAKO, the amateur world federation, uses kilogram classes: 12 for senior men (-51 kg to +91 kg) and 7 for senior women (-48 kg to +70 kg) in K1 style, low kick and full contact. GLORY has six pro classes from 65 kg to over 95 kg, and ONE Championship uses ten pound-based classes with a hydration test. Every table is below in kg and lb, along with how weigh-ins work and how to pick your class.
Limits checked: September 2026 — confirm with your event’s current rulebook.
Which organisations set kickboxing weight classes?
Amateur kickboxing is mostly WAKO and its national member federations. Pro kickboxing is set promotion by promotion.
- WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) runs amateur world and continental championships in two groups of disciplines. The ring disciplines are full contact, low kick and K1 style, which are fought at full power. The tatami disciplines are point fighting, light contact and kick light, which use controlled contact (WAKO, 2022).
- GLORY is the best-known pro kickboxing league and publishes its classes in its rulebook.
- ONE Championship runs kickboxing under the same classes it uses for Muay Thai and MMA.
WAKO is revising its rulebook. Its Board approved several changes on 20 March 2026, including new K1-style clinch rules from 1 January 2027 (WAKO, 2026). The weight classes below are from the rulebook currently published.
WAKO ring weight classes (K1, low kick, full contact)
All three WAKO ring disciplines share one set of classes. These are the senior classes (ages 19–40) from Chapter 7 of the WAKO Rules (WAKO, 2022).
| Men | Men (lb) | Women | Women (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -51 kg | 112.4 lb | -48 kg | 105.8 lb |
| -54 kg | 119.0 lb | -52 kg | 114.6 lb |
| -57 kg | 125.7 lb | -56 kg | 123.5 lb |
| -60 kg | 132.3 lb | -60 kg | 132.3 lb |
| -63.5 kg | 140.0 lb | -65 kg | 143.3 lb |
| -67 kg | 147.7 lb | -70 kg | 154.3 lb |
| -71 kg | 156.5 lb | +70 kg | over 154.3 lb |
| -75 kg | 165.3 lb | ||
| -81 kg | 178.6 lb | ||
| -86 kg | 189.6 lb | ||
| -91 kg | 200.6 lb | ||
| +91 kg | over 200.6 lb |
Older juniors (17–18) use exactly the same classes. Younger juniors (15–16) have a lighter ladder that starts at -42 kg for boys and -36 kg for girls. WAKO also caps how far you can move up: you may compete no more than one division above your actual weight.
WAKO tatami weight classes (point fighting, light contact, kick light)
The tatami disciplines use wider, different steps. These are the senior classes (19–40) from Chapter 2 of the WAKO Rules (WAKO, 2022).
| Men | Men (lb) | Women | Women (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -57 kg | 125.7 lb | -50 kg | 110.2 lb |
| -63 kg | 138.9 lb | -55 kg | 121.3 lb |
| -69 kg | 152.1 lb | -60 kg | 132.3 lb |
| -74 kg | 163.1 lb | -65 kg | 143.3 lb |
| -79 kg | 174.2 lb | -70 kg | 154.3 lb |
| -84 kg | 185.2 lb | +70 kg | over 154.3 lb |
| -89 kg | 196.2 lb | ||
| -94 kg | 207.2 lb | ||
| +94 kg | over 207.2 lb |
GLORY weight classes (professional)
GLORY sets its limits in kilograms. These are the six classes in its 2026 rules (GLORY, 2026).
| Class | Range (kg) | Limit (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight | up to 65 kg | 143.3 lb |
| Lightweight | over 65 up to 70 kg | 154.3 lb |
| Welterweight | over 70 up to 77 kg | 169.8 lb |
| Middleweight | over 77 up to 85 kg | 187.4 lb |
| Light heavyweight | over 85 up to 95 kg | 209.4 lb |
| Heavyweight | over 95 kg | no upper limit |
GLORY can also book catchweights agreed by both fighters. The 2026 rulebook doesn’t list separate women’s classes, so women’s bouts are made at the weight in the contract.
ONE Championship kickboxing weight classes
ONE uses the same ten classes for kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA, and every limit has to be made while you pass a hydration test (ONE Championship, 2026).
| Class | Over | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Atomweight | 105 lb (47.6 kg) | 115 lb (52.2 kg) |
| Strawweight | 115 lb (52.2 kg) | 125 lb (56.7 kg) |
| Flyweight | 125 lb (56.7 kg) | 135 lb (61.2 kg) |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61.2 kg) | 145 lb (65.8 kg) |
| Featherweight | 145 lb (65.8 kg) | 155 lb (70.3 kg) |
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70.3 kg) | 170 lb (77.1 kg) |
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77.1 kg) | 185 lb (83.9 kg) |
| Middleweight | 185 lb (83.9 kg) | 205 lb (93.0 kg) |
| Light heavyweight | 205 lb (93.0 kg) | 225 lb (102.1 kg) |
| Heavyweight | 225 lb (102.1 kg) | 265 lb (120.2 kg) |
Levels in kickboxing: amateur, experience classes and pro
Beyond weight, you are grouped by age, experience and amateur or pro status:
- Age: WAKO ring disciplines have younger juniors (15–16), older juniors (17–18) and seniors (19–40). The tatami disciplines also have children’s and cadet categories and a master class for ages 41–55 (WAKO, 2022).
- Experience: Some national bodies grade fighters by record. WAKO Canada, as referenced in Ontario’s amateur rules, uses novice (0–10 bouts), open (11 bouts or more) and prestige (20 bouts or more, by application) (Government of Ontario, 2025).
- Letter classes: Other regions use C, B and A classes, where C is the most restricted. In Ontario’s amateur Muay Thai rules, for example, C-class bans knees and elbows to the head (Government of Ontario, 2025). Don’t confuse these with WAKO’s “A/B/C class” labels, which grade international events, not fighters.
- Pro: Pro bouts are contracted by the promotion, usually at a class limit or an agreed catchweight.
How kickboxing weigh-ins work
The weigh-in schedule decides how much you can safely cut. Amateur tournaments weigh you in repeatedly, while pro events weigh in once, the day before.
| WAKO (amateur, ring) | GLORY | ONE Championship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official weigh-in | 48–72 hours before the championship starts | Day before the event | 24–48 hours before the event |
| Fight-day weigh-in | Every morning you fight; bouts start at least 3 hours later | — | Hydration test before weighing |
| Clothing | Undressed | Shorts (plus top for women) | — |
| If you miss | Second and last attempt (1 hour later at registration, 45 minutes on fight days), otherwise disqualified | Time limit to make weight; if the bout goes ahead, up to 20% of purse forfeited for a miss of ≤1 kg, up to 30% for more than 1 kg | Retry within a 3-hour window, or negotiate a catchweight |
Sources: WAKO, 2022; GLORY, 2026; ONE Championship, 2026.
The daily WAKO weigh-in is the key detail for amateurs. You have to be on weight every morning of the tournament, so a big dehydration cut for day one simply doesn’t work. The ISSN groups professional kickboxing with sports that have a 24–36-hour gap between weigh-in and fight (Ricci et al., 2025). That longer gap still doesn’t make a big water cut safe. Plan your recovery with our rehydration after weigh-in guide.
Where does 170 lb (77 kg) land?
170 lb is 77.1 kg, a common walking weight. Here’s where that number falls if it’s your weigh-in weight:
| Organisation | Class at 170 lb / 77.1 kg |
|---|---|
| WAKO ring (K1, low kick) | -81 kg |
| WAKO tatami | -79 kg |
| GLORY | Middleweight (just over the 77 kg welterweight limit) |
| ONE Championship | Lightweight (exactly at the limit) |
How to choose your kickboxing weight class
Choose the class you can make with a modest, planned reduction and still perform. Don’t pick the lightest class you can force yourself into.
- Know your real weight. Average two weeks of morning weigh-ins at your normal training intake.
- Size the cut to the evidence. The ISSN notes that combat athletes are commonly advised to lose about 0.5–1 kg per week in camp. It puts supervised acute water loss at roughly 2–4% of body mass within 24 hours of weigh-in as the optimal range (Ricci et al., 2025).
- Respect the format. Daily WAKO weigh-ins and ONE’s hydration test leave little or no room for a water cut. Choose a class you can hold for days, not hours.
- Set a floor. The ACSM consensus recommends a minimum competition weight based on body composition and a ban on unhealthy weight-loss methods (Burke et al., 2021).
- Go up when unsure, especially in your first bouts. WAKO’s one-division rule lets you move up a class, but not jump several.
Want your own numbers? The weight cut calculator shows the weekly pace you’d need and what’s left for fight week.
Get the numbers in how much weight you can safely cut and the full plan in how to cut weight for a fight. Fighting under other rules? Compare with Muay Thai weight classes and MMA weight classes in kg, or see our overview of combat sports weight classes.
MyFightPrep tracks your weight trend toward your class limit and fight date, so you can see early whether a class is realistic — free.
Important
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Rules change, so confirm the limits and weigh-in schedule in your event’s current rulebook. Rapid dehydration can be dangerous. Never use diuretics, laxatives, vomiting or sweat suits to make weight, and stop if you feel dizzy, confused, faint or cramp up. Juniors and beginners should avoid water cuts and choose their class with a coach and a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What are the kickboxing weight classes for men and women?
In WAKO amateur ring kickboxing (K1 style, low kick and full contact), senior men have 12 classes from -51 kg to +91 kg and senior women have 7 from -48 kg to +70 kg. In the pros, GLORY uses six classes from featherweight (65 kg) to heavyweight (over 95 kg), and ONE uses ten classes from atomweight (115 lb) to heavyweight (265 lb).
What weight class is 170 pounds in kickboxing?
170 lb is 77.1 kg. That puts you in WAKO's -81 kg ring class and in ONE's lightweight (155–170 lb). In GLORY it is just over the 77 kg welterweight limit, so you would need to weigh in at 77 kg or less for welterweight, or fight at middleweight (up to 85 kg).
What are the levels in kickboxing?
Kickboxing has three kinds of levels. There are age categories (WAKO seniors are 19–40), experience classes such as novice (0–10 bouts), open (11+) and prestige (20+) in WAKO Canada, and the split between amateur and professional competition. Some regions also use letter classes (C, B, A).
What is C-Class kickboxing?
C-class is the entry level in the letter-grade systems some national bodies use for amateur ring fights, followed by B-class and A-class. It usually comes with extra restrictions. Ontario's amateur Muay Thai rules, for example, ban knees and elbows to the head in C-class. The exact rules vary by country, so check with your federation.
How do kickboxing weigh-ins work?
At WAKO world and continental championships you weigh in undressed 48–72 hours before the tournament starts, then again every morning you fight, with at least three hours before your bout. GLORY and ONE weigh in the day before, and ONE also requires you to pass a urine hydration test.
Sources
This guide is based on the works below. Numbers in the text refer to them.
- World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) (2022). WAKO Kickboxing Rules (04.05.2022, v.2) — Chapter 1 General Rules, Chapter 2 Tatami Rules, Chapter 7 Ring Rules
- World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) (2026). Letter to all WAKO members: WAKO IF Board decisions on rule changes (20 March 2026)
- GLORY Kickboxing (2026). GLORY Rules (2026, v2)
- ONE Championship (2026). ONE Championship Martial Arts: Weight Classes and Hydration Testing
- Government of Ontario (2025). Amateur Combative Sport Rules: Kickboxing – Ring Sport Disciplines, Part V: Participants
- Government of Ontario (2025). Amateur Combative Sport Rules: Muay Thai – Ring Sport Disciplines, Part IV: Competition Requirements
- Ricci AA, Evans C, Stull C, et al. (2025). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Nutrition and Weight Cut Strategies for Mixed Martial Arts and Other Combat Sports
- Burke LM, Slater GJ, Matthews JJ, Langan-Evans C, Horswill CA (2021). ACSM Expert Consensus Statement on Weight Loss in Weight-Category Sports