Introduction

The International Combat Games (ICG) is a premier multi-discipline combat sports event organized by the International Association of Combative Sports (IACS) since 2019. Designed to showcase both modern and traditional combat sports, the ICG serves as a global competitive platform that brings together martial artists, fighters, and combat sports enthusiasts from around the world.

As a flagship event under IACS, the ICG focuses on:

  • Promoting competitive excellence in combat sports.
  • Preserving and revitalizing traditional martial arts.
  • Encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration among martial artists.
  • Developing standardized rules and fair play in combat sports.

History and Evolution

The International Association of Combative Sports (IACS) was established to unify various combat sports under a single governing body. In 2019, IACS launched the first edition of the International Combat Games (ICG) to:

  • Provide a global platform for combat sports athletes.
  • Encourage the integration of traditional and modern fighting styles.
  • Develop a structured competition format for various combat disciplines.

Since its inception, the ICG has grown rapidly, attracting fighters, coaches, and martial arts federations from across the world.

Combat Sports and Disciplines at ICG

The International Combat Games (ICG) includes a wide range of Olympic, non-Olympic, and traditional martial arts. The event is structured to include full-contact, semi-contact, and grappling-based combat sports.

1. Olympic Combat Sports

These combat sports are recognized in the Summer Olympic Games and are included in ICG to encourage mainstream participation:

  • Boxing (Amateur)
  • Judo
  • Taekwondo
  • Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling
  • Karate (included in Tokyo 2020 Olympics)

2. Professional Combat Sports

The ICG also features full-contact combat disciplines that are highly popular in professional fighting circuits:

  • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
  • Muay Thai
  • Kickboxing (K1, Full Contact, Low Kick)
  • Lethwei (Burmese Bare-Knuckle Boxing)
  • Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing)
  • Savate (French Kickboxing)
  • Pankration (Greek MMA-style Combat)

3. Grappling and Submission-Based Sports

  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
  • No-Gi Submission Wrestling
  • Sambo (Russian Combat Sport)
  • Catch Wrestling
  • Kudo (Hybrid of Judo and Striking Arts)

4. Traditional Martial Arts and Wrestling Styles

ICG is committed to preserving traditional combat arts and includes:

  • Kurash (Uzbek Wrestling)
  • Ssireum (Korean Traditional Wrestling)
  • Pehlwani (Indian Wrestling)
  • Sumo (Japanese Wrestling)
  • Glima (Nordic Wrestling)
  • Bokh (Mongolian Wrestling)

5. Weapon-Based Combat Sports

Recognizing the historical significance of weapon-based combat, ICG features:

  • Kali / Arnis / Eskrima (Filipino Stick Fighting)
  • Kendo (Japanese Sword Fighting)
  • Savate Defense (French Weapon-Based Combat)
  • HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts, including sword fighting)

Competition Format and Rules

ICG follows a structured tournament system that ensures fair play and safety. The competition format includes:

  • Weight Classes: Athletes are categorized based on their weight divisions to ensure balanced matchups.
  • Tournament Style: Single-elimination and round-robin formats are used depending on the number of participants.
  • Scoring Systems: Each sport follows internationally recognized scoring systems governed by their respective federations.
  • Protective Gear Regulations