History of the World Martial Arts Games Movement
The World Martial Arts Games Committee was founded in 2005 by both Freddy Kleinschwärzer (GER) and Ken Marchtaler (CAN). The intention is to provide a platform that promotes participation in Martial arts by all, including all Styles, Abilities, Gender, Ages and Backgrounds.
The organisation is directed and managed by a committee of international representatives from across the globe from a diverse range of martial art styles and backgrounds (please see the Organisation page). The events organised by the WMAGC are intentionally and purposefully inclusive of both male and female participants of all ages and abilities and from all backgrounds.
To uphold and deliver these principles of inclusivity, the WMAGC continually strives to build and develop an international collaborative network, creating cooperative working relationships and practices, where knowledge, experience and opportunities can be shared with Martial Arts organisations across the globe.
The umbrella term of “Martial Arts” is intentional to ensure the diverse range of martial art styles practiced across the globe and at local level are included. The WMAGC aims to be inclusive of the variations in martial arts to ensure that the repertoire of different styles facilitates participation by all, whilst also bringing together the martial arts community to generate international, collaborative relationships.
Participation in the WMAGC events does not exclude anyone based on their gender, background, experiences, ability, opportunities, language, ethnicity, culture or beliefs. Instead it strives to ensure anyone with an interest in Martial Arts gets the opportunity to participate either as a competitor or as part of the event team.
Scrolling down will reveal a brief synopsis of all the International Events from when the WMAGC was founded in 2005.
13th World Martial Arts Games in Daytona Beach - 27.-30. July 2023
USA-Florida and therefore Daytona Beach was the place for the 13th World Martial Arts Games. Exactly the Ocean Center venue hosted hundreds of people from 8 nations. Mr. Drew Derrick-Bisbee, our Director for the NMAC-USA hostet this huge event.
The first time we co-operated with Mr. Reeves (former ISKA) and his intern. breaking organization. We replaced the first time our breaking divisions with the ones of Mr. Reeves and it became a massive success for both sides.
12th World Martial Arts Games in London - 27.-29. October 2019
London was the place for the 12th World Martial Arts Games. Exactly the Egham Orbit venue hosted hundreds of people from 22 nations. Mr. Chris Hemstock, our Director for the NMAC-GB hostet this huge event.
The first time we co-operated with Mr. Joao Silva from Brazil, with his organization SJJIF (Sports Jiu-Jitsu International Federation). We replaced the first time our Grappling divisions with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and it became a massive success for both sides.
1st African Martial Arts Games in Botswana - 27.-29. April 2018
Together with the UWKF and Mr. Imtiaz Abdullah the first African Martial Arts Games took place in Gaborone - Botswana. Mr. Hemstock, our Secretary General of the WMAGC was there to run and help in organizing the Games. It was held at the Seretse Khama Building in the Capitol of Botswana. Small, but well organized African Games for the first time.
1st Asian Martial Arts Games - 12.-14. November 2018 in New Dehli
Master BK Bharat and Neeraj Kumar Mehra from the National Martial Arts Committee in India were the hosts of the first Asian Games in New Dehli. With great success and great participant numbers the event was held at the wonderful Talkatora Stadium.
2nd European Martial Arts Games - 15.-19. August 2018 in Liechtenstein
The 2nd European Martial Arts Games were held in Schaan / Liechtenstein. Together with the WMAGC organizing team, our host from Liechtenstein ran the event very successful. We even had a high level visitor and guest team from Lima Lama Mexico attending. The opening ceremony was made with an outstanding performance of our host Metin Kayar, as he is the youngest Hanshi in History and competitor as well as martial artist in multiple disciplines.
The community sports center of Schaan was the venue of the 2018 European Games.
11th World Martial Arts Games - 07.-10. October 2017 in Orlando-FL / USA
The 11th World Martial Arts Games were held in Orlando / Florida. Team USA with Dr.Alberto Friedmann hosted those Games under the hardest cercumstances, as Hurricane Irma was already in place and lots of participants, officials and referees had to leave to secure their families and homes. It was the biggest hurricane ever recorded, but his team did the best to make this event a great success. The opening ceremony with the history of martial arts demonstrated from athletes from around the globe and the final closing banquett were unique and in our heads for ever to be remembered.
The Wyndham Orlando Resort was the venue of the World Games 2017.
10th World Martial Arts Games - 14.-16. October 2016 in Johannesburg / South Africa
Our 10th World Martial Arts Games are at the same time our anniversary Games. They will be held in the beautiful South Africa City Johannesburg. Host of the Games is MASA (Martial Arts South Africa under the guidance of Master Louise Viviers (President).
The Ticketpro Dome will be the venue and a recent meeting with all Martial Arts Leaders gave the solid base to run this fantastic event. Also we will have a new strong partner on board LFSM. We are looking forward to get to South Africa and to compete with international top of the league athletes; says President of WMAGC - Grandmaster Alfred Kleinschwaerzer and NMAC Great
Britain - Master Hemstock.
9th World Martial Arts Games - 27.-30. August 2015 in Norwich / GB
Mr. Chris Hemstock, Chairman of the National Directors and Host of the 2015 World Martial Arts Games #9 did a perfect job in Norwich. He and his fantastic team showed professionality and family atmosphere. A great show program opened these Games and with more than 600 starts this was one of the bigger events we had so far.
8th World Martial Arts Games & 1st TAFISA World Martial Arts Games - 3.-7. Sep. 2014
The first time ever the TAFISA organized together with the officials of WMAC the 1st TAFISA WORLD MARTIAL ARTS GAMES in the Olympic Oval in Richmond / CAN. The leading character to run the event was former WMAGC President Ken Marchtaler from Canada. He had the strong friendship and partnership to TAFISA enabled. The most exciting fact was, that this event was patronaged by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The all around organization in this fantastic location was perfect, as about 1000 volunteers took care about every need.
7th World Martial Arts Games - 4th - 8th August 2013 in Bregenz
As mentioned before, Mr. Folladori received for the second time the right to run and organize World Martial Arts Games as he helped and supported in hosting the previous Games in his hometown. During these World Martial Arts Games, Mr. Ken Marchtaler stepped down from his postion as President of WMAGC and moved into the TAFISA Martial Arts Commissioner position to prepare the 2014 TAFISA World Martial Arts Games.
At this stage the international Congress decided to re-name the WMAGC into WMAC (World Martial Arts Committee). Also Mr. Folladori was elected to President of WMAC later on.
With this first page of the registration page we also can see a logo change. Within the registration package (see below) you will see the original old Kicker in blue. This kicker was replaced
into a more proper design.
6th World Martial arts Games - 10.-12. Sept. 2012 in Bregenz
In 2012 it was planned to organize the 6th World Martial Arts Games in Villars / CH by our member and Co-Founder Mr. Carl Emery. Due to some difficulties, we could not keep up with this venue and were forced to find an alternative location. At this moment Mr. Folladori came into the pictures and promised - convinced by WMAGC founder Freddy Kleinschwärzer - to run the event in his hometown Bregenz in Austria. Mr. Folladori became the WMAGC National Director with his new created NMAC-Austria team.
This was the flyer for the 6th World Martial Arts Games. Due to the cercumstances Mr. Folladori helped out organizing this event, the WMAGC was convinced to give him the opportunity to run this
event twice in his hometown. The 2013 WMAGs were given to Mr. Folladori again as a little "THANK YOU" for his support.
1st Continental Martial Arts Games - 21.-23. Oct. 2011 in Cheltenham / GB
In 2011 we have changed the modus into Continental Games every two years and also World Martial Arts Games between. This was a international request of the Congress we had in Las Vegas in 2010. Following this request we had European and Amercan Games in 2011. All events received patronage by TAFISA. Host of this first European Martial Arts Games was Master Ross Iannociaro from Great Britain.
This the page one of the official registration package for the European Martial Arts Committee. Due to a following meeting the WMAGC Movement has changed back to the original version of having
yearly annual World Martial Arts Games.
5th World Martial Arts Games - 17.-19. Sept. 2010 in Las Vegas
It was the task of Dr. Alberto Friedmann, our Coach and National Director USA to get the 5th World Martial Arts Games organized in the beautiful Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas . Special Guest was Secretary General of TAFISA, Dr. Wolfgang Baumann, wich also granted patronage to this prestigous event.
4th World Martial Arts Games - 12.-13. Sept. 2009 in Sydney
Master Alex Micakovski, our Co-Founder of the movement and very well known and international successful athlete, took the task to run and organize the 4th World Martial Arts Games in Sydney in 2009. Together with special guest of honor Mr. Richard Norton, this event was a great success, as we also had the patronage of TAFISA for this event the first time.
Here we finde the official VIP Invitation Cover for all Politicians attending the event.
3rd World Martial Arts Games - 26.Sept. - 2. Oct. 2008 Busan
In 2008 our Movement joined as "ACTIVE MEMBER" into TAFISA, after a one year period as supporting member. In 2007 we took part at the TAFISA international Congress in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Now, after TAFISA officials aggreed and has seen our strenght and the way and vision we believe in, they offered to the WMAGC Movement to become official demonstation discipline at the TreX-Games in Busan / South Korea. A international selection of officials and athletes did a perfect organized demonstration to present our idea to the World of Martial Arts.
See on the right the press release about the participation at the TAFISA TreX-Games
2nd World Martial Arts Games - 27.-29. July 2007 in Regensburg
2007 the 2nd World Martial Arts Games were planned to take place in Islamabad / Pakistan with our co-founder Master Sahid Bhatti. Due to bomb attacks, the Government prohibited foreing sports groups to enter the borders to have events, as there was a high risk at this time.
So it was on short notice, Germany took over this responsibility in the beautiful City of Regensburg at the river Danub. The host was Alfred Kleinschwärzer, the President of NMAC Germany and his team. See below the story written by the Martial Arts International Magazine.
1st World Martial Arts Games - 18.-20. Aug. 2006 in Victoria
All Co-Founders and the Founder itself aggreed in a Meeting at the end of 2005 to have the 1st World Martial Arts Games in the beautiful area of Vancouver Island in Victoria / Canada. The host of the Games was former WMAGC President and Co-Founder Ken Marchtaler.
One of the largest and most prestigious online newspapers, the EPOCH TIMES, published our first World Martial Arts Games prior to the event. Read the original and historical news from January 2006.