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K-1's predecessor Seidokaikan Karate was formed in 1980 by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin karate practitioner who had formed his own organization to help promote the best stand-up martial artists. Seidokaikan arranged several successful challenge events against other martial arts organizations, originally using rules based on the Kyokushin Knockdown karate rules, but gradually adapting and changing closer to kickboxing rules. In 1993, Mr. Ishii founded the K-1 organization exclusively as a kickboxing organization, closely cooperating with, but independent from Seidokaikan.[4]
On November 21, 2008 HDNet Fights announced its partnership with then owner Fighting and Entertainment Group to air K-1 events in North America.[5]
On March 30, 2010 K-1 has teamed up with one of their broadcast partners, Fuji TV, to film the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama in 3D, being the first combat sports show to be filmed fully in 3D.[6]
Starting in 2010, multiple stories began to surface regarding the financial troubles of K-1 and their parent company FEG.[7] Simon Rutz, the owner of the Dutch-based kickboxing promotion It's Showtime, claimed in January 2011 that some fighters from It's Showtime had not been paid for fights in K-1.[8]
In early 2011, the company publicly announced that they were facing financial problems and would take some months off to restructure. It has been speculated that the financial problems are severe, so FEG can end up losing the ownership of K-1.[9]
The organization along with most of its trademarks (with the notable exception of K-1 MAX) was sold to Japanese real estate firm Barbizon Co. Ltd. on July 28, 2011.[10] It was reported on February 1, 2012 that EMCOM Entertainment Inc. purchased K-1 from Barbizon under curious circumstances.[11]
In March 2011, It's Showtime announced that EMCOM Entertainment established the new company K-1 Global Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong. EMCOM/K-1 Global's agreement with It's Showtime made many fighters under It's Showtime promotion sign contracts to appear in upcoming K-1 Global events.[12]
Throughout the year there are 6 K-1 World Grand Prix tournaments and 4 main K-1 MAX events. The winners will qualify to the K-1 and the K-1 MAX WGP Final Eliminations held in Osaka Dome, Japan. From there the final top 8 fighters will compete in the K-1 World GP Finals in Tokyo Dome, Japan.
Every year there are dozens of other K-1 qualifying tournaments and preliminaries all over the world.
To date K-1 has held events in 38 countries.
The following is a list of countries that K-1 has held events in chronological order: