Phantom Kickboxing was founded in the Yorkshire town of Castleford in England in 1990 by Rick Dobson. The Original club was called Kami-Wa-Do (Way of Divine Peace) founded in 1985 which was a watered down version of the Traditional Okinawan Karate style of Wado Ryu. Kami-Wa-Do could not compete with the fast moving Semi-Contact Kickboxing sport flooding the UK from America, so the original style was broken down and the more fluid movements of Freestyle Karate and Kickboxing were introduced. The club then took on the name of Phantom. Rick and his students began to see results with members competing at National and International level around the world.

There have been several Phantom Kickboxing members on the World Kickboxing/Karate association (WKA) squad since 1994, and the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) squad since 2005.

The Founder of Phantom kickboxing handed the UK clubs to Craig Stokes 3rd Dan when Rick migrated to New Zealand in 2002. But his love of teaching the sport convinced him to open a New Zealand branch of Phantom Kickboxing. In July of 2003, Phantom Kickboxing (NZ) opened its doors in the Waikato town of Te Awamutu, now  there are affiliated clubs in Hamilton, Tauranga, Cambridge, Putaruru and Te Kuiti as well as the international base and HQ in Te Awamutu.
There is also a Ladies Only Kickboxing club, Kick Chicks, at the Te Awamutu Club.

WAKO presented Rick Dobson with the Presidency of New Zealand and the whole of Oceania in 2004, and Rick took NZ members to World Championships in Hungary, Croatia, Portugal and Italy.  He also took a team of Professional fighters to the UK in 2008, 5 fighters to fight at the WFKKO Intercontinental K1 rules championships, and one fighter to fight for the WAKO-Pro World Full Contact title.  Georgie Tutaki of Te Kuiti fought Kerry-Louise Norbury over a grueling 12 round fight, losing the title on points to Kerry-Louise, but winning the hearts of the British fight fans for her true "Kiwi-style" determination.  Huntly fighter Shaye Brooks also brought back more honour for NZ by winning the Intercontinental title from Scott Sykes in a fantastic finale to the night.  New Zealand success continued in 2008 under the guidance of Rick with two members of the Junior Team, Sam Rist and Cody Brooks, winning bronze medals in Italy.

Rick resigned from the Presidency of WAKO (NZ/Oceania) in June of 2010 but still heads one of the largest Kickboxing groups in the country.

Rick is still very active in coaching his members and in his other role as a referee.  Although no longer on the Executive board for WAKO(NZ), his clubs are still the major group in the organistion, and he still holds the title of NZ Representative for the World Freestyle, Karate and Kickboxing Organisations (WFKKO).

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Last Updated 16 August 2008

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