European kickboxing championships introduced by the pioneer of German Karate Georg Brueckner[1] and the first ever event hosted by the W.A.K.O.

[2] There had actually been an amateur kickboxing European championships held a year previously but this event was not officially recognized by any federation.

championships were open to amateur men based in Europe only and all bouts were fought under Full-Contact kickboxing rules, with each country allowed more than one competitor in each weight category.

By the end of the championships the Netherlands were the most successful nation, with West Germany second, and Norway a distant third - more detail on the winners and medal tables can be found in the sections below.

The first European championships were sparse when compared with the present day version, hosting only one style – Full-Contact kickboxing – for men only.