K-1 announces open tryouts in LA

Kickboxing organization K-1 will be conducting open tryouts at Muscle Beach in Los Angeles, California on July 19, 2012 for events later this year.

Via K-1 press release:

K-1 is offering this unprecedented opportunity for K-1 hopefuls to fight in a 2012 event and the chance to compete for $2 Million in prize money. $1 million will be awarded to the 2012 K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix winner along with $300,000 for second place, as well as $300,000 for the winner of the 2012 K-1 MAX tournament.

“K-1 would like to invite all talented stand-up fighters to come to Muscle Beach in LA on July 19 and show us what you have, and why you belong in the K-1 family,” said Doug Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer, K-1. “K-1 is the gold standard in stand-up fighting, and we are searching for the best new athletes out there to represent K-1 and possibly become one of kickboxing’s newest icons.”

Signing up for the K-1 Open Tryouts is easy – simply visit the K-1 FACEBOOK page at:http://www.facebook.com/K1GlobalTV.ENG. After registering, you will receive your confirmation via email.

Payout Perspective:

Make sure you sign a waiver before you tryout in July.  According to our friends at Liverkick, there will be a K-1 event in Los Angeles on September 8th.  While the card is not set for September it appears that some of the participants will be drawn from this open tryout.

The open tryout should boost its Facebook traffic as those K-1 hopefuls will need to visit the page to sign up.  It’s an interesting way to promote the organization and the upcoming event in LA.  There is a question as to the level of talent obtained from an open tryout but it should gain some media attention and with the backdrop of the beach, it would be a good photo/video op.

For those wondering about K-1’s parent company going bankrupt, the reports of its demise were incorrect.