Hello Kevin,
Thanks for relating
At first I pragmatically thought that the fact that the bouts lasted for 5 rounds meant that investing in middle kicks at the beginning was helping to build up opponent tiredness and set up cleaner points/KO's at latter rounds.
Finding the center and controlling the center of the body to show dominance is an interesting perspective.
Although the risks of getting the leg caught are so high. Which may also be a factor that helps in maintaining the rounds and stakes interesting?
Is it the sport that shapes the reward system or the judging system that shape the sports ?
Egg or Kitchen question...
Mix to that the culture, the audience, the gamblers, the foreigners ...
Cheers,
Ced