Shoot wrestling

Shoot wrestling

Focus	Grappling
Country of origin	Japan
Famous practitioners	Satoru Sayama,Yuki Nakai,Yorinaga Nakamura,Kazuo Yamazaki,Kazushi Sakuraba,Kiyoshi Tamura,Tsuyoshi Kosaka,Volk Han,Ken Shamrock,Masakatsu Funaki,Frank Shamrock,Daisuke Nakamura
Parenthood	Catch wrestling,freestyle wrestling,Greco-Roman wrestling,judo,karate,Muay Thai,sambo
Descendant arts	Shootfighting,shootbo xing,mixed martial arts
Olympic sport	No

Shoot wrestlingis a Japanesehybridgrapplingstyle andcombat sport.Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from variouswrestling,submission grappling,kickbo xingandkaratestyles. It was particularly inspired and influenced bycatch wrestling,a form of wrestling withsubmissionsthat was the predominant style of professional wrestling in the 19th and early 20th century, at the time a competitive sport and not yet predetermined.

Shoot wrestling originated in Japan'sprofessional wrestlingcircuit (puroresu) of the 1970s, particularly stemming from the influence of wrestlersKarl Gotch,Lou TheszandBilly Robinson,all who had an enduring popularity in Japan due to their serious submission wrestling style. Professional wrestlers of that era attempted to use more realistic or even "full contact" moves in their matches to increase their excitement, diminishing or eschewing the theatrical elements and acrobatics, looking more similar to an actual, unscripted fight. The name "shoot wrestling" comes from the professional wrestling term "shoot",which refers to any unscripted occurrence within a scripted wrestling event.

The first wave of shoot wrestlers were students ofAntonio Inokiand Karl Gotch fromNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW), two wrestlers which already were advocates of a stiffer and more realistic wrestling style. Their students left NJPW to form theUniversal Wrestling Federation(UWF) in 1984, pioneering in the new style.

Shoot wrestling was popular in Japan from the 1980s until the mid-1990s, fading from popularity due the demise of the leading shoot-style promotionUWFiin 1996 and the simultaneous rise ofmixed martial arts(MMA) in Japan. Most shoot wrestlers started to migrate to MMA or back to more theatrical forms of professional wrestling.Shoot wrestling had a considerable influence on the sport of mixed martial arts.

Prior to the emergence of the current sport of shoot wrestling, the term was commonly used in the professional wrestling business, particularly in theUnited Kingdom,as asynonymfor the sport ofcatch wrestling.Shoot wrestling can be used to describe a range ofhybrid fighting systemssuch asshootfighting,shoot bo xingand the styles ofmixed martial artsdone in theShooto,PancraseandRINGSpromotions. Organizations, promotions and gyms with origins in shoot wrestling are referred as the "U-Kei".

History

Historically, shoot wrestling has been influenced by many martial arts, most influential of them beingcatch wrestling,but alsofreestyle wrestling,Greco-Roman wrestling,and thensambo,karate,Muay Thaiandjudoin the sport's later stages.

Karl Gotchis one of the most important figures in the development of shoot wrestling. Karl Gotch would begin his journey into wrestling in the German and North American professional wrestling circuits, where Gotch found moderate success. However, it was in his tours of Japan that the early formations of shoot wrestling took place. Gotch was a student of the "Snake Pit"gym, run by the renowned catch wrestlerBilly RileyinWigan.The gym was the centre of learningsubmission wrestlingas practiced in the mining town of Wigan, popularly known as catch-as-catch-can wrestling. It was here that Karl Gotch honed his catch wrestling skills. Karl Gotch also travelled toIndiato practice the wrestling form ofPehlwani;later on he would propagate the exercises using the "Hindu mace" (large clubs) and would go on to incorporate the Indian system of exercises using push-ups, neck exercises,yogic breathing exercisesand "Hindu squats" for conditioning. Gotch attained legendary status in Japan, earning the nickname God of Wrestling. In the 1970s he taught catch wrestling-basedhookingandshootingto the likes ofAntonio Inoki,Tatsumi Fujinami,Yoshiaki Fujiwara,Satoru Sayama,Masami Soranaka, andAkira Maeda.Most of these professional wrestlers already had backgrounds in legitimate martial arts. Masami Soranaka had been a student of full contact karate, kodokan judo, andsumo.Yoshiaki Fujiwara was already ablack beltin judo, while Satoru Sayama had studied Muay Thai withToshio Fujiwaraand went on to study sambo withVictor Koga.This would eventually lead to the added influences of karate, Muay Thai and judo to the wrestling style.

One of Gotch's students, Antonio Inoki, hosted a series ofmixed martial arts-style wrestling matches in which he pitted his "strong styleprofessional wrestling "against other martial arts in an attempt to show that professional wrestling and shoot wrestling were the strongest fighting disciplines. Inoki would go on to teach these fighting techniques to a new generation of wrestlers in the dojo of his professional wrestling promotion,New Japan Pro-Wrestling.These matches eventually culminated into theMuhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki.While the previous matches were predetermined, Ali and Inoki could not agree on the terms of the match and it turned into a "shoot".

Later on, many wrestlers became interested in promoting this more realistic style of professional wrestling and in 1984, theUniversal Wrestling Federationwas formed. The UWF was a professional wrestling organisation that promoted the shoot and strong styles of wrestling. While predetermined, the UWF featured effective and practical martial arts moves, which were applied with force. The organization would even host some legitimate mixed martial arts fights, where the UWF wrestlers were able to test their shoot wrestling techniques against fighters with other styles, mimicking Inoki's own exploits. However, internal conflicts between the wrestlers soon resulted in a breakup of the company.

After the breakup of the original Universal Wrestling Federation, shoot wrestling branched into several disciplines. One of the first top stars to leave was"Tiger Mask"Satoru Sayamain 1985, he was dissatisfied with the UWF's internal politics and decided to follow his dream of founding his ownmartial artdiscipline. He combined his knowledge of shoot wrestling and other martial arts to create a legitimate fighting style which he later named "Shooto",holding the first amateur event in 1986 and first professional event in 1989.Nobuhiko Takadaand his supporters went to foundUWF International,Akira MaedafoundedFighting Network RINGSwhileYoshiaki Fujiwarawent to foundPro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi( "Fujiwara family" ),in the latter, a few wrestlers such asMasakatsu FunakiandMinoru Suzuki,dissatisfied with Fujiwara's turn tolucha libre-inspired style and lack of focus in fighting skills, foundedPancrasein 1993, a company which used shoot-wrestling rules but promoted real unscripted fights.

The multiple successors and organizations inspired by the UWF range from professional wrestling, to MMA and even standalone martial arts styles, they are collectively known as the "U-Kei"(" U-Group "or" U-Class ").

Shoot wrestling itself was popular until the mid-90s due the demise of theUWFiin 1996 and the simultaneous rise ofmixed martial artsin Japan led to a sharp decline in popularity. Most shoot wrestlers started to migrate into MMA—Fighting Network RINGSitself became a full MMA promotion—or back to more theatrical forms of professional wrestling.

Currently, a few companies have been promoting shoot-wrestling events.GLEATis a Japanese promotion founded in 2020 by LIDET Entertainment consists of formerPro Wrestling NOAHofficials. The "Lidet UWF" is a sub-brand which has UWF-style matches.Game Changer Wrestling—an AmericanNew Jersey–based promotion—promotes shoot-style wrestling events known as theGCW Bloodsport.The events counted with former MMA and shoot-inspired pro wrestlers such asMinoru Suzuki,Josh Barnett,Matt RiddleandDan Severn.

Major promotions

Shoot wrestling branched into several sub disciplines after the breakup of the original Universal Wrestling Federation. The main forms and revivals are listed below.

• Yoshiaki Fujiwara's studentsMasakatsu FunakiandMinoru SuzukifoundedPancrasein 1993, a mixed martial arts promotion predating UFC which originally used shoot wrestling rules in real non-scripted matches.
• Akira MaedafoundedFighting Network Ringsin 1991, a shoot-style wrestling promotion that transitioned to MMA.
• World-renowned gyms like theLion's Den,Takada Dojo,and the Shamrock Martial Arts Academy propagate the shoot wrestling-based style.
• Dutch kickboxer and MMA legendBas Ruttentrained with shoot wrestler Masakatsu Funaki.
• Junior National Korean taekwondo champion Masa Kin Jim has trained in shoot wrestling. During a brief tour of Japan promoting Korean Martial Arts, Masa Kin Jim became fascinated with the shoot wrestling style. In 1998, he would go on to open one of the first shoot wrestling academies in South Korea.
• In 2004, shoot wrestling received official sport status in western Canada and was eligible for licensing. The first of many matches were held open to the public to build a foundation of awareness for the new sport.

Derived styles

Combat wrestling

Combat wrestling

Focus	Grappling,Wrestling
Country of origin	Japan
Famous practitioners	"KID" Yamamoto,Genki Sudo,Takanori Gomi,Rumina Sato,and"Mach" Sakurai
Parenthood	Freestyle wrestling,Greco-Roman wrestling,Shoot Wrestling
Olympic sport	No

Combat wrestling, also known as "MMA without strikes" is a shoot wrestling variation founded by Kiguchi Dojo.

Doojo, a former wrestler, incorporated classic wrestling rules in his sport. Famous mixed martial artists also participate in the tournament and a tournament is also held throughout Japan. Even matchmaking, which is usually not seen by amateur wrestlers and mixed martial arts fighters, is attractive and is now a successful door for mixed martial arts fighters.

In addition, joint levers and chokes are considered fouls unless they lead to a fall, but in combat wrestling a fall does not result in victory (it will be a point at judgment). If a wrestler taps from joint blocks or throttling, a winner is declared. The basic rule is that percussion techniques are basically prohibited and are often practiced as mixed martial arts performed by amateurs.

Shooto

Professional wrestlerSatoru Sayama,a student ofAntonio Inoki,foundedShootoin 1985 with the goal creating a sport that revolved around a realistic and effective fighting system. Shooto is focused on all aspects of fighting:striking,stand-up grapplingandground fighting.Practitioners are referred to asshootersorshootists.

Shootfighting

An early term for MMA, based on the pro wrestling term "shoot"to denote that the fighting is notstaged.It encompasses striking and grappling like MMA, however has slightly different rules to MMA, including rope breaks.

Shootbo xing

KickboxerCaesar TakeshifoundedShoot bo xingin 1985, astand-up fightingleague allowing standing submissions and throws.

See also

• Pancrase
• Professional wrestling in Japan
• Shootfighting
• Shooto

References

• Catch: The Hold Not Taken(DVD). 2005.

External links

• Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', which looks at the history of shoot wrestling