Shootfighting
 | This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(August 2022) |
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| Focus | Hybrid(Combat Sport & Street Combat) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin |  Japan |
| Famous practitioners | |
| Parenthood | Catch Wrestling,Shoot Wrestling,American Kenpo,Judo,Bo xing,Kickbo xing,Karate,Muay Thai,Jujutsu,Brazilian Jiu Jitsu[1] |
| Olympic sport | No |
Shootfightingis amartial artandcombat sport,with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association (ISFA). It incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principal of these beingwrestlingandkenpo.
Shootfighting was previously used synonymously withmixed martial artscompetitions inJapan,as opposed toshoot-styleprofessional wrestlingcompetitions. The term has been retired from common usage because it became a registered trademark of Bart Vale, who uses it to describe hishybrid fighting systemderived fromshoot wrestling.However, it is still sometimes used colloquially.
Examples which were once considered shootfighting styles, tournaments or organizations arePancrase,Fighting Network RINGS,andShooto,where many fighters still considered themselves to beshootfighters.Ken Shamrockis possibly the most recognisable shoot fighter, as it was the discipline he used during the early days of theUFC.
History[edit]
Shootfighting's use as a synonym formixed martial artshad its genesis in the 1970s, whenKarl Gotchtaught a group ofJapaneseprofessional wrestlerscatch wrestlingtechniques, called "hooking"or"shooting".In 1976, one of these pro-wrestlers,Antonio Inoki,hosted a series of matches against practitioners of other martial arts; most of these were"worked"(predetermined), but one particular high-profile one wasagainst Muhammad Ali,which was in fact ashoot.This led to an increased interest in real and effective technique, and eventually led to the creation ofshoot wrestling,with someshoot-styleprofessional wrestlingorganizations hosting legitimate mixed martial arts bouts, called "shoots".Interest grew in the 1990s, and certain shoot-style organizations likeShooto,PancraseandRINGSevolved into pure "shoot" organizations. The term "shootfighting" was frequently used to describe these events and styles.
Bart Vale,anAmericanwith a background inprofessional wrestling,champion of theJapanesePro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi(PWFG, a Japaneseshoot-styleprofessional wrestlingorganization) for close to three years, moved back to America and used the term "shootfighting", to describe his ownhybrid fighting system,which was a combination of theshoot wrestlingtechniques he had learned in Japan and his experience inkenpo,jujutsuandMuay Thai.He also founded theInternational Shootfighting Associationto promote shootfighting as acombat sport.He also would trademark the term, reserving the rights to use it for himself and his organization.[2]
Ken Shamrock,at the time Pancrase champion and former Fujiwara Gumi alumni, entered inUFC 1representing "Shootfighting", describing his fighting style at Pancrase. With Shamrock's success in the earlyUFC,Bart Vale would use aworkedvictory at Fujiwara Gumi against Shamrock, claiming it was a real fight to promote himself in the United States as a MMA legend in Japan.[3]His actual MMA record is 1-2-0.[4]
Rules[edit]
Shootfighting is ahybrid martial art,with similar but more limited rules compared toMixed martial arts.
Currently professional shootfighting matches consists only of a heavyweight (200 lb or more) division. But there are lighter divisions for amateur competitors. Pro matches run 30 minutes non-stop, amateurs 10 minutes. Held inside a standardwrestlingring, competitors are allowed tokick,kneeorelbowany part of the body except thegroin,as well asheadbutt.Punchesare allowed to the body. Since no gloves are worn to facilitate wrestling, punches aren't allowed to the head, although open hand palms and slaps are allowed. Any type ofthrowortakedownis legal and competitors are allowed to hit adowned opponent.Additionally, any type ofjoint lockis legal as arechokesagainst the side of the neck. The only foul consists of punches to the face,eye-gouges,techniques against thewindpipeandgroin strikes.
Fights are won when a competitor isknocked downfor a 10 count, knocked down 5 times or forced tosubmit.A fighter caught in a submission hold may grab the ropes to break the hold, but this counts as a 1/3 of a knock down. Grabbing the ropes 15 times equals a loss. Bouts that go to the full time limit are declared a draw.
See also[edit]
- Aliveness (martial arts)
- Pancrase
- Pride Fighting Championships
- Fighting Network RINGS
- Puroresu
- Shooto
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Vale tudo
References[edit]
- ^"Shootfighting".
- ^"SHOOTFIGHTING Trademark - Registration Number 1748962 - Serial Number 74261820:: Justia Trademarks".trademarks.justia.Retrieved2021-11-12.
- ^McClure, Sean."The incredibly true fake legend of shootfight champion Bart Vale".Retrieved2021-11-10.
- ^Sherdog."Bart Vale MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog".Sherdog.Retrieved2021-11-13.
- Chan, Sam.The Japanese Pro-Wrestling: Reality Based Martial Art Connection.bjj.org.URL last accessed January 7, 2006.
- Herzog, Paul.History of Shootfighting.mindspring.URL last accessed January 7, 2006.
- International Shootfighting Association.History of the ISFA.shootfighting.URL last accessed January 7, 2006.
External links[edit]
- International Shootfighting AssociationThe homepage of the International Shootfighting Association.
- Official Shootfighting information & training in Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville & Davis, CA
- American Kenpo & Shootfighting
- Swedish Shootfighting Association
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