# Shootfighting

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**Shootfighting** is a [martial art](/source/Martial_art) and [combat sport](/source/Combat_sport), with competitions governed by the [International Shootfighting Association](/source/International_Shootfighting_Association) (ISFA). It incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principal of these being [wrestling](/source/Wrestling) and [kenpo](/source/Kenpo).

Shootfighting was previously used synonymously with [mixed martial arts](/source/Mixed_martial_art) competitions in [Japan](/source/Japan), as opposed to [shoot-style](/source/Shoot-style) [professional wrestling](/source/Professional_wrestling) competitions. The term has been retired from common usage because it became a registered trademark of Bart Vale, who uses it to describe his [hybrid fighting system](/source/Hybrid_fighting_system) derived from [shoot wrestling](/source/Shoot_wrestling). However, it is still sometimes used colloquially.

Examples which were once considered shootfighting styles, tournaments or organizations are [Pancrase](/source/Pancrase), [Fighting Network RINGS](/source/Fighting_Network_RINGS), and [Shooto](/source/Shooto), where many fighters still considered themselves to be *shootfighters*. [Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock) is possibly the most recognisable shoot fighter, as it was the discipline he used during the early days of the [UFC](/source/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship).

## History

Shootfighting's use as a synonym for [mixed martial arts](/source/Mixed_martial_arts) had its genesis in the 1970s, when [Karl Gotch](/source/Karl_Gotch) taught a group of [Japanese](/source/Japan) professional wrestlers [catch wrestling](/source/Catch_wrestling) techniques, called "*hooking*" or "*[shooting](/source/Shoot_(professional_wrestling))*". In 1976, one of these pro-wrestlers, [Antonio Inoki](/source/Antonio_Inoki), hosted a series of matches against practitioners of other martial arts; most of these were ["worked"](/source/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#W) (predetermined), but one particular high-profile one was [against Muhammad Ali](/source/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Antonio_Inoki), which was in fact a [shoot](/source/Shoot_(professional_wrestling)). This led to an increased interest in real and effective technique, and eventually led to the creation of [shoot wrestling](/source/Shoot_wrestling), with some [shoot-style](/source/Shoot-style) [professional wrestling](/source/Professional_wrestling) organizations hosting legitimate mixed martial arts bouts, called "*shoots*". Interest grew in the 1990s, and certain shoot-style organizations like [Shooto](/source/Shooto), [Pancrase](/source/Pancrase) and [RINGS](/source/RINGS) evolved into pure "shoot" organizations. The term "shootfighting" was frequently used to describe these events and styles.

[Bart Vale](/source/Bart_Vale), an [American](/source/United_States) with a background in [professional wrestling](/source/Professional_wrestling), champion of the [Japanese](/source/Japanese_people) *[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Fujiwara_Gumi)* (PWFG, a Japanese [shoot-style](/source/Shoot-style) [professional wrestling](/source/Professional_wrestling) organization) for close to three years, moved back to America and used the term "shootfighting", to describe his own [hybrid fighting system](/source/Hybrid_fighting_system), which was a combination of the [shoot wrestling](/source/Shoot_wrestling) techniques he had learned in Japan and his experience in [kenpo](/source/Kempo), [jujutsu](/source/Jujutsu) and [Muay Thai](/source/Muay_Thai). He also founded the *International Shootfighting Association* to promote shootfighting as a [combat sport](/source/Combat_sport). He also would trademark the term, reserving the rights to use it for himself and his organization.[2]

[Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock), at the time Pancrase champion and former Fujiwara Gumi alumni, entered in [UFC 1](/source/UFC_1) representing "Shootfighting", describing his fighting style at Pancrase. With Shamrock's success in the early [UFC](/source/UFC), Bart Vale would use a [worked](/source/Glossary_of_professional_wrestling_terms#W) victory 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

Shootfighting is a [hybrid martial art](/source/Hybrid_martial_arts), with similar but more limited rules compared to [mixed martial arts](/source/Mixed_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 standard [wrestling](/source/Wrestling) ring, competitors are allowed to [kick](/source/Kick), [knee](/source/Knee_(strike)) or [elbow](/source/Elbow_(strike)) any part of the body except the [groin](/source/Groin), as well as [headbutt](/source/Headbutt). [Punches](/source/Punch_(strike)) are 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 of [throw](/source/Throw_(grappling)) or [takedown](/source/Takedown_(grappling)) is legal and competitors are allowed to hit a [downed opponent](/source/Downed_opponent). Additionally, any type of [joint lock](/source/Joint_lock) is legal as are [chokes](/source/Chokehold) against the side of the neck. The only foul consists of punches to the face, [eye-gouges](/source/Eye-gouges), techniques against the [windpipe](/source/Windpipe) and [groin strikes](/source/Groin_attack).

Fights are won when a competitor is [knocked down](/source/Knockout) for a 10 count, knocked down 5 times or forced to [submit](/source/Submission_(combat_sport_term)). 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

- [Aliveness (martial arts)](/source/Aliveness_(martial_arts))
- [Pancrase](/source/Pancrase)
- [Pride Fighting Championships](/source/Pride_Fighting_Championships)
- [Fighting Network RINGS](/source/Fighting_Network_RINGS)
- [Puroresu](/source/Professional_wrestling_in_Japan)
- [Shooto](/source/Shooto)
- [Ultimate Fighting Championship](/source/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship)
- [Vale tudo](/source/Vale_tudo)

## References

1. ["Shootfighting"](https://whichmartialarts.com/shootfighting/)

1. ["SHOOTFIGHTING Trademark - Registration Number 1748962 - Serial Number 74261820 :: Justia Trademarks"](http://trademarks.justia.com/742/61/shootfighting-74261820.html). *trademarks.justia.com*. Retrieved 2021-11-12.

1. McClure, Sean. ["The incredibly true fake legend of shootfight champion Bart Vale"](https://prommanow.com/2017/07/21/the-incredibly-true-fake-legend-of-shootfight-champion-bart-vale/). Retrieved 2021-11-10.

1. Sherdog.com. ["Bart Vale MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com"](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Bart-Vale-384). *Sherdog*. Retrieved 2021-11-13.

- Chan, Sam. [The Japanese Pro-Wrestling: Reality Based Martial Art Connection](https://web.archive.org/web/20060822022258/http://bjj.org/editorials/19980215-prowrest/). *bjj.org*. URL last accessed January 7, 2006.
- Herzog, Paul. [History of Shootfighting](http://www.mindspring.com/~gus_p/gus2.html). *www.mindspring.com*. URL last accessed January 7, 2006.
- International Shootfighting Association. [History of the ISFA](http://www.shootfighting.com/history_isfa.html). *www.shootfighting.com*. URL last accessed January 7, 2006.

## External links

- [International Shootfighting Association](http://www.shootfighting.com) The homepage of the International Shootfighting Association.
- [Official Shootfighting information & training in Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville & Davis, CA](http://www.shootfighting.org)
- [American Kenpo & Shootfighting](https://web.archive.org/web/20010630204101/http://www.shokenpo.com/)
- [Swedish Shootfighting Association](http://www.shootfighting.se)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shootfighting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shootfighting) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shootfighting?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.