Shooto
Encyclopedia
Shooto is a mixed martial arts
organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling
. Practitioners are referred to as shooters, similarly to practitioners of shootwrestling. Shooto rules have evolved such that their events are now true mixed martial arts
competitions.
The word shooto is an English transliteration
of 修斗 , an ateji
derived from the English word "shoot". The word 修斗 can be translated as "learn combat".
(the original Tiger Mask
), a Japanese professional wrestler trained in shoot wrestling
, who wished to create a sport that revolved around a realistic and effective fighting system. After its establishment New Martial arts was renamed "Shooting" which came from Shoot
, a term of professional wrestling meaning "Serious match", but this changed to "Shooto" to avoid confusion with Shooting sports
. Compared to the other professional wrestling organizations of the time, such as the New Japan Pro Wrestling
and the Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)
, Shooto was aimed at having no predetermined results. The first amateur event was held in 1986 and the first professional event in 1989.
The Shooto organization hosted the Vale Tudo Japan tournament in the summer of 1994. Previously to this tournament, Shooto did not feature punches
to the face in a ground position
, but after seeing effective usage of punching by foreign participants, Sayama decided to incorporate these striking techniques into shooto. In April 1996, World Shooto, the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission were formed. This marked the end of Shooto as a single organization, and turned it into a combat sport
with governing bodies. Since establishment of ISC, the champions of Shooto are called "World Champion". Vale Tudo Japan events were held annually from 1994 to 1999.http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?Organization_ID=12 In May 2009, it was announced that Vale Tudo Japan would return for the first time in ten years on October 30, 2009.
Shooto was brought to America in the late 1980s by top student of Satoru Sayama, Sensei Yorinaga Nakamura
. He began teaching Shooto at the Inosanto Academy in 1991, and is the instructor of Erik Paulson, Ron Balicki, Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, and many others.
There has been an ongoing effort to bring Shooto competition to the United States and Canada that has been spearheaded by Rich Santoro. He was officially named the Director of the International Shooto Commission - SHOOTO Americas division (the North American branch of the Shooto Association) in 2001. He has worked with both U.S. event promoters and state officials to spread the Shooto brand of competition throughout North America. As of 2006 Shooto has taken place in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Nevada, Hawaii, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Promoters of Shooto events in North America have been HOOKnSHOOT, The Ironheart Crown
, Midwest Fighting, Tennessee Shooto, RSF Shooto Challenge, TUFF-N-UFF, World Freestyle Fighting, SHOOTO Hawaii and Mannidog Productions.
Previous to 2009, Shooto's rules included a knockdown rule giving knocked down fighters an eight-count to recover as well as allowing strikes to the back of the head. Shooto had argued that the potentential for a knocked out (and thus unconscious) fighter to receive unnecesarry damage while on the ground necessitated the rule, but with Shooto being one of the lone organizations still having the rule, consideration of the potential for injury allowing a knocked down fighter time to recover thus allowing additional blows, and with the original vision of Shooto's founder being a synthesis of striking, throwing and submitting - the rulechange was instituted in mid-2008. The disallowment of strikes to the back of the head was done for similar medical reasons.
or a submission
, but fights can also end in a referee stoppage or by a judge decision. Legal techniques include general grappling
, chokehold
s, joint lock
s, kick
s, knee strikes
, punches
, takedowns
and throws
. Illegal techniques include biting, elbow strikes
, eye-gouging
, forearm strike
s, hair pulling, headbutt
ing, kick
ing or kneeing
the head of a downed opponent
, small joint manipulation
, strikes to the groin
or throat
and since September 1, 2008, strikes to the back of the head.
Fighters start out as Class-D or Class-C fighters and enter amateur competitions that Shooto hosts together with the help of local gyms all over Japan. Class-D Shooto does not allow knee strikes to the face or striking on the ground. Class-C Shooto does not allow striking on the ground, but knee strikes to the head are allowed. There are regional championship and once a year the All-Japan amateur championships. Then a fighter can get a Class-B pro license, these fights are 2x5 minute long and use the same rules as Class-A fights. For new pros Shooto each year hold a rookie tournament in each weightclass.
When a fighter has gathered enough wins and experience in Class-B he will get awarded with a Class-A license, as a sign that he's part of the elite professional fighters.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling is a combat sport that has its origins in Japan's professional wrestling circuit of the 1970s. Professional wrestlers of that era attempted to utilize more realistic or "full contact" moves in their matches to increase their excitement...
. Practitioners are referred to as shooters, similarly to practitioners of shootwrestling. Shooto rules have evolved such that their events are now true mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
competitions.
The word shooto is an English transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
of 修斗 , an ateji
Ateji
In modern Japanese, primarily refers to kanji used phonetically to represent native or borrowed words, without regard to the meaning of the underlying characters. This is analogous to man'yōgana in pre-modern Japanese...
derived from the English word "shoot". The word 修斗 can be translated as "learn combat".
History
Shooto was established as a "New Martial arts"(Shin-Kakutōgi) in 1985 by Satoru SayamaSatoru Sayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. He's wrestled under his real name as well as the names Sammy Lee, and masked Super Tiger, Tiger King, Tiger Mask and The Mask of Tiger...
(the original Tiger Mask
Tiger Mask
is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine from 1968 to 1969 and was later published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1970 to 1971...
), a Japanese professional wrestler trained in shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling is a combat sport that has its origins in Japan's professional wrestling circuit of the 1970s. Professional wrestlers of that era attempted to utilize more realistic or "full contact" moves in their matches to increase their excitement...
, who wished to create a sport that revolved around a realistic and effective fighting system. After its establishment New Martial arts was renamed "Shooting" which came from Shoot
Shoot (professional wrestling)
A shoot in professional wrestling is a term that refers to any unplanned, unscripted or real-life occurrence within a wrestling event. Contrary to popular belief, the name does not originate from "shooting in" for a takedown, as in amateur wrestling - rather it is a carny term shortened from...
, a term of professional wrestling meaning "Serious match", but this changed to "Shooto" to avoid confusion with Shooting sports
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
. Compared to the other professional wrestling organizations of the time, such as the New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
and the Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)
Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)
The original Japanese-based Universal Wrestling Federation was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1984 to 1986, formed by wrestlers who had left New Japan Pro Wrestling. It was a pioneer in the shoot-style of pro-wrestling, which emphasized realistic moves. It was revived as the...
, Shooto was aimed at having no predetermined results. The first amateur event was held in 1986 and the first professional event in 1989.
The Shooto organization hosted the Vale Tudo Japan tournament in the summer of 1994. Previously to this tournament, Shooto did not feature punches
Punch (strike)
A punch is a striking blow with the fist. It is the most commonly used attack in hand to hand combat. It is used in some martial arts and combat sports, most notably boxing where it is the only type of technique allowed...
to the face in a ground position
Ground fighting
Ground fighting is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground, generally involving grappling...
, but after seeing effective usage of punching by foreign participants, Sayama decided to incorporate these striking techniques into shooto. In April 1996, World Shooto, the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission were formed. This marked the end of Shooto as a single organization, and turned it into a combat sport
Combat sport
A Combat sport, also known as a Fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport where two combatants fight against each other using certain rules of engagement , typically with the aim of simulating parts of real hand to hand combat...
with governing bodies. Since establishment of ISC, the champions of Shooto are called "World Champion". Vale Tudo Japan events were held annually from 1994 to 1999.http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?Organization_ID=12 In May 2009, it was announced that Vale Tudo Japan would return for the first time in ten years on October 30, 2009.
Shooto was brought to America in the late 1980s by top student of Satoru Sayama, Sensei Yorinaga Nakamura
Yorinaga Nakamura
, also known as Yori Nakamura, is a retired Japanese shoot wrestler and an instructor in shoot wrestling and Jeet Kune Do.-Life and career:Nakamura had trained in various martial arts until February 1984 when he enrolled at the Tiger Gym of Satoru Sayama. In November 1985, he became a full-time...
. He began teaching Shooto at the Inosanto Academy in 1991, and is the instructor of Erik Paulson, Ron Balicki, Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell, and many others.
There has been an ongoing effort to bring Shooto competition to the United States and Canada that has been spearheaded by Rich Santoro. He was officially named the Director of the International Shooto Commission - SHOOTO Americas division (the North American branch of the Shooto Association) in 2001. He has worked with both U.S. event promoters and state officials to spread the Shooto brand of competition throughout North America. As of 2006 Shooto has taken place in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Nevada, Hawaii, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Promoters of Shooto events in North America have been HOOKnSHOOT, The Ironheart Crown
Ironheart Crown
The Ironheart Crown is a US based mixed martial arts organization founded in 1999. The official first event took place on November 6, 1999 at the St. Andrews Arena on Addison Street in Chicago, Illinois. The second event was held at the same venue the following year.By the second show, the...
, Midwest Fighting, Tennessee Shooto, RSF Shooto Challenge, TUFF-N-UFF, World Freestyle Fighting, SHOOTO Hawaii and Mannidog Productions.
Previous to 2009, Shooto's rules included a knockdown rule giving knocked down fighters an eight-count to recover as well as allowing strikes to the back of the head. Shooto had argued that the potentential for a knocked out (and thus unconscious) fighter to receive unnecesarry damage while on the ground necessitated the rule, but with Shooto being one of the lone organizations still having the rule, consideration of the potential for injury allowing a knocked down fighter time to recover thus allowing additional blows, and with the original vision of Shooto's founder being a synthesis of striking, throwing and submitting - the rulechange was instituted in mid-2008. The disallowment of strikes to the back of the head was done for similar medical reasons.
Techniques and strategies
The aim in a shooto match is to defeat the opponent by a knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
or a submission
Submission (combat sport term)
A submission is a combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat...
, but fights can also end in a referee stoppage or by a judge decision. Legal techniques include general grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
, chokehold
Chokehold
A chokehold or choke is a general term for grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air or blood from passing through the neck of an opponent. The restriction may be of one or both and depends on the hold used and the reaction of the victim...
s, joint lock
Joint lock
A Joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion....
s, kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
s, knee strikes
Knee (strike)
A knee strike is a strike with the knee, either with the kneecap or the surrounding area. Kneeing is a disallowed practice in many combat sports, especially to the head of a downed opponent...
, punches
Punch (strike)
A punch is a striking blow with the fist. It is the most commonly used attack in hand to hand combat. It is used in some martial arts and combat sports, most notably boxing where it is the only type of technique allowed...
, takedowns
Takedown (grappling)
A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known...
and throws
Throw (grappling)
A throw is a martial arts term for a grappling technique that involves off-balancing or lifting an opponent, and tossing them to the ground in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技, "throwing technique"...
. Illegal techniques include biting, elbow strikes
Elbow (strike)
An elbow strike is a strike with the point of the elbow, the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow, or the part of the upper arm nearest to the elbow...
, eye-gouging
Eye-gouging
Eye-gouging is the act of pressing or tearing the eye using the fingers, other bodyparts, or instruments. Eye-gouging involves a very high risk of eye injury, such as permanent eye loss. It is disallowed in combat sports, but some self-defense systems teach it...
, forearm strike
Forearm strike
A forearm strike is a strike with the forearm, typically with the bone in the medial side, the ulna. This can be done with a spinning motion to increase damage.-External links:* . Shows forearm strikes being used....
s, hair pulling, headbutt
Headbutt
A headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the cranium as areas of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area, such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead...
ing, kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
ing or kneeing
Knee (strike)
A knee strike is a strike with the knee, either with the kneecap or the surrounding area. Kneeing is a disallowed practice in many combat sports, especially to the head of a downed opponent...
the head of a downed opponent
Downed opponent
A downed opponent is a combatant that is on the ground, as compared to a combatant that is in a standing position. This commonly implies that the downed combatant is lying on the ground, but can technically refer to any position in which anything except the soles of the combatants feet are...
, small joint manipulation
Small joint manipulation
Small joint manipulation, in grappling, refers to twisting, pulling or bending fingers or toes to cause joint locks in the various joints in those appendages...
, strikes to the groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
or throat
Throat
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...
and since September 1, 2008, strikes to the back of the head.
Fighter classes
Shooto fighters are categorized into four Classes.- Class-D : Amateur (2x2min, Headgear, Special point system)
- Class-C : Amateur (2x3min, Headgear, Special point system)
- Class-C+: Amateur (2x3min)
- Class-B : Pro (2x5min)
- Class-A : Pro (3x5min)
Fighters start out as Class-D or Class-C fighters and enter amateur competitions that Shooto hosts together with the help of local gyms all over Japan. Class-D Shooto does not allow knee strikes to the face or striking on the ground. Class-C Shooto does not allow striking on the ground, but knee strikes to the head are allowed. There are regional championship and once a year the All-Japan amateur championships. Then a fighter can get a Class-B pro license, these fights are 2x5 minute long and use the same rules as Class-A fights. For new pros Shooto each year hold a rookie tournament in each weightclass.
When a fighter has gathered enough wins and experience in Class-B he will get awarded with a Class-A license, as a sign that he's part of the elite professional fighters.
Current Shooto World champions
| Men's division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Title Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight Middleweight (MMA) The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb... |
183 lb (83 kg; 13.1 st) | Vacant | 0 |
| Middleweight Welterweight (MMA) The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb... |
168 lb (76.2 kg; 12 st) | Vacant | 0 |
| Welterweight Lightweight (MMA) The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb... |
154 lb (69.9 kg; 11 st) |  Kuniyoshi HironakaKuniyoshi Hironaka is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division.After Mizuto Hirota vacated the Cage Force Lightweight Championship, Kuniyoshi Hironaka defeated Yoshihiro Koyama at Cage Force 12 to become the new belt holder.... |
0 |
| Lightweight Featherweight (MMA) The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb... |
143 lb (64.9 kg; 10.2 st) | Vacant | 0 |
| Featherweight Bantamweight (MMA) The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The King of the Cage bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lb... |
132 lb (59.9 kg; 9.4 st) | Koetsu Okazaki |
0 |
| Bantamweight Flyweight (MMA) The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine – groups together all competitors 125 lb and below... |
123 lb (55.8 kg; 8.8 st) | Yasuhiro Urushitani Yasuhiro Urushitani is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. He has only been finished once, and has been consistently ranked as one of top flyweight's in the world by Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. He is known for his slick counter striking... |
1 |
| Flyweight Strawweight (MMA) The Strawweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing 115 lb or less.In boxing, the strawweight division is 105 lb or less.... |
115 lb (52.2 kg; 8.2 st) | Junji Ikoma Junji Ikoma Junji Ikoma is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the strawweight and flyweight division. He has fought throughout his career exclusively for the Shooto organization and is currently a part of Shooto's provisional association... |
0 |
Current Shooto Pacific Rim champions
- FeatherweightFeatherweightFeatherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
(60 kg / 135 lb): Koetsu Okazaki - LightweightLightweightLight-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
(65 kg /143 lb): Vacant - WelterweightWelterweightWelterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
(70 kg / 154 lb): Yoshihiro Koyama - MiddleweightMiddleweightMiddleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
(76 kg / 167 lb): Akihiro Murayama
Shooto European Amateur Champions 2008
| Division | Weight limit | Champion | Gym | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Country | |||
| Bantamweight | below 56 kg / 123 lb | Raby Williams |  FranceFrance The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Haute Tension |
| Featherweight | below 60 kg / 132 lb | Patrick Lengelo |  BelgiumBelgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
Chaput |
| Lightweight | below 65 kg / 143 lb | Jani Ketolainen |  FinlandFinland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
MMA Imatra |
| Welterweight | below 70 kg / 154 lb | Loic Korval | France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Kordaf |
| Middleweight | below 76 kg / 167 lb | Antti Toiviainen | Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
MMA Imatra |
| Light-Heavyweight | below 83 kg / 183 lb | Sauli Heilimö | Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
FFG |
| Cruiserweight | below 91 kg / 200 lb | Max Djumbo | France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
BOCAO Team |
| Heavyweight | below 100 kg / 220 lb | Claude Hermann | Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
Shihaishinkai |
| Super-Heavyweight | no limit | Josef Ali Mohamed |  SwedenSweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Brasa |
Notable shooto fighters
- Takanori GomiTakanori Gomi, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and was the last and only Pride Lightweight Champion. He is also a four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion. During his time in Pride he was considered...
- Siyar BahadurzadaSiyar BahadurzadaSiyar Bahadurzada is an Afghan mixed martial artist currently fighting at Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His MMA nickname is "Siyar The Great".-Biography:...
- Hatsu HiokiHatsu Hiokiis a Japanese mixed martial artist signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship competing in the featherweight division. He is the former Shooto Lightweight Champion and former Sengoku Featherweight Champion...
- Norifumi YamamotoNorifumi Yamamotois a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona...
- Shinya AokiShinya Aokiis a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee who is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. He is one of the most prominent...
- Rumina SatoRumina Satois a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Shooto organization. Being the first mixed martial artist to beat a black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter by a submission, Sato is considered by many to be an exciting shoot wrestling-based fighter in MMA and has been nicknamed...
- Yuki NakaiYuki Nakaiis a retired Japanese shooto practitioner and mixed martial artist. He currently teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is the president of the Japan Shooto Association. He competed in Vale Tudo Japan 1995, where he was outweighed by every opponent in the tournament...
- Noboru AsahiNoboru Asahiis a Japanese retired mixed martial artist, a designer, and an owner of MMA gym.He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan on January 5, 1968 as .-Mixed martial arts record:| Loss| 19-6-5| Tomomi Iwama| TKO | Deep 10th IMPACT in Korakuen Hall...
- Mamoru YamaguchiMamoru Yamaguchiis a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is a former Shooto Bantamweight Champion and a former Shooto Featherweight Champion. He has been consistently ranked as one of the top flyweight in the world by Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. Mamoru is known for his counter striking and his...
- George SotiropoulosGeorge SotiropoulosGeorge Sotiropoulos is an Australian mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the UFC in the lightweight division. He is well known for appearing as a fighter on the TV show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra...
- Grant Campbell
- Kazuhiro Sakamoto
- Erik Paulson
- Ron BalickiRon BalickiRon Balicki is an actor and stuntman for various films and television series. He is also a well known martial arts practitioner, teacher and author. He is a student and the son-in-law of Dan Inosanto.-Biography:...
- Naoki Sakurada
- Ryota Matsune
- Akira KikuchiAkira Kikuchiis a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto World Middleweight Champion – commonly known as the welterweight division in the United States and Canada. He trained alongside Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with the Killer Bee team.-Career:...
- Enson InoueEnson InoueEnson Inoue is a Japanese American mixed martial artist. He has a professional MMA record of 12-8-0. He is a former Shooto Heavyweight Champion. He had also previously fought in Pride Fighting Championships, the biggest mixed martial arts organization at the time...
- Joe Feldman
- Hayato SakuraiHayato Sakuraiis a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...
- Paul Balancio
- Anderson SilvaAnderson SilvaAnderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history...
- Akitoshi TamuraAkitoshi TamuraAkitoshi Tamura is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed almost exclusively in the Shooto organization, before making his debut at the WEC 37. In 2007, he was the lightweight champion of Shooto. He was once ranked as the #5 Bantamweight in the world by the MMAWeekly Worldwide Ranking System...
- Caol UnoCaol Unois a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
- Alexandre Franca NogueiraAlexandre Franca NogueiraAlexandre Franca "Pequeno" Nogueira is a Brazilian Luta Livre fighter and the former Lightweight champion of Shooto, a Japanese mixed martial arts organization. Nogueira began his professional career at the age of 21, defeating Noboru Asahi. He trains with the World Fight Center...
- Jake ShieldsJake ShieldsJake Shields is an American mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the last Rumble on the Rock 175 lb champion. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also the former Shooto Middleweight Champion and is the former...
- Joachim Hansen
- Vitor Ribeiro
- Tatsuya KawajiriTatsuya KawajiriTatsuya Kawajiri is a Japanese mixed martial artist and a former Shooto welterweight champion, currently competing in Dream's lightweight division...
- Gilbert MelendezGilbert MelendezGilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
- Yasuhiro UrushitaniYasuhiro Urushitaniis a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. He has only been finished once, and has been consistently ranked as one of top flyweight's in the world by Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. He is known for his slick counter striking...
- Mamoru YamaguchiMamoru Yamaguchiis a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is a former Shooto Bantamweight Champion and a former Shooto Featherweight Champion. He has been consistently ranked as one of the top flyweight in the world by Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. Mamoru is known for his counter striking and his...
- Ryuichi Miki
- Shinichi KojimaShinichi KojimaShinichi Kojima is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought for most of his career in the Shooto organization.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Yuki ShoujouYuki Shoujouis a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. He is currently fighting in Shooto's bantamweight division, equivalent to North America's flyweight division which is...
- Masaaki Sugawara
- Rambaa SomdetRambaa SomdetRambaa Somdet is a Thai mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who has fought for Shooto, DEEP and Palace Fighting Championship. He competes in the flyweight and strawweight divisions.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Darren UyenoyamaDarren UyenoyamaDarren Uyenoyama is an American mixed martial artist currently signed with the UFC fighting in their bantamweight division...
External links
- Shooto Australia
- Shooto Bulgaria
- Shooto Finland
- Shooto France
- Shooto Holland
- Shooto Italy
- Shooto Japan
- Shooto Sweden
- Shooto Switzerland
- Shooto United States
- Unofficial Worldwide Shooto Results- & Fighterindex Website
- Ironheart Crown, American Shooto event
See also
- List of Shooto Champions
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- Modified ShootoModified ShootoShooto is a combat sport that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters, similarly to...
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- Vale tudoVale tudoVale tudo are full-contact unarmed combat events, with a limited number of rules, that became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. Vale tudo has been considered a combat sport by some observers...