Shootboxing is one of the stand-up martial arts, it’s like the mixed martial arts but without ground wrestling or submissions. Indeed, It’s closer to the professional version of Sanda or Kickboxing, allowing Punches, elbows, kicks, knees, throws and the standing submissions.

Certainly, Shootboxing isn’t one of the ancient martial arts like Kung Fu and Muay Thai, it’s one of the modern styles. Because it’s founded by the former Japanese kickboxer Takeshi Caesar on Aug 1985.

Competitions

There are 2 types of Shootboxing competitions. The regular class which called the Freshman class, and the Professional or expert class. The expert class bouts are five or six rounds in some championships. 3 minutes each round with 1-minute rest between rounds. The freshman class bouts are 3 rounds or 4 in some championships. Also, 3 minutes each round with 1-minute rest between rounds.

Hitting

It’s allowed in Shootboxing to hit all the body using punches, elbows, knees, and kicks, except throat, spine, nape, and blow the belt. Besides that, the knees are allowed only to the body in the regular class.

Throws

It’s allowed to throw the opponent to the ground by anyway. The takedown will be counted if you clinch, carry or even push the opponent to the ground. Whether you remain standing or falling up the opponent.

Hitting during clinching is allowed, but it’s not allowed to hit while you or your opponent is on the ground. Also, it’s not allowed to carry the opponent and make his neck head hit the ground first, or causing him to fall down on his knees.

It’s prohibited to hold on the ropes to give you more strength, and it’s not allowed also to throw the opponent beyond the ropes.

Immobilization and Submission

You can block and clinch while fighting, but points will be counted just for the fighter who gains an advantage position from that. It’s allowed to change the positions while blocking the opponent trying to make a submission by strangling him or twisting his arm. If the opponent surrendered or lost his consciousness, the other one wins.

The referee can stop an ongoing submission move if it is dangerous for the fighter, and one point will be deducted from him in this case.

Weight classes

Shootboxing fighters can compete from the age of 16 with permission from parents, or at the age of 18.

Men: 56, 60, 65 , 71, 78, 86, 95, 105, and over 105 kg.

Women: 50, 55, 61, 68, 76, and over 76 kg.

Scoring

Each round, the judges give 10 points to the better fighters, 9 or 8 points to the other one. Then they subtract the deductions from the penalties and counts. after the match, they will take the sum of the points collected in each round, to identify the winner by the majority or unanimous decision. In case the points are equal, judges must give their preferences.

Points Types

Throw while both legs off the ground 3 Throw 2 Takedown 1 Over body immobilization 3 Side Immobilization 2 Immobilization 1 Punch 1 Kick to the head 3 Kick to the body 2 Kick to the leg 1 Knee to the head 2 Knee to the body 1 Very effective technique 1

Some Shootboxing fighters have started their careers from the Shootboxing itself. And some of them have started from another martial art like Kickboxing then shifted completely or partially to Shootboxing. Therefore, manyThanks for reading, hope you found useful information in the article. If you know any additional information regarding Shootboxing, please share it with us in a comment below. Also, if you want to know any information about any type of martial art, leave a comment below and we’ll write about it.