Shoot boxing

Did You Know?

• Some mixed martial artists such as Hayato Sakurai began their careers in Shootboxing.
• Shootboxing has drawn fighters who became famous in other promotions, such as Jens Pulver.
• Many K-1 World MAX stars, including Andy Souwer, Albert Kraus, and Buakaw Banchamek, have fought for Shootboxing.

Rules

Professional shoot boxing matches are divided into Expert class and Freshman class. Expert class bouts consist of five rounds of three minutes each, with one or two extra three-minute rounds in case of a tie, and one-minute intervals between rounds. Freshman class matches are three rounds of three minutes each, also with one-minute intervals and possible extra rounds. Fighters are grouped into weight classes; since 2001, Sparrowweight has been split into Flyweight and Super flyweight, and Eagleweight into Heavyweight and Super heavyweight. A match can end by knockout: if a fighter fails to stand after a ten-count, fails to assume a fighting stance after an eight-count, or fails to return to the ring within a twenty-count. A referee may also declare a knockout if a fighter shows no fighting spirit, cannot defend, or submits. Technical knockouts occur due to injury, two knockdowns in the same round, a corner throwing in the towel, or a doctor stopping the bout for safety. If no knockout or technical knockout happens, judges decide the winner based on effectiveness in attack and defense, success in submissions, and closeness to ending the match. Decisions may result in a draw, or a no contest if foul play or insincere fighting is suspected. Fighters earn points for striking, throwing, and applying standing submissions, plus scores from 1 to 10 in four categories: number of times down, damage done, clean hits, and aggressiveness, with a maximum four-point difference per category.

Championship history

The S-Cup, or Shoot Boxing World Cup, is an eight-man single-elimination world tournament generally held every two years since 1995. Weight limits for various divisions include 90kg, 80kg, 75kg, 72.5kg, 70kg, 67.5kg, 65kg, 62.5kg, 60kg, 57.5kg, 55kg, 52.5kg, 52kg, 49kg, and 46kg.