# Shoot boxing

Shoot boxing (シュートボクシング, Shūtobokushingu), commonly written as Shootboxing, is a combat sport.
Shoot boxing is also a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985.
Shootboxing, the combat sport, is a mixture of its two parent combat styles of shoot wrestling and kickboxing, allowing for kicks, punches, knees, elbows, throws, and standing submissions (chokeholds, armlocks and wristlocks).

## History

Shoot boxing was created in August 1985 by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi. The first Shootboxing event took place on September 1, 1985.
Some mixed martial artists such as Hayato Sakurai began their careers in Shootboxing. Shootboxing has also drawn fighters who became famous in other promotions such as Jens Pulver. Many K-1 World MAX stars also either debuted in Shootboxing or have fought for Shootboxing in the past, including Andy Souwer, Albert Kraus, and Buakaw Banchamek.

## Rules

Shootboxing rules are as follows:

### Match form

Professional shoot boxing matches fall into one of two classes, Expert class and Freshman class. The length of an Expert class match is five rounds of three minutes each, followed by one or two extra rounds of three minutes each in the event of a tie. The interval between rounds is one minute.
The length of a Freshman class match is three rounds of three minutes each, followed by one or two three-minute rounds in the event of a tie. The interval between rounds is also one minute.

### Weight classes

Professional shoot boxers are divided into weight classes as follows:
| Old weight division (until 2001) | Current weight division |
| 13 classes (+1 women's class) Name Upper weight limit Men Eagleweight Unlimited Junior Eagleweight 80 kg (176.4 lb) Hawkweight 75 kg (165.3 lb) Junior Hawkweight 72.5 kg (159.8 lb) Falconweight 70 kg (154.3 lb) Junior Falconweight 67.5 kg (148.8 lb) Seagullweight 65 kg (143.3 lb) Junior Seagullweight 62.5 kg (137.8 lb) Cardinalweight 60 kg (132.3 lb) Junior Cardinalweight 57.5 kg (126.8 lb) Owlweight 55 kg (121.3 lb) Junior Owlweight 52.5 kg (115.7 lb) Sparrowweight 50 kg (110.2 lb) Women Ladybugweight 52 kg (114.6 lb) | 15 classes (+6 women's classes) Name Upper weight limit Men Super heavyweight Unlimited Heavyweight 90 kg (198.4 lb) Light heavyweight 80 kg (176.4 lb) Super middleweight 75 kg (165.3 lb) Middleweight 72.5 kg (159.8 lb) Super welterweight 70 kg (154.3 lb) Welterweight 67.5 kg (148.8 lb) Super lightweight 65 kg (143.3 lb) Lightweight 62.5 kg (137.8 lb) Super featherweight 60 kg (132.3 lb) Featherweight 57.5 kg (126.8 lb) Super bantamweight 55 kg (121.3 lb) Bantamweight 52.5 kg (115.7 lb) Super flyweight 50 kg (110.2 lb) Flyweight 47.5 kg (104.7 lb) Women Lightweight 65 kg (143.3 lb) Featherweight 60 kg (132.3 lb) Bantamweight 55 kg (121.3 lb) Flyweight 52 kg (114.6 lb) Strawweight 49 kg (108.0 lb) Atomweight 46 kg (101.4 lb) |
Sparrowweight was divided into Flyweight and Super flyweight, and Eagleweight was divided into Heavyweight and Super heavyweight since 2001.

### Match judgment

One way to win a shoot boxing match is to knock one's opponent out. A fighter can be knocked out in different ways. If, after being knocked down, a fighter fails to stand up after a count of ten, or if, after standing up, he fails to assume a fighting stance after a count of eight, he is knocked out. The same occurs if a fighter is knocked out of the ring and fails to return before a count of twenty. A referee may also rule a fighter knocked out if the fighter shows no fighting spirit, appears unable to defend his or her self, or makes a gesture of submission.
Technical knockouts can also occur in shoot boxing, in cases where the fighter is injured, the referee rules the fighter knocked out after two knockdowns in the same round, or the fighter's corner throws in the towel. A fight may also be stopped if a doctor rules that continuation would be dangerous to a fighter.
If neither a knockout nor a technical knockout occurs, the winner is determined by a decision. Fighters are graded on their effectiveness on attack and defense, their success in achieving and escaping submissions, and how close they have come to ending the match. Decisions generally produce a winner, but can result in a draw.
A judgement of "no contest" may also be returned, if the judges suspect foul play or conclude that the fighters are not fighting sincerely.

### Match scoring

Fighters are awarded points for their success in striking, throwing, and applying standing submission holds to their opponent. They are also given points for four categories of performance: number of times down, amount of damage done to opponent, number of clean hits, and aggressiveness. Fighters are graded from 1–10 in each category, with the difference of score in any one category being limited to 4 points.
Extra points can be awarded at certain points in the match, when the referee makes certain calls. When a fighter performs a front or back throwing technique, the referee calls "shoot", denoting one of these opportunities. The other occurs when a fighter achieves a standing submission; at this point, the referee calls "catch".

### Fouls

Foul play is recognized as the following ① to ⑬. After a warning, the fighter will receive a point deduction for further infractions. If the same fighter commits another foul, another point is deducted, and a final warning is given. If a third warning is given to the same fighter, he is disqualified and loses the fight. If the referee feels that it was not a flagrant foul, he may allow the fight to continue.
* 1:Headbutting the opponent.
* 2:Striking the opponent in the groin.
* 3:Biting the opponent.
* 4:Attacking the opponent while he is falling, or when he is getting up.
* 5:Attacking an opponent after the referee signals for a break.
* 6:Utilizing the ropes to aid one's offense or defense.
* 7:To insult or use offensive speech and actions towards an opponent or the referee.
* 8:Striking the opponent in the back of the head.
* 9:The act of intentionally grounding a glove or knee to the mat to defend an attack.
* 10:Intentionally causing the opponent to fall out of the ring.
* 11:Intentionally leaving the ring.
* 12:It makes everything of the act of not being admitted by the other rule foul play.
** a) If a fighter ever accuses the judges of not being impartial, points are to be immediately deducted.
** b) The act of ducking the head low and diving into the opponent in such a manner that appears similar to a headbutt.
When either fighter receives a cut from a headbutt, the fighter that made the cut receives a point deduction, even if the headbutt was accidental. If the referee decides that the headbutt was intentional, the fighter receives a two-point deduction.
** c) Repeated holding which does not appear to be an attack, nor an attempt to escape attacks, will be subject to point deductions after warnings from the referee.
"An attempt to escape attacks" is defined as the act whose intent is to interrupt the opponent's offense or defense by grappling immediately after an attack.
A fighter will be disqualified in the case of any of the following situations:
* 1:When there is intentional foul play, and the referee declares a disqualification for the action.
* 2:When the fighter does not obey the referee.
* 3:If a fighter cannot continue when the round begins.
* 4:When a fighter's attitude is overly rough or violent, with the intent to cause bodily harm above and beyond what is considered to be necessary to compete.
* 5:When the referee decides a fighter lacks fighting spirit, or the desire to continue.
* 6:When a fighter receives three point deductions in one round.
* 7:When a doctor declares a fighter unfit to continue the match.
* 8:When violating fight regulations.

## Championship history
### S-Cup World Champions
#### Male S-Cup World Champions

S-Cup, the Shoot Boxing World Cup, is the 8 man single elimination World Tournament generally held once every 2 years since 1995.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Kaito | UMA |
| 2016 | Zakaria Zouggary | Masaya |
| 2014 | Hiroaki Suzuki | Zakaria Zouggary |
| 2012 | Andy Souwer | Henri van Opstal |
| 2010 | Buakaw Por. Pramuk | Toby Imada |
| 2008 | Andy Souwer | Kenichi Ogata |
| 2006 | Kenichi Ogata | Andy Souwer |
| 2004 | Andy Souwer | Hiroki Shishido |
| 2002 | Andy Souwer | Zheng Yuhao |
| 1997 | Rayen Simson | Mohamed Ouali |
| 1995 | Hiromu Yoshitaka | Ron Belliveau |

### Girls S-Cup World Champions

Girls S-Cup, is the 8 woman single elimination World Tournament generally held once every year since 2009.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 2018 | Jleana Valentino | MIO |
| 2017 | Rena Kubota | Jleana Valentino |
| 2016 | Rena Kubota | Klaudia Pawicka |
| 2015 | MIO | Momi Furuta |
| 2014 | Rena Kubota | Thicha Rongrien Kila Korat |
| 2013 | Mizuki Inoue | Ai Takahashi |
| 2012 | Rena Kubota | Mei Yamaguchi |
| 2011 | Erika Kamimura | Seo Hee Ham |
| 2010 | Rena Kubota | Ai Takahashi |
| 2009 | Rena Kubota | Mei Yamaguchi |

### Shoot Boxing Japan champions
#### Men Shoot Boxing Japan champions
##### Heavyweight championship (formerly Super Eagleweight)

Weight limit: 90kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Kengo Shimizu (def. Nangoku Chojin) | December 1, 2015 | |

##### Light Heavyweight championship (formerly Eagleweight)

Weight limit: 80kg
| No. | Name |
| 1 | Keisuke Tsuyama (def. ) |
| 2 | Go Takano (def. ) |
| 3 | Kazuya Mori (def. ) |

##### Super Middleweight championship (formerly Hawkweight)

Weight limit: 75kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Takeshi Caesar (def. Riki Tadakatsu) | July 12, 1987 | |
| 2 | Hiromu Yoshitaka (def. Naoyuki Taira) | August 26, 1990 | |

##### Middleweight championship (formerly Junior Hawkweight)

Weight limit: 72.5kg
| No. | Name | Date |
| 1 | Toshiaki Tanaka (def. ) | |
| 2 | Takashi Abe (def. Toshiaki Tanaka) | 1993 |
| 3 | Ryuji Goto (def. Shonan Kiarimi) | February 2, 2003 |

##### Super Welterweight championship (formerly Falconweight)

Weight limit: 70kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Kenichi Ogata (def. Seiichiro Nishibayashi) | June 4, 1998 | |
| Ogata vacated the title on November 30, 2007. ||||
| 2 | Kenji Kanai (def. Koichi Kikuchi) | February 3, 2008 | def. Takashi Ohno on July 21, 2008. |
| 3 | Takaaki Umeno (def. Kenji Kanai) | June 1, 2009 | |
| 4 | Satoru Suzuki (def. Kenji Kanai) | September 10, 2011 | |
| 5 | Yuki Sakamoto (def. Satoru Suzuki) | April 20, 2013 | |
| 6 | Kentaro Hokuto (def. Yuki Sakamoto) | February 11, 2017 | |
| 6 | Kosuke Takagi (def. Ryotaro) | February 8, 2025 | |

##### Welterweight championship (formerly Junior Falconweight)

Weight limit: 67.5kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Hiroki Shishido (def. Koichi Kikuchi) | June 6, 2005 | def. Hitoshi Yamaguchi on July 21, 2008. |
| Shishido vacated the title on April 3, 2009. ||||
| 2 | Takahiro Okuyama (def. Yoshimitsu Murata) | June 26, 2022 | |

##### Super Lightweight championship (formerly Seagullweight)

Weight limit: 65kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Masahiro Hada (def. ) | | |
| 2 | Li Sogi (def. Takashi Abe) | 1992 | |
| 3 | Takashi Abe (def. Li Sogi) | December 9, 1992 |
| 4 | Hidekazu Miyake (def. ) | | |
| 5 | Katsuo Ise (def. ) | | |
| 6 | Kenjiro Tatsumi (def. Katsuo Ise) | | |
| 7 | Hiroyuki Doi (def. Kenjiro Tatsumi) | October, 1997 | def. Atsuhiro Tsuboi on May 21, 2000. |
| Doi vacated the title in 2000. ||||
| 8 | Hiroki Shishido (def. Ki Sakaguchi) | September 25, 2001 | def. Masaaki Kato on June 1, 2003. |
| Shishido vacated the title on February 1, 2005. ||||
| 9 | MASAYA (def. Rudo) | September 23, 2013 | |
| MASAYA vacated the title on May 1, 2014. ||||
| 10 | Hiroaki Suzuki (def. Shinsuke Hirai) | September 20, 2014 | |
| Suzuki vacated the title on August 21, 2015. ||||
| 11 | MASAYA (def. Takahiro Okuyama) | September 19, 2016 | |
| MASAYA vacated the title on March 1, 2017. ||||
| 12 | Kaito (def. Kenta) | November 22, 2017 | |
| Kaito vacated the title on November 21, 2021. ||||
| 13 | Imoto Volcano (def. Kiyoaki Murata) | December 26, 2021 | |

##### Lightweight championship (formerly Junior Seagullweight)

Weight limit: 62.5kg
| No. | Name | Date |
| 1 | Hiroaki Suzuki (def. Yuuji Sagawara) | February 2, 2012 |
| Suzuki vacated the title on September 20, 2014. ||||
| 2 | Renta Nishioka (def. Kiyoaki Murata) | September 15, 2018 |
| 3 | Hiroki Kasahara (def. Renta Nishioka) | April 10, 2022 |

##### Super Featherweight championship (formerly Cardinalweight)

Weight limit: 60kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Katsumi Omura (def. Toshio Kurosawa) | March 21, 1987 | |
| 2 | Kyoichi Otsu (def. Katsumi Omura) | July 12, 1987 | def. Nobukazu Katori on January 31, 1988 |
| 3 | Makoto Oe (def. Kyoichi Otsu) | May 21, 1988 | |
| Oe vacated the title in 1990. ||||
| 4 | Nobukazu Katori (def. ) | 1991 | |
| 5 | Kazuki Wakamiya (def. Nobukazu Katori) | October 5, 1991 | def. Ryuji Ooike on April 17, 1992 |
| Wakamiya vacated the title in 1992. ||||
| 6 | Masahiro Okamoto (def. ) | November 22, 1992 | def. Seichiro Nishibayashi on January 23, 1994. |
| 7 | Takehiro Murahama (def. Masahiro Okamoto) | November 22, 1994 | def. Kazuki Wakamiya on June 4, 1998. |
| Murahama vacated the title in 1999. ||||
| 8 | Tatsuya Maeda (def. Takato Kitaoka) | April 7, 2000 | |
| 9 | Tomohiro Oikawa (def. Tatsuya Maeda) | September 22, 2002 | |
| 10 | Tomoki Matsuura (def. Tomohiro Oikawa) | July 4, 2003 | |
| 11 | Tomohiro Oikawa (def. Tomoki Matsuura) | June 4, 2004 | def. Takeshi Ishikawa on April 4, 2008. def. Hiroaki Suzuki on September 4, 2009. |
| Oikawa vacated the title in 2011. ||||
| 12 | Akifumi Utagawa (def. Koji Ikegami) | June 3, 2012 | def. Naguranchun Masa M-16 on June 21, 2014. |
| Utagawa vacated the title on June 21, 2014. ||||
| 13 | Kiyoaki Murata (def. Koji Ikegami) | September 16, 2017 |
| Murata vacated the title on August 2, 2018. ||||
| 14 | Kazuki Fukada (def. Kazuya Ueda) | September 15, 2018 | |
| 15 | Hiroki Kasahara (def. Kazuki Fukada) | September 28, 2019 | |
| Kasahara vacated the title on November 21, 2021. ||||
| 16 | Yuki Kasahara (def. Shota Tezuka) | December 26, 2021 | |

##### Featherweight championship (formerly Junior Cardinalweight)

Weight limit: 57.5kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Naguranchun Masa M-16 (def. Akito Sagimura) | September 10, 2011 | |
| Naguranchun vacated the title on April 4, 2013. ||||
| 2 | Koya Shimada (def. Motohiro Shinohara) | April 18, 2014 | |
| Shimada vacated the title immediately after winning it on April 18, 2014. ||||
| 3 | Kazuki Fukada (def. Genki) | August 13, 2016 | def. Taiki Naito on June 16, 2017 |
| Fukada vacated the title on August 2, 2018. ||||
| 4 | Hiroki Kasahara (def. Genki) | September 15, 2018 | |
| 5 | Yuki Kasahara (def. Shota Tezuka) | September 19, 2020 | |
| Kasahara vacated the title on November 21, 2021. ||||
| 6 | Kyo Kawakami (def. Kaito) | April 10, 2022 | |
| 7 | Kotaro Yamada (def. Kyo Kawakami) | April 30, 2023 | |

##### Super Bantamweight championship (formerly Owlweight)

Weight limit: 55kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Nobukazu Katori (def. Katsushi Sanada) | July 9, 1988 | |
| 2 | Yoshikazu Katori (def. ) | July 9, 1988 | |
| 3 | Ryuji Ooike (def. ) | | |
| 4 | Shigeyuki Wakabayashi (def. ) | | |
| 5 | Yoshichika Suzuki (def. ) | | |
| 6 | Yoshihiro Moriya (def. Atsushi Miyaji) | April 15, 2001 | def. Takafumi Ichimasa on September 22, 2002. |
| Moriya vacated the title on September 23, 2006, when he retired. ||||
| 7 | Phantom Shinya (def. Akito Sagimura) | February 3, 2008 | |
| 8 (interim) | Noriyuki Enari (def. Akito Sagimura) | September 12, 2008 |
| 9 | Phantom Shinya (def. Noriyuki Enari) | September 4, 2008 | |
| 10 | Ryuya Kusakabe (def. Phantom Shinya) | September 18, 2010 | |
| 11 | Masahiro Fujimoto (def. Kazuyuki Fushimi) | June 3, 2012 | |
| 12 | Kazuyuki Fushimi (def. Masahiro Fujimoto) | February 23, 2014 | |
| 13 | Taiki Naito (def. Kazuyuki Fushimi) | November 30, 2014 | def. Seiki Ueyama on November 11, 2016 def. Seiki Ueyama on September 16, 2017 |
| Naito vacated the title on June 10, 2018. ||||
| 14 | Seiki Ueyama (def. Genki Takeno) | December 26, 2021 | |
| 15 | Koyata Yamada (def. Seiki Ueyama) | February 11, 2023 | |

##### Bantamweight championship (formerly Junior Owlweight)

Weight limit: 52.5kg
| No. | Name | Date |
| 1 | Kyo Kawakami (def. Syuto Sato) | November 24, 2019 |
| Kawakami vacated the title on November 11, 2021. ||||
| 2 | Syuto Sato (def. Kazuyuki Fushimi) | December 26, 2021 |

### Women Shoot Boxing Japan champions
#### Girls Japan S-cup

2014 SHOOT BOXING Japan Girls -48 kg S-cup :
| Date | Champion | Nationality | Event | Location | Runner-up | Nationality |
| 2014-08-02 | Yukari Yamaguchi | Japan | SHOOT BOXING Girls S-cup 2014 | Tokyo, Japan | MIO | Japan |
2015 SHOOT BOXING Japan Girls -48 kg S-cup :
| Date | Champion | Nationality | Event | Location | Runner-up | Nationality |
| 2015-08-21 | MIO | Japan | SHOOT BOXING Girls S-cup 2015 | Tokyo, Japan | Momi | Japan |
SHOOT BOXING Girls S-cup 2019 :
| Date | Champion | Nationality | Event | Location | Runner-up | Nationality |
| 2019-07-21 | Megami | Japan | SHOOT BOXING Girls S-cup 2019 | Tokyo, Japan | MISAKI | Japan |

##### Women's Lightweight championship

Weight limit: 65kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Mina (def. Takako Mizoguchi) | November 28, 2020 | |

##### Women's Flyweight championship (formerly Ladybugweight)

Weight limit: 52kg
| No. | Name | Date |
| 1 | Terumi Fujiyama (def. ) | |
| 2 | Fumiko Ishimoto (def. ) | |
| 3 | Kyoko Kamikaze (def. ) | 1990 |
| 4 | Terumi Fujiyama (def. ) | |
| 5 | Rumi Nakamura (def. ) | May 1, 1996 |
| 6 | Ai Takahashi (def. RENA) | June 5, 2011 |
| Takahashi vacated the title when she retired on December 1, 2015. ||||

##### Women's Strawweight championship

Weight limit: 49kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | MIO (def. Union Akari) | November 11, 2016 | def. MISAKI on February 10, 2018. |

##### Women's Atomweight championship

Weight limit: 46kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | MISAKI (def. Suzuka Tabuchi) | December 26, 2021 | |

### Shoot Boxing International Men champions
#### World Heavyweight championship

Weight limit: 90kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Nobuki Iwashita (def. ) | | |
| 2 | Adam Watt (def. Bill Lasfar) | October 27, 1995 | |

#### World Middleweight championship

Weight limit: 75kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Takeshi Caesar (def. John Navarolli) | August 13, 1988 | |
| 2 | Manson Gibson (def. Takeshi Caesar) | May 26, 1989 | |

#### World Super Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 70kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Andy Souwer (def. Hiroyuki Doi) | February 1, 2004 | |
| 2 | Kaito (def. Samo Petje) | June 25, 2023 | def. Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy on April 13, 2024 |

#### Australia Super Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 70kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Daniel Dawson (def. ) | | |
| 2 | Luke Maitland (def. ) | | |

#### Brazil Super Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 70kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Marfio Canoletti (def. ) | |

#### America Super Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 70kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Ronnie lewis (def. ) | January 12, 2001 |

#### World Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 67.5kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Hiroyuki Doi (def. Danny Steele) | January 12, 2001 |

#### Oriental and Pacific Super Welterweight championship

Weight limit: 67.5kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Hiroki Shishido (def. Luke Maitland) | June 1, 2009 |
| Shishido vacated the title on June 30, 2012. ||||
| 2 | Hiroki Shishido (def. Moody Rawai) | August 10, 2013 | def. Jaoweha Grandthaiboxing on September 19, 2015 |

#### World Super Lightweight championship

Weight limit: 65kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Hiroaki Suzuki (def. Christian Baya) | August 22, 2015 | |
| Suzuki vacated the title when he left the Shoot Boxing organization on August 31, 2018. ||||

#### America Super Featherweight championship

Weight limit: 60kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | Shane Stafford (def. ) | | |

### Shoot Boxing International Women champions
#### Asia Tournament

2016 SHOOT BOXING Girls Asia Tournament :
| Date | Champion | Nationality | Event | Location | Runner-up | Nationality |
| 2016-07-07 | MIO | Japan | Shoot Boxing Girls S-cup 2016 ～Shichiseki Joshi Kaku Matsuri～ | Tokyo, Japan | Union Akari | Japan |

#### World Women's Flyweight championship

Weight limit: 52kg
| No. | Name | Date | Defenses |
| 1 | RENA (def. Kane Chopirom) | August 21, 2015 | def. Klaudia Pawicka on July 7, 2016 |