Shootfighting
Shootfighting is a hybrid martial art originating in Japan. It combines elements of both striking and grappling within a single system, drawing its competitive framework from a professional wrestling-derived ruleset. Training centers on developing proficiency in stand-up striking alongside ground-based submission techniques, reflecting the style's dual emphasis on these two broad areas of unarmed combat.
As a hybrid art, shootfighting training generally addresses both the striking and grappling ranges of a physical confrontation. Practitioners work on delivering and defending strikes while also developing the ability to secure and escape submission holds. Because the style bridges these two areas, conditioning and adaptability across multiple ranges tend to be recurring themes in training, with practitioners expected to function in both standing and ground positions.
Individuals considering shootfighting are encouraged to visit schools in their area and observe a class before committing to training. Watching a session firsthand allows a prospective student to assess the instruction style, the training environment, and whether the approach suits their personal goals. Schools can vary considerably in their emphasis and atmosphere, so direct observation is a practical first step. Other hybrid martial arts sharing a similar combined focus are listed and linked in the related styles section below.
Gear to expect. Hybrid training typically calls for gloves and a mouthguard for striking work plus a rashguard for the grappling rounds — your school will tell you exactly what, and when. New students rarely need to buy anything for a trial class.
Find your martial art →Related hybrid styles
Classification and facts from our open-data taxonomy (Wikidata CC0 base + our editorial classification). Where a fact (like origin) isn't recorded, we leave it out rather than guess. Methodology.