Shooto/MMA

Elite Edge Training

Fighting Arts and Fitness

SHOOTO is Japan's version of mixed martial arts competition. It has a developmental amateur circuit that is used to build professional fighters. It uses a logical progression of rules and techniques that forms an exciting and safe basis for competition and self-defense.

Do you want
great self-defense skills while getting in tremendous shape?

The ultimate fitness and self-defense combination! Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was originally based around the concept of pitting different martial arts and fighting styles against each other in competition with minimal rules, in an attempt to determine which system would be more effective in a real combat situation. This was in an effort to answer the age-old question that had plagued martial artists for generations: which style is 'the best'. Now, MMA refers to the cross training of various arts, like a triathalon of self-defense. As such, modern MMA competition is an evolution of such events, but rules have been implemented to promote acceptance of the sport, while at the same time maintaining as much of the original no-holds-barred concept as possible. We use this MMA training as a introduction to more advanced self-defense training and concepts. It is an intense and safe way to train for men and women of all ages!

The techniques utilized in Shooto, our particular type of MMA training, generally fall into two categories: striking techniques (such as kicks, knee strikes, and punches) and grappling techniques (such as clinch holds, pinning, submission holds, sweeps, takedowns, and throws). Some unarmed hand-to-hand combat techniques are considered illegal in arguably all modern MMA competition, such as biting, eye-gouging, fish-hooking and small joint manipulation.

As a result of MMA sporting events, martial arts training and the understanding of the combat effectiveness of various strategies have changed over the last few years. There are three distinct phases in Shooto/MMA: stand-up, clinching, and ground fighting/submissions.

Stand-up: Kickboxing and Karate techniques are trained to improve footwork, elbowing, kicking, kneeing and punching. From a self-defense perspective, this method of defense enables you to protect yourself in stand-up confrontations before an attacker gets close enough to physically grab you.
Clinch: Freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo, and Judo are used to improve clinching, takedowns and throws, while Karate is trained to improve the striking aspect of the clinch and transitioning to the other phases. This training teaches you how to get away from an attacker’s grabs and holds.
Ground: Jujutsu, Shoot wrestling, Catch wrestling, and Sambo are utilized to improve positioning, submission holds, and defenses against them. These defenses are most useful in close-range altercations and situations that end up on the ground.

Many styles and methods have to be adapted slightly for use in training. For example, several boxing stances are ineffective because they leave fighters vulnerable to leg kicks or takedowns. Similarly, judo techniques have to be adapted to an opponent not wearing a judo uniform.

Although MMA fighters will try to play to their particular specialties, they will inevitably encounter all kinds of situations: a stand-up fighting specialist will probably get taken down at some point and a submission artist might need to fight standing-up for a while before he can complete a takedown.

Sometimes MMA is portrayed in the media as a bunch of testosterone-filled guys beating each other. Here you will see that it can be safe for everyone. We have used this as a base for self-defense classes for elementary-aged Girl Scouts and they loved it! Their parents loved the fact that their precious children were learning real-world self-defense skills.

A great number of our Elite Physical Training clients also train in MMA/Shooto and vice versa because they complement each other so well!

Book your introductory "Kick Start" course now!