Great Bay Karate

Great Bay's MMA Program will be operating under the ISFA -  International Shootfighting® Association beginning in January 2012.  


Shootfighting® is a recent creation. It had its genisis less than 25 years ago when a famous German wrestler taught the art of real wrestling or "shooting", to a group of top Japanese martial artists. The wrestling they learned bore only a superficial resemblance to today's professional wrestling. There are currently three main organizations sanctioning matches and teaching the style. Of these the oldest and largest is the Fujiwara Gumi (family) run by founder and former champion Yoshiaki Fujiwara.

The current world champion of the Fujiwara Gumi is Miami's Bart Vale, The first foreigner (American) to reach the highest levels of the sport. Vale who coined the term Shootfighting® to describe the style, combined the wrestling and muay thai techniques he learned in Japan with his experience in American karate and kickboxing to advance the sport further.

American martial arts legends like Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis have called Shootfighting® the ultimate fighting for self-defense. Most martial artists are drawn to Shootfighting® to learn the unique form of grappling often neglected in other systems. Takedowns combine judo with other wrestling throws. The ground work uses a variety of joint locks against all parts of the body. Most of these techniques use the entire body weight against an individual joint and are devastatingly effective regardless of size. Other basic martial arts principles, such as using an opponents weight and momentum against him, also play a big part in wrestling.



 Cost for Shootfighting is $75.00 per month. 
This includes the option to attend traditional karate classes.