Shootboxing

Friday 3rd of November was national holiday, so it was time to do something else than work in the quiet lab. In Asakusa I saw a poster of the shootboxing tournament. What a perfect way to spend free Friday. Ok, I went in to the lab to work for few hours but early afternoon I was heading for Ryogoku arena (famous sumo arena).

Wow, what a show they had in Ryogoku arena! Now I can't wait to get in K1 tournament on next month. Really nice. I was wondering what is this "shootboxing" before, but now I know that it's just kickboxing. Ok, they were doing also throws but still it looked more like a kickboxing. And what you get when you take the wrestling part away from vale tudo (they were calling it "standing vale tudo"). It was middle weight tournament so fights were full of action.


All the fighters at the starting seremony.


In coming shows were wonderful with energetic music.


Trainer and trainee against each other in semifinals (japanese guy next to me was explaining some background about the fighters and earlier tournaments). More experienced trainer was stronger this time. People were really chiering for the younger trainee during the fight.


And the final between dutch and japanese fighters was full of energy. Japane fighter took the title and left dutch crying in his corner. It was his first time to win the title and about the time 'cause he had been fighting for it already 7 years.


Smiling winner.