Pancrase: Celebrating 30 Years of a Hybrid Combat Sports Revolution

On September 21, 1993, a new style of pro wrestling organization was introduced in Japan: Pancrase. Founded by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki, Pancrase was a hybrid combat sport that combined elements of pro wrestling, catch wrestling, and martial arts.

Pancrase was unique in many ways. It was one of the first MMA organizations to allow submissions, and it also had a number of other rules that were different from other MMA promotions at the time, such as a ban on closed-fist strikes to the head.

Pancrase quickly became one of the most popular combat sports promotions in Japan, and it helped to legitimize MMA as a real sport. The promotion featured some of the biggest names in early MMA, including Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, and Josh Barnett.

Pancrase was also important to pro wrestling, as it helped to bridge the gap between pro wrestling and MMA. Many pro wrestlers competed in Pancrase, and the promotion helped to popularize shoot-style wrestling, a style of pro wrestling that emphasizes realism.

Pancrase declined in popularity in the early 2000s, but it has left a lasting legacy on both MMA and pro wrestling. Many of the biggest names in MMA today, such as Royce Gracie, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Dan Henderson, competed in Pancrase.

**Josh Barnett's Bloodsport: Filling the Hole Left by Pancrase**

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in shoot-style wrestling and hybrid combat sports. This is partly due to the success of Josh Barnett's Bloodsport shows, which are produced in collaboration with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

Bloodsport shows are essentially shoot-style wrestling matches that feature some of the best MMA fighters in the world. The rules are similar to Pancrase, with a ban on closed-fist strikes to the head.

Bloodsport shows have been very popular, and they have helped to introduce a new generation of fans to shoot-style wrestling and hybrid combat sports.

Bloodsport photos credited to Josh Barnett's Bloodsport and GCW

## My Personal Journey: How Pancrase Influenced My Training

I first learned about Pancrase in the early 2000s, when I began training in shootfighting under Bart Vale. I was drawn to shootfighting because of Ken Shamrock, who was billed as a "shoot fighter" in Pancrase and the early days of the UFC.

Shamrock was one of the most exciting fighters I had ever seen. He was incredibly tough and skilled, and he had a knack for finishing fights. I was also impressed by his versatility and his willingness to compete in both pro wrestling and MMA.

I began training in shootfighting because I wanted to learn the same skills that made Shamrock such a successful fighter. I quickly learned that shootfighting is a demanding discipline, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

Shootfighting taught me how to wrestle, box, and submit opponents. It also taught me how to be tough and resilient. I am grateful for the opportunity to have trained in shootfighting, and I believe that it made me a better fighter and a better person.

This photo is from a seminar I attended in 2006 with Bart Vale, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Mike Dancull, Marcus Marinelli (Head coach for Stipe Miocic)

Pancrase had a significant impact on my training and my life as a martial artist. It was through Pancrase that I was introduced to the world of shootfighting. Pancrase also showed me that it is possible to be successful in both pro wrestling and MMA.

I am grateful for the impact that Pancrase has had on my life. I believe that it is an important part of the history of MMA, and I hope that it continues to inspire future generations of fighters.

**Conclusion**

Pancrase was a revolutionary combat sports promotion that helped to legitimize MMA and popularize shoot-style wrestling. The promotion left a lasting legacy on both MMA and pro wrestling.

Josh Barnett's Bloodsport shows are filling the hole left by Pancrase, and they are helping to introduce a new generation of fans to shoot-style wrestling and hybrid combat sports.

**My Opinion**

I agree with your opinion that there is a hole in combat sports left by Pancrase. I would love to see Josh Barnett's Bloodsport shows grow huge. Bloodsport is a unique and exciting combat sport, and it deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

I hope that Bloodsport continues to grow in popularity, and that other organizations follow suit and start promoting hybrid combat sports events.

Thank you for reading this article about Pancrase and Josh Barnett's Bloodsport. I hope that you enjoyed learning about this important piece of combat sports history.

If you are interested in learning more about Pro wrestlingandcombatsports, I encourage you to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to the Don't Say The F Word Podcast on Spotify, YouTube, and Rumble. We regularly post about Pancrase and other combat sports topics on our social media pages, and we have had a number of guests on the podcast who have competed in BKFC, MMA and pro wrestling.

Thank you for your support!