Is Pancrase Real?

[Americana]

I've had the opportunity to watch a bunch of Pancrase tapes. At first I thought it was kind of cool. Sort of TKD stand up and bjj no gi on the ground. However, after a while, there is remarkable similarity to the matches. There's a little too much action, both on the feet and the ground, almost like a demonstration. I also hate the pastel speedos and matching knee high boots.

A couple of the knock outs seem real fishy. Some Japanese dude knocked Frank Shamrock out and out of the ring with a real suspicious looking kick. Shamrock's fall looked super fake.


Opinions?

[HungryWolf21]

This should clear up some things.

bjj.org/editorials/19980215-prowrest/

This article talks of the origin of Shooto and Pancrase in terms of Japanese pro wrestling.

[Americana]

Thanks for the link. What's the difference between a "shoot" and a "work"?

[HungryWolf21]

I believe a "shoot" match is a real match with full contact punches and kicks and without a pre-determined outcome. A "work" is a match with a pre-determined winner. As the artcle states, some "work" matches may still have full contact punches, kicks, and submissions even though the fighters know the outcome of the fight. I think that the WWF experimented a couple of times with a "shoot" format a few years ago. However, I think that the outcome was pre-determined in those matches.

[tuffguy]

Those first few years were loaded with worked fights. I'm pretty sure they are totaly legit now.