Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters, similarly to practitioners of shoot wrestling. Shooto rules have evolved such that their events are now true mixed martial arts competitions.

The word shooto is an English transliteration of 修斗 (pronounced shū-to), an ateji derived from the English word "shoot". The word 修斗 can be translated as "learn combat".

Shooto was established as a "New Martial arts"(Shin-Kakutōgi) in 1985 by Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask), a Japanese professional wrestler trained in shoot wrestling, who wished to create a sport that revolved around a realistic and effective fighting system. After its establishment New Martial arts was renamed "Shooting" which came from Shoot, a term of professional wrestling meaning "Serious match", but this changed to "Shooto" to avoid confusion with Shooting sports. Compared to the other professional wrestling organizations of the time, such as the New Japan Pro Wrestling and the Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan), Shooto was aimed at having no predetermined results. The first amateur event was held in 1986 and the first professional event in 1989.

Erik Paulson (born 1966) is an American mixed martial artist raised in Minnesota and currently residing in California. He is the first American to win the World Light-Heavy Weight Shooto Title in Japan.

Starting with Judo in 1974, Paulson has trained in many disciplines including Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali/Eskrima, Sambo (martial art), Catch Wrestling, Shoot wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, studying first with Rorion Gracie, Royce Gracie, Rickson Gracie in his garage in 1989. He has studied with 40 different teachers over his 30 years of training including Rick Faye, Greg Nelson, Yorinaga Nakamura, Larry Hartsell, Tim Tackett, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Nicolas Saignac, Rob Kaman, Rigan Machado, Rico Chipparelli, and the legendary Dan Inosanto, who claims Erik is one of the world's most dynamic grapplers.

He currently runs the CSW Training Center in Fullerton, California where he trains MMA fighters such as Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Renato Sobral, Cub Swanson, Ben Jones, Craig Wilkerson, James Wilks and Ginelle Marquez. He is closely affiliated with Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy.

"Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura (born August 8, 1983) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist. Nishiura competes for the Dream organization in the featherweight division.

After compiling a record of 9-3-1 in organizations such as Shooto and Cage Force, Nishiura made his promotional debut with Dream on March 8, 2009 against Abel Cullum at Dream 7 in the opening round of the Featerweight Grand Prix, where he lost via unanimous decision. He returned at Dream 14 in May 2010 and was able to cause an upset by defeating Hideo Tokoro via technical knockout within the first round.

In his next fight at Dream 16, he faced Mitsuhiro Ishida. Ishida worked frequent takedowns almost exclusively in favor of striking for the 15-minute affair, though Nishiura was able to regain his feet quickly each time. In the second frame, Ishida was able to gain mount, but it was Nishiura who drew first blood with a successful sprawl in the final moments that led to a barrage of hammerfists to his opponent's face. It wasn't enough to sway the judges, who awarded Ishida a split decision win.

Anderson da Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɐ̃deʁsõ ˈsiwvɐ]; born April 14, 1975) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins and 9 title defenses, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history.

Silva is ranked as the number one Middleweight in the world by multiple publications, and is the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to ESPN, Sherdog, Yahoo! Sports, MMAFighting.com and other publications. UFC president Dana White has proclaimed Silva as "the greatest mixed martial artist ever."^{[undue weight? – discuss]} Silva is also the last Cage Rage Middleweight Champion and a former Shooto Middleweight Champion. Besides the UFC and Cage Rage, Silva has fought for a number of other MMA promotions including the Pride Fighting Championships, Shooto and Rumble on the Rock.

Although known primarily for his mastery of Muay Thai striking, Silva is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt, a rank he earned in 2006 from Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira who follows Gracie Lineage through Carlson Gracie, like Murilo Bustamante and the Brazilian Top Team. He began martial arts training at the age of 14, training Tae kwon do and earning a black belt by the age of 18. He is also a black belt in Judo and a yellow rope in Capoeira.

Tetsuji Kato is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.