shootfighting

i have a fight coming up actually i will be kickboxing and then shoot fighting the rules were just explained to me being open hand strikes while standing and no kicks to the head also no stikes on the ground only submition my question. Is it a waste of time for me to focus on striking for a knockout.Hasanyone fought with open hand strikes. i am a better striker but can grapple should i just work on the ground maybe this should be in the ask the trainers board but i thought this was MMA spacific.

I've done some similar competitions...I worked on lots of leg strikes but that was it. I'd concentrate on take downs and ground fighting. Spend alot of time on imrpoving your body position. The competition I did allowed open handed strikes on the ground, but if you can't then I'd find out exactly how the scoring will be. Make sure you know what a takedown/passing guard/regaining guard etc is all worth. My last fight I almost lost b/c you got 2 points for regaining guard but only 1 for passing. i spent most of the fight going back in forth in his guard. Got lucky w/a arm bar b/c i was woefully behind on points

I wouldn't worry too much about the striking. Save that for the kickboxing rounds. Palm strikes are just as effective as regular punching, only with slightly shorter distance to them and less damage to yourself. Just make sure you know how to properly palm strikes so you don't break your hand (in a nutshell...hit with the bottom of your palm, no other part....if you hit with the top, you're gonna break your wrist. If you hit with your entire palm, your slapping him :P )

Most of what you want to do is based on the scoring method. If it's scored like a typical grappling match (points for takedowns, reversals, advancing positions) then spend a LOT of time learning those skills. Learn to properly pull guard, and learn the takedowns and reversals and whatnot (basically a worst case scenario for you). If it's based like any other fight, where basically the "winner of the round" is awarded the round, with no points being taken, then I'd suggest spending a lot of time working on your takedown defense and submission defense.

Van is right you also need to know what scores do palm strikes give more points than leg kicks? How about take downs? Do you want to stay standing up? Work on take down defence and sub defence- but I'm not suggesting you ignore one side of you training over another.

thanks this all helps i really didnt think about points becouse my kickboxing is working taword a KO and points come naturally i have good submition defence but i am going to focus on takedown defence

Be sure to come back here and let us know how went.... Good luck...

thanks it'll be end of april, no worries O0

I WON but it ended up being kickboxing it was the ugliest fight ive ever been in lots of pushing, grabbing he pulled my head gear off once and he punched me while i was on the ground. I'm happy i had him rocked a couple times just didn't come through with the knock out. :)

congrats