Bart Vale
Encyclopedia
Bart Vale is an American
former kickboxer
, mixed martial artist
and professional wrestler
. He is known for his "old school" American martial arts look, consisting of a mustache, mullet
and American flag
trunks. Vale is known for his strong roundhouse kick and numerous submissions.
training in 1970 with Kenpō Karate
, in which he holds a 7th degree black belt
. He later travelled to Japan
where he was a professional wrestler and the Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
(a shoot-style professional wrestling organization) champion for close to three years. In Japan, he also studied a number of other styles and coined the term "shootfighting
", a martial art that combines striking and grappling
. He co-founded the International Shootfighting Association and in 1992, began the Shootfighting World Championships.
Vale made his debut in mixed martial arts
in October 1995 in the WCC World Combat Championships when he defeated Mike Bitonio via first-round submission. Fighting at 260 lbs, Vale outweighed Bitonio by 45 lbs during this bout according to the WCC "Tale of the Tape" displayed before the match. People expected him to face Renzo Gracie in the finals but Vale wasn't able to continue due to head lacerations. He had two further MMA bouts, in which he lost to Kazunari Murakami
and Dan Severn
. In addition to this, he also competed in the K-1
kickboxing
promotion twice. In 1996, he was invited into the K-1 World Grand Prix
and was defeated by Andy Hug
. His next bout, against Nobuaki Kakuda
in 1998, also ended in defeat. In the early days of MMA, back when it was still called NHB, Vale was introduced as the man who beat Ken Shamrock
, which later has been suggested as a worked fight.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former kickboxer
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He is known for his "old school" American martial arts look, consisting of a mustache, mullet
Mullet
- Fish :* Mullet , or "grey mullets", of the family Mugilidae, of which the most widely known species is the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus* Goatfish, or "red mullets", of the family Mullidae; in particular, red mullets of the genus Mullus...
and American flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
trunks. Vale is known for his strong roundhouse kick and numerous submissions.
Career
Vale began his martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
training in 1970 with Kenpō Karate
American Kenpo
American Kenpo or Kenpo Karate is a system of martial arts created by Ed Parker, characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent...
, in which he holds a 7th degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
. He later travelled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where he was a professional wrestler and the Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Group was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion based in Japan, operating from 1991 to 1995...
(a shoot-style professional wrestling organization) champion for close to three years. In Japan, he also studied a number of other styles and coined the term "shootfighting
Shootfighting
Shootfighting is a combat sport and martial art, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association . Shootfighting incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principle of these being Muay Thai and Catch Wrestling.Shootfighting was...
", a martial art that combines striking and grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
. He co-founded the International Shootfighting Association and in 1992, began the Shootfighting World Championships.
Vale made his debut in mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
in October 1995 in the WCC World Combat Championships when he defeated Mike Bitonio via first-round submission. Fighting at 260 lbs, Vale outweighed Bitonio by 45 lbs during this bout according to the WCC "Tale of the Tape" displayed before the match. People expected him to face Renzo Gracie in the finals but Vale wasn't able to continue due to head lacerations. He had two further MMA bouts, in which he lost to Kazunari Murakami
Kazunari Murakami
is a Japanesefreelance professional wrestler and a retired mixed martial artist, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Big Mouth LOUD, of which he was a founding member...
and Dan Severn
Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the...
. In addition to this, he also competed in the K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
promotion twice. In 1996, he was invited into the K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix, also known as the K-1 World GP, is an elimination kickboxing tournament that has been held annually since 1993 by the K-1 organization. Each year, K-1 holds various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style tournaments throughout the world to determine which 16 fighters will compete in...
and was defeated by Andy Hug
Andy Hug
Andy Hug was a Swiss Seidokaikan and Kyokushin karateka and kickboxer from Wohlen. Hug was the K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 champion and runner up in 1997 and 1998.-Biography and career:...
. His next bout, against Nobuaki Kakuda
Nobuaki Kakuda
is a Japanese Seidokaikan Karateka.-Career:Kakuda is famous for his first punch knockout win over German mixed martial artist Mavrick at 0:56 seconds in the K-1 Fields Europe GP 2005 as well as being the only K-1 fighter to lose to Akebono, a former Sumo wrestler whose long losing streak has made...
in 1998, also ended in defeat. In the early days of MMA, back when it was still called NHB, Vale was introduced as the man who beat Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
, which later has been suggested as a worked fight.
Kickboxing record
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Mixed martial arts record
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