The 1988 released film, Bloodsport, portrays the true life exploits of IFAA Official BDFS original member Frank Dux. It depicts how the IFAA/Kokuryukai Black Dragons sponsor the events along with the existence of its past champion Senzo Tanaka, who is referenced in historical documents and paid homage, in the motion picture Fearless, with Jet Li. The Black Dragon Senzo Tanaka is renown throughout the inner circle of martial arts for putting an end to the Hou Yuanjia fighting dynasty whereby the event name is transformed from “San Soo” to “The Kumite.”

The Kumite and related unique events existed in a world among other obscure and unique fighting events that still exist today.

Obscure Martial Arts Events

Lei Tai

The Lei Tai (擂臺) has a proud tradition dating back to the dawn of Chinese history. In ancient times, the Lei Tai was the platform on which the very best martial artists fought duels – sometimes to the death. The Lei Tai served as means for exchanges of martial skills, to settle disputes or to prove one martial system’s superiority over another system. Lei Tai was a platform built by the one who initiated the challenges. Fighters would lose if they surrendered, were incapacitated, were thrown or otherwise forced from the stage. The winner would remain on the stage as the Master unless ousted by a stronger opponent. To accept such challenges was called Da Lei.

Source: What is Lei Tai? – Pro Lei Tai. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://proleitai.org/about/what-is-lei-tai/

Interestingly enough The Kumite was born out of Lei Tai after Senzo Tanaka defeated Hou Yuanjia in 1910, and was influenced by Japan’s fighting past & co-existing events

Yamoaka Tesshu’s Hundred Man Duel (hyakunin tachi)

During the mid-nineteenth century (Gregorian, of course) there lived a great sword master in Japan by the name of Yamaoka Tesshu, who was the founder of the Hokushin Itto-Ryo. This man is reputed to have completed a 100 man duel, in which he fought (and defeated) one hundred consecutive opponents with the shinai (the bamboo sword used to practice kendo.

Masahiko Kimura’s Two Hundred Man Throwing (hyakunin nage)

Masahiko Kimura, arguably the most famous judoka in the history of the sport, was a close friend of Mas Oyama. Oyama said of him that Kimura was the only person he knew who trained as hard or harder than Oyama did himself! Kimura’s record in All-Japan Judo title (12 years, including WW-II when no championships were held) was bettered only by Yasuhiro Yamashita, who held the title for 9 consecutive years. In the Japanese Judo world, there is a saying that goes “Before Kimura, no Kimura. After Kimura, no Kimura.

Notice this from the source of this information the author says, “Though the author (Shihan Cameron Quinn) of my major reference could not confirm it”

The One hundred man Kumite

Having set the example, Mas Oyama started to institute the 100-man kumite as a requirement for attaining 4th or 5th dan. He soon found however, that not everyone had the spirit to do it, though the physical skill could “easily” be taught. The indomitable will, courage, and determination — the ” Spirit of Osu” in it’s extreme — just wasn’t to be found in everyone. Thus it became a voluntary exercise for those few who had the right stuff. At first, the fights could be completed over two days if so desired by the person doing it, but after 1967, Mas Oyama decided that they should all be fought on the same day.In addition to the basic requirement of 100 fights, other requirements are that the competitor must clearly win at least 50% of the fights, and if knocked down, should not stay down for longer than 5 seconds.

Smaller kumite events also exist (KyokuFan, n.d.).

Source: KyokuFan. (n.d.). MasutatsuOyama.com – 100 Man Kumite – The ultimate test of physical and mental perseverance. www.masutatsuoyama.com. https://www.masutatsuoyama.com/kyokushin_100mankumite.htm

Unique Martial Arts Events

World Tournament:

The Evolution of Tournament – the-martial-way.com

The World Kuoshu Championship

The Toughest Tournament In The World – tienshanpai.org

The Sabaki Challenge

enshinacademy.com/sabaki/

Events held by the World Kumite Organization:

world-kumite.org

Vale Tudo

The History And Origins Of Vale Tudo – evolve-mma.com

Tibetan Wrestling

The3 Sporty Side of Tibet – www.tibettravel.org

National All Styles

Martial Arts Tournament – www.nationalallstyles.com.au

Iron Man Kumite (Kyokushin Sparring Challenge)

Iron Man Kumite (Kyokushin Sparring Challenge) – www.kyokushinphilly.com

More Unique Events

“The culmination of both western and eastern cultural fight promoters working together in the West, Russia, Korea, Manchuria, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, in 1900’s, gave rise to an unofficial union dubbed the “International Fighting Art Association, est. 1901. The Kumite is a secret society. Yet, it is so well known amongst Asian Martial masters anyone not familiar with its historical legacy is literally labeled “Offspring of Turtles.” Today, this is a KaJuKenBo tradition, where I personally watched the legendary Bloodsport fighter, my KaJukenBo brother Frank Dux, do it for real. So have a lot off people in the IFAA Official Black Dragon Fighting Society”- Black Dragon Grandmaster Ron Pierce