100 Man Kumite (Hyakunin Kumite)

Kyokushin is famous for the “100 Man Kumite” (hyakunin kumite in Japanese), an extreme test of physical and mental endurance in Kyokushin Karate. The 100-man kumite consists of 100 rounds of kumite, each between one-and-a-half and two minutes in length. Normally, the karate practitioner undergoing the test will have to face similarly or higher-ranked opponents, and may face an opponent a few times in the course of the test (depending on the number of opponents available to participate).

The challenge was devised by Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin and the first person to complete the test. The second man to complete the test was Steve Arneil in 1965. In July 2004, Naomi Ali (née Woods) became the first woman to complete the 100-man kumite.

This is a collection of some people who have accepted the challenge and we were lucky enough to have recordings. Click on an image to see the video of the Kumite. Osu!