The hundred-man kumite might well be seen as the ultimate test of physical and mental perseverancein Martial Arts, or for that matter, many other sports today. In essence, the exercise consists of 2-minute rounds of kumite with 100 opponents, preferably a different one for each round.

 
 

 

It was with these examples in mind that Oyama decided to test his own abilities. And he would go one day better! He chose the strongest students in his dojo, who were to fight him one at a time until they'd all had a turn, and then they'd start from the beginning again, until the three hundred rounds were up. He defeated them all, never wavering in his resolve, despite the fact that he himself suffered severe physical injury in the process.

Each student had to face him about four times over the three days, though some never made it past the first day due to Oyama's powerful blows. Legend even has it that Oyama was willing to go for a FOURTH day, but no one else was willing or able! This took place no long after he had completed his mountain training.


 
 

 

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 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.

In Australia, and possibly elsewhere, the 50 man kumite is a lesser (but still no mean achievement) feat that can be attempted.

In Great Britain, and anywhere else under the aegis of Hanshi Steve Arneil, anyone can choose to do any number of fights e.g. 10, 20, 30 , 40, 50 etc.... and he or she will get a certificate for this achievement. This in recognition that, while not everyone maybe able to meet the ultimate Kyokushin benchmark of 100 fights, personal bench-marks are just as important an attainment. After all, even 10 knockdown fights in swift succession can come to as much as half an hour of solid fighting.


 
 

 

Apart from Oyama's spectacular 3 days in a row, a number of other people have tried and completed the 100 man kumite - but not many. The list below gives the names of these incredible men, and it is notable that most of them are still very active in karate, having achieved a high rank. Some are even heads of their own styles which, of course, are heavily derivative of Kyokushin.

Initially, people had the choice do it over two days, with 50 fights per day, but later it became compulsory to do it all in one day.

Steve Arneil (1965) Steve Arneil of Great Britain (now 8th Dan) was the very first, and he did them all in one day (pers.comm). He is now the head of the International Federation of Karate (IFK) based in the UK, and which is not affiliated with the Honbu in Japan.

Howard Collins(1967) He was the first to do it compulsorily in one day.

Miyuki Miura (Friday the 13th, April 1972) The first Japanese to do it in one day, he now heads the Midwest Headquarters of the World Oyama Karate offshoot.

Akiyoshi Matsui (1986) Akiyoshi Matsui is the (vigourously disputed) successor to Mas Oyama as kancho or head of the International Karate Organisation (IKO) (listed as IKO(1) in the
this website - Shah). He was the winner of the 1985 and 1986 Japanese Open Championships, and the 1990 4th World Open Karate Tournament.

Ippon Victories- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - 46
Win by decision (includes Waza-ari)- - - -- - - - - - - - - -29
Draws- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -13
Losses by decision- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
- -(includes for losses due to dropped grip-sticks)
Losses by Ippon- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0
________________________________________________ 
Total - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -75 wins, 13 draws and 12losses
Hajime Kazumi (Sat, 13th March,1999) Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite at the new IKO(1) Honbu. Results were obtained from the official IKO(1) site and are as follows:
Time per Kumite 1 minute 30 seconds 
Time Started 11:38 
Time Finished 15:42 
Total Fighting Time 3 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds
Total Spending Time 4 hours 4 minutes
Results 58 wins, 42 draws, no losses
Ippons: 16 (Ippon: 2, Awase-Ippon: 14) Wins by decision: 42 (Waza-ari: 15)
 

 

It is worth making some comparisons in order to put the 100 man kumite in perspective. Most of the readers here might already have an inkling, but some figures will help in appreciating Mas Oyama's unparalleled 300 fights.

A World Championship tournament might consist of 7 or 8 rounds of tough kumite, and with allowances for 4 extensions and no byes, this would come to just over half an hour of fighting. There would however be lengthy rest breaks between rounds, with time to tend to injuries. Consider a boxer going 100 rounds non-stop with no breaks and with a new opponent each round, and with the requirement of winning at least 50 of these rounds.

Imagine up to 4 hours of non-stop full-contact kumite, bearing in mind that in Kyokushin tournaments we are only allowed mouth and groin guards! To be fair, if the candidate is good and knocks his opponent down fast enough, the round can be over in less than full time. It seems unlikely that anyone will ever again achieve the same as Mas Oyama did with his 300 rounds! 

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