U-Kei (martial arts)

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* v
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* e

U-Kei (U系 or ユーけい, eng. U-Series, U-Group or Class U）is a combat sports related term that refers to either a professional wrestling-, martial arts\- and/or mixed martial arts organization, programme or a sportsman with either UWF and/or shootwrestling roots.

The U refers to Japanese professional wrestling promotion UWF, that was active from 1984 to 1986. UWF is credited in pioneer in the "shoot-style" of pro-wrestling and has acted as genesis to modern mixed martial arts, in both Japan and overseas.[1][2][3]

During early days of shoot-style pro wrestling in Japan, the professional wrestling and/or mixed martial arts organizations that derived from the idea of UWF are collectively called "UWF-kei", or "U-kei" for short.[4][5][6]

## List groups, promotions, gyms referred to as U-Kei[edit]

* Shooto
* Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
* Union of Wrestling Forces International \- better known as UWF International, U-Inter, or simply UWFi.
* Fighting Network Rings \- trademarked RINGS
* Pancrase (branched from Professional Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi)
* Vale Tudo Japan (event organized by Shooto)
*   * Battlarts \- Fighting Investigation Team Battlarts (格闘探偵団バトラーツ, Kakuto Tantei-dan Batoratsu)(branched from Professional Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi)
* Kingdom (successor to UWF International)
*   * C.A.C.C. Snakepit Japan (formerly U.W.F. Snakepit Japan) (successor to UWF International)
* U-FILE CAMP (successor to UWF International)
* ZST (successor to Rings)
* Real Japan Pro Wrestling (organized by former Shooto founder)
* Futen Promotion (branching from Battlarts)
* Gankopuroresu (branching from UWF International and Rings)
* HARDHIT (organizer is a fighter from Pancrase)
* Pro-Wrestling Heat-Up Co., Ltd. (branched from UWF International and Rings)
* GETTO (organizer is a former Shooto fighter)
* GLEAT (a rebirth of UWF)
* HOOKnSHOOT (MMA promotion which originally ran Pancrase rules and later became affiliated with Shooto)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Ｕの青春 ～カッキーの闘いはまだ終わらない ISBN 978-4331519592
2. ^ ザ・UWF最強伝説―格闘プロレスは永遠に不滅! (1995) ISBN 978-4876892006
3. ^ 証言UWF 最終章 3派分裂後の真実 ISBN 978-4800283504
4. ^ Ｕの青春 ～カッキーの闘いはまだ終わらない ISBN 978-4331519592
5. ^ ザ・UWF最強伝説―格闘プロレスは永遠に不滅! (1995) ISBN 978-4876892006
6. ^ 証言UWF 最終章 3派分裂後の真実 ISBN 978-4800283504

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