, more commonly referred to as simply Battlarts (also stylized as BattlARTS) was a

professional wrestling promotion A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event. Within ...

founded in 1996 by Yuki Ishikawa following the mass exodus he led from

Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Group (''Purofesshonaru-resuringu Fujiwara-Gumi'', プロフェッショナルレスリング藤原組) was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion based in Tokyo, Japan, operating from 1991 to 1996. It was formed b ...

(PWFG) amidst the financial struggle that ultimately led the company to fold. The initial promotion's roster was composed of the entire PWFG roster that did not depart for

Pancrase is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...

, thus making Battlarts a direct successor to PWFG. The promotion ceased operations in 2011, but was succeeded in 2023 by the independent Kakuto Tanteidan project led by

Fuminori Abe is a Japanese people, Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and qualified Bhikkhu, Buddhist priest, currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his tenure with the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, promotions ...

and Takuya Nomura.

History

Original Battlarts (1996–2011)

The promotion was formed in 1996 by Japanese wrestler Yuki Ishikawa and featured all of the wrestlers from the Fujiwara Gumi promotion, who had abandoned the promotion in favor of Battlarts. They ran shows in the

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

area regularly from 1998 to 2002. Even though Battlarts' style was based on

shoot wrestling Shoot wrestling is a Japanese hybrid grappling style and combat sport. Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from various wrestling, submission grappling, kickboxing and karate styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch ...

, the promotion often cooperated with other shoot style and

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

promotions, including Fighting Network Rings, Kingdom, Michinoku Pro and

Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests. History Big Japan Pro Wrestling was founded in March 1995 by former AJPW wrestlers Shinya Kojika and Kendo Nagas ...

, therefore matches sometimes resembled more traditional professional wrestling matches. The biggest co-promotion occurred on October 17, 1999, when Battlarts and The Great Sasuke's Michinoku Pro Wrestling produced "Michinoku Pro vs. Battlarts", which was headlined by a

tag team match Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. ...

pitting the owners of both promotions (Great Sasuke and Ishikawa) against

Jinsei Shinzaki Kensuke Shinzaki (新崎健介 ''Shinzaki Kensuke'', born December 2, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler and professional wrestling executive, better known by his ring name, Jinsei Shinzaki (新崎人生 ''Shinzaki Jinsei''). He is sign ...

and

Alexander Otsuka , better known by his ring name Alexander Otsuka and Otoko Sakari, is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. Having competed for multiple pro wrestling organizations in his career, most recently with Antonio Inoki's In ...

. The promotion ceased running regular shows and events in 2001 due to "management aggravation". Battlarts eventually began to run monthly shows mainly in Tokyo, Saitama, and Shizuoka Prefecture, often co-promoting with Daisuke Ikeda's Fu-ten,

Kiyoshi Tamura is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Once a student of legendary professional wrestlers Billy Robinson, Lou Thesz and Akira Maeda, Tamura was known for his skills in catch wrestling and is considered to be on ...

's U-Style and

Satoru Sayama (born November 27, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, writer, and mixed martial arts (MMA) and wrestling promoter, best known as the original Tiger Mask. He has wrestled under his real name as well as the names ...

's Real Japan Pro Wrestling promotions. On September 14, 2008, at a press conference with Yuki Ishikawa and

Shinjiro Otani is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the Ne ...

Battlarts announced a working agreement with

Pro Wrestling Zero1 , often referred to simply as Zero1 and sometimes referred to as Pro Wrestling Zero1 Catch as Catch Can (stylized as ZERO1 and PRO WRESTLING ZERO1 CATCH AS CATCH CAN, respectively), is a Professional wrestling in Japan, Japanese professional wre ...

. It was revealed in late December 2010 that Battlarts would be closing their doors sometime in 2011. The promotion held its final event on November 5, 2011.

Kakuto Tanteidan (2023–present)

On June 26, 2023,

and Takuya Nomura held a press conference to announce they would hold an independent show titled on October 12 at

Shinjuku Face is an event hall located on the 7th floor of the Humax Pavilion Shinjuku complex, 1-20-1 Kabukicho, Tokyo, Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan. It mainly hosts mixed martial arts, boxing and professional wrestling events. Shinjuku Face has a capacity of appr ...

, broadcast on Wrestle Universe. The idea of reviving Battlarts into a new organization came from founder Abe, a student of Battlarts alumnus Munenori Sawa, who was fascinated by the promotion and aspired to become a professional wrestler, with the ideal of creating a "state-of-the-art ''B''". The decision to organize an independent event was made in cooperation with Nomura, and with the support of Yuki Ishikawa,

Ikuto Hidaka (born August 5, 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah). Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the NWA International Lightweight Tag Te ...

and others. A second event titled was held on October 23, 2024, and a third titled was held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring on April 8, 2025.

Alumni

Bob Backlund Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is an American retired amateur wrestling, amateur and Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Fede ...

* Johnny Geo Basco * Dieuseul Berto *

Hayato Fujita Hayato Fujita (藤田勇人 ''Fujita Hayato'', born September 20, 1986) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Fujita "Jr." Hayato (フジタ"Jr"ハヤト). Despite his small stature and physique for a professional wr ...

Minoru Fujita (born September 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works as a freelancer. He is known for working at Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. Career Japanese independent scene (1997-present) Fujita started in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) as a ...

* Shoichi Funaki *

Ryuji Hijikata (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the ring name . Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Prof ...

* Daisuke Ikeda * Yuki Ishikawa * Ryuichi Kawakami * Carl Malenko *

Joe Malenko Jody Simon (born June 4, 1956) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Joe Malenko. He is the son of Boris Malenko and the older brother of Dean Malenko. Professional wrestling career Early career (1977–19 ...

Masaaki Mochizuki is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Dragon Gate and Pro Wrestling Noah. Mochizuki is a former FIP World Champion and three-time Open the Dream Gate Champion. Professional wrestling career Early years A former karat ...

* Masao Orihara *

* Shannon Ritch *

Road Warrior Animal Joseph Michael "Joe" Laurinaitis (September 12, 1960 – September 22, 2020), better known by his ring name Road Warrior Animal (or simply Animal), was an American professional wrestler. Along with Road Warrior Hawk, he was one-half of the tag t ...

Road Warrior Hawk Michael James Hegstrand (January 26, 1957 – October 19, 2003) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors (or the "Legion of Doom"), with Road Warrior Anima ...

* Munenori Sawa * Super Tiger II *

Taka Michinoku (born October 26, 1973), better known by his ring name (stylized as TAKA Michinoku), is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He primarily appears for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is a me ...

* Minoru Tanaka *

Tiger Shark The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of ground shark, and the only extant member of the genus '' Galeocerdo'' and family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large apex predator, with females capable of attaining a length of over . Popula ...

* Turtle Kamen * Katsumi Usuda * The Willow * Keita Yano *

Muhammad Yone , better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a multi-time GHC Tag Team Champion, a one time GHC Openweight Hardcore Champion and winner of the Global Tag League in ...

Championships

Notable events

We Are Kakuto Tanteidan

The first event of the Kakuto Tanteidan revival project took place on October 12, 2023, at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo.

Kakuto Tanteidan 2: From Shinjuku With Love

The second Kakuto Tanteidan event took place on October 23, 2024, at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo. All matches were fought under Battlarts rules.

Kakuto Tanteidan III: One Life to Live

The third Kakuto Tanteidan event took place on April 8, 2025, at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo. All matches were fought under Battlarts rules.

References

External links

Fighting Detectives Battlarts Official Website
(in Japanese)
Battlarts Japanese News Site

Battlarts B-Blog

Bati Bati Cafe
{{Professional wrestling in Japan Japanese professional wrestling promotions 1996 establishments in Japan 2011 disestablishments in Japan Recurring sporting events established in 1996 Recurring events disestablished in 2011 Battlarts Defunct professional wrestling promotions