Purgatory (煉獄, Rengoku) is one of the most prominent underground martial arts organisations in Japan, rivalling that of even the Kengan matches.[1] The organisation was founded and hosted by Toyoda Idemitsu.
About
Fifteen years prior to the events of Kengan Omega, Toyoda Idemitsu founded Purgatory. Its policy of putting its distinctive entertainment value to the forefront brought it explosive support and it gathered many gladiators (闘士, tōshi) by paying them large sums of fight money.[2] Also, the Purgatory fighting stadium is built in the mountains, far from civilisation, and typically hosts upwards of tens of thousands of spectators per event night.[3]
In recent times, Purgatory has become the largest-scale underground martial arts promotion in Japan and has greater momentum than even the Kengan Association.[1] Toyoda scouts talented martial artists, at any expense, even headhunting the headline of fighters from smaller martial arts promotions (who have since become defunct); some of the Kengan Association's affiliated fighters have gone on to transfer over to Purgatory.[1] Purgatory guarantees "a degree" of safety and fight money equal to or exceeding that of the top public martial artists (this only applies to A-list and some B-list gladiators however).[3]
Purgatory's gladiator tier list
The vast number of Purgatory gladiators are classified into three tiers:[2]
- A-list (~30 gladiators)
- B-list (~200 gladiators)
- C-list (~2000 gladiators)
According to Kureishi Mitsuyo, who was once a gladiator, the overall strength level of the C-list is not particularly high, being an assortment of different levels with the diamonds in the rough getting promoted to the B-list relatively quickly. The B-list itself, while a higher level than the C-list, is also a mixed bag. However, the A-list is on a different level entirely, with only "strong guys" and "super-strong guys" on the A-list. Kureishi added that the "super-strong guys" are just about as strong as the top-level fighters in the Kengan matches, if not stronger.[2]
Rules
The rules of Purgatory are unique and set apart from that of other underground martial arts organisations, giving them the perfect balance between "extreme and competitive". A gladiator will automatically lose the match if:[3]
- Knockdown: After being knocked down, they fail to return to their feet by the referee's count of 10.
- Ringout: Any part of their body makes contact with the ground outside of the ring.
- No Kill: A gladiator causes the death of their opponent during the match.
A gladiator who breaks the "No Kill" rule is not only disqualified in their match, but their fight money is also confiscated.[3]
Known Gladiators
Notes & Trivia
- Both Kureishi Mitsuyo and Yuzaki Mumon are former gladiators of Purgatory.
- Most of the foreigner gladiators (like Nicolas Le Banner, Tommy Strummer and Mark Myers) appear to have epithets mentioning their native homeland (Nicolas Le Banner is "The Grim Reaper of Paris" and Tommy Strummer is "The Bare-Knuckle Crusher of the British Empire").
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chapter 2 (Omega)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 21 (Omega)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Chapter 31 (Omega)
| Special Terms
| ||
| Martial Arts | Gaoh Style • Kaiwan Style • Koei Style • Niko Style (Possessing Spirit) • Raishin Style | |
| Kengan | Bodyguards (Extermination Force • Fang of Metsudo) • Guardians • Kengan Annihilation Tournament • Kengan Association members (Ashura/Omega) • Kengan matches • Referees | |
| The Public Sphere | Rokushin Kaikan • Rokushin Kaikan Tournament | |
| The Underworld | Heavenly Wolves • Kengan Association VS Purgatory Tournament • Kure Clan • Mikazuchi Clan • Underground Martial Arts Industry (Kengan matches • Purgatory) • Worm | |
| The Inside | The Black Messengers • The Inside • Tokita Niko | |
