00:00Welcome to Japan's legendary Temple of Champions, where athletes gather to face the most difficult
00:14challenges ever conceived.
00:18Testing balance, endurance, and sheer strength, competitors have one goal, beat the course.
00:27Victory is elusive, and the only constant is the bitter taste of defeat.
00:34This is the ultimate competition of man versus obstacle. Who will top the unbeatable Banzuke?
00:57The temple has been configured with an obstacle course that demands perfect balance and total
01:24concentration. Competitors must cross eight levels of increasing difficulty. They start
01:30on a level platform and proceed to the parallel bars. Next they face the stairway to heaven,
01:35followed by the bottomless ravine. Then they'll cross the devil's double bridge to reach the
01:40break zone. They only have 30 seconds to rest before taking on the craggy mountain, and
01:46then the stairway to hell. Then comes heartbreak hill, and finally, the single bridge to victory.
01:53Time is a factor, so competitors will need to move quickly. Can any competitor walk the
01:57walk without using their feet?
02:54Up next is Jotaro Nagayama. This top gymnast earned the nickname Joe of the Rings after winning the
03:00Japan National Championship in rings two years in a row. Will his confidence take him all the way to
03:06victory?
03:24He's got a lot of muscle in his arms.
03:31He's got a flexible body.
03:40He's cleared the stairs.
03:41He's reached the break zone.
03:52He's at a good pace. He's at the break zone.
04:27From now on, it's a battle of stamina and mental strength.
04:32Down the stairs, clear.
04:34Is he going to break his heart?
04:35Ah, he used his strength here.
04:37How frustrating!
04:39Joe of the Rings made not one, but two incredible recoveries on the craggy mountain.
04:44Unfortunately, it didn't leave him enough strength for Heartbreak Hill.
04:50Up next is Takeyuki Ninomiya, a member of the gymnastics club.
04:54This remarkable athlete hopes to conquer the course.
04:58Takeyuki Ninomiya is particularly confident in his arm muscles.
05:11Slowly, slowly.
05:13He's good at keeping his balance in the gymnastics club.
05:18He's climbing at a good pace.
05:25He's cleared the preliminary valley.
05:28Now, he's cleared the Kumano Nihonbashi.
05:32He's at a good pace.
05:34He's at a good pace.
05:36He's reached the break zone in less than 30 seconds.
05:39He's at a pretty fast pace.
05:41Ninomiya started gymnastics in the first year of junior high school.
05:44He's determined to do it, because he's going to compete.
05:47He's determined to do it, because he's going to compete.
05:52He's determined to do it, because he's going to compete.
05:57Now, from here.
05:59Oh! Suddenly!
06:01Suddenly, the end has come!
06:03He can't believe he's here!
06:08The final challenger is Akihiro Kasamatsu.
06:12His father was a gold medalist at the Munich Olympics.
06:15Did he pass along any tricks of the trade to Akihiro?
06:18Akihiro Kasamatsu.
06:32The sense of balance between father and son.
06:37He's at a good pace.
06:39He's at a good pace.
06:41He's cleared it.
06:42He's cleared it.
06:48He's cleared it.
06:52He's cleared it.
06:54He's cleared it.
06:56He's cleared it in 27 seconds.
07:02He's cleared it in 27 seconds.
07:04Akihiro Kasamatsu.
07:13A little out of balance, but he's at a good pace and steady.
07:17He's at a good pace.
07:19In an instant, he's passed the cliff of breaking heart.
07:21But here, was buried?
07:23He looks to be able to go, looks to be able to go!
07:27Are you up?
07:29He has climbed!
07:31Akihiro Kasamatsu cleared the breaking-heart cliff,
07:33How about the rest?
07:34Are dreams coming true?
07:36What's I've missed?!
07:38If he clears this cliff, the result is a goal!
07:42Yes, I lost 2%
08:00Muscle man can't be a coward
08:04All the challengers tried their best
08:08But they were defeated by hand walk
08:11Will a true champion be born in the second event?
08:32Welcome back to Muscle Man
08:35Here, glory and honor are won by the best athletes
08:41Today's second challenge is
08:46Quick Muscle
09:05The challenger is Katsumi Yamada, age 30
09:19Yamada gets his strength on the job, carrying heavy gas tanks in a delivery truck
09:24He started his push-up training after seeing this show on television
09:27and went on to win the Osaka Men's Quick Muscle Championship
09:31Can his impressive physique take down the reigning champ of Quick Muscle?
10:01Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:10Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:16Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:23Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:33Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:43Katsumi Yamada, age 30
10:53Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:03Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:13Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:23Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:33Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:43Katsumi Yamada, age 30
11:53Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:03Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:13Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:23Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:33Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:43Katsumi Yamada, age 30
12:52In today's muscle gym, challenger Katsumi Yamada looked strong at the outset but lost steam
12:58While he completed 249 push-ups, his pace slowed, costing him the victory
13:03With 275 push-ups, Koei Asano shattered his personal record
13:08Once again, he earns a spot on the Banzuke, the list of champions
13:14The king of quick muscle has once again sat on his throne
13:19The Banzuke presents the great Koei Asano
13:23The 3rd event and the 3rd glory are waiting
13:30Coming up, the puzzle you solve with a hammer
13:34Time to knock this tower down to size
13:45Welcome back to the Banzuke
13:48Here, the heroes are moving forward to become champions
13:53The 3rd challenge is
13:58Daruma 7
14:00The Daruma is balanced precariously atop a stack of identical blocks
14:05Competitors must swing a hammer to knock each block free from the bottom up
14:09Each challenger has a partner to give them strategy and advice
14:13They'll need to plan carefully
14:15If the Daruma topples, then the game is over
14:43Next up is actor Kai Ato
14:46This 49-year-old excelled as a baseball player in his youth
14:50He's here with his partner, Aimi Fujisawa, for guidance
14:53Can he swing a hammer like he once swung a bat?
15:14Wow!
15:17Let's go
15:25How's that?
15:26The first one is a success!
15:30The power of the Daruma comes through
15:33Let's see if Kai Ato is able to calculate this
15:39Ato-san, good luck!
15:44Wow!
15:45That was an ideal swing!
15:47That was an ideal swing!
15:55How's that?
15:58That was a double hit!
16:01Ato is still full of energy
16:04Set!
16:07Wow!
16:08That was too fast!
16:11That was too fast!
16:14Action stars Kane and Shane Kasugi are here to conquer Daruma 7
16:18They've mastered martial arts
16:20But will they master this challenge?
16:24Wow!
16:38That was a one-shot victory!
16:40That was a one-shot victory!
16:44That was a great victory!
16:46Kane Kasugi is a million-dollar star
16:49He's a master of martial arts
16:53His expectations are high
16:55Set!
17:07Wow!
17:08That was a one-shot victory!
17:11He's now in the third round
17:13That was a one-shot victory!
17:16Ato is still full of energy
17:19Set!
17:27How's that?
17:28Ato is still full of energy!
17:32Kane knocked out two blocks before it all came tumbling down
17:38So far, no one has advanced past level 2
17:41Can anyone find the perfect swing and add their name to the list of champions?
17:54Welcome back to Muscle Banzuke
17:56So far, pro wrestlers and baseball players have challenged Daruma 7
18:00However, neither of them were able to complete the challenge
18:05There's one more athlete left
18:08Will he be able to make it to the list of champions?
18:15The last challenger is Naoki Matsuda
18:17and his wrestling team friend, Ikuo Kuriyama
18:20Naoki is the 21-year-old star of his university's wrestling team
18:23Will he succeed where all others have failed?
18:29Set!
18:34A two-stage battle
18:37How's that?
18:41But Daruma...
18:52How's that?
18:54A two-stage battle!
18:56A two-stage battle!
19:06He did pretty well on the first attempt
19:14How's that?
19:15A two-stage battle!
19:19This is the most difficult part of Daruma 7
19:23Komato and Kongo are off-balance
19:34He's shaking
19:35It might be an easy challenge for him
19:38Naoki Matsuda
19:41How's that?
19:42A two-stage battle!
19:47All the challengers who challenged Daruma 7 were defeated
19:51And because of their failure
19:53Another day of competition has come to an end
19:57Let's look back at today's challenge
19:59It's time to compete for the banzuke
20:03In hand walk, no one had the strength and balance needed to finish the challenge
20:08Akihito Kasamatsu reached the single bridge
20:10only to fall within sight of total victory
20:14With another gutsy performance
20:16Asano adds a new record of 275 push-ups
20:19next to his name on the banzuke
20:25In the Daruma 7 challenge
20:26the outcome was even more bleak
20:28No one came close to removing all 7 blocks
20:32Congratulations, Asano
20:34He's a modest challenger
20:36But the height of his position in the banzuke
20:39speaks for itself
20:42A new challenge is coming
20:44And a new battle is about to break out
20:49This has been Kato Kei
20:52The door to the champion's power is sealed
