Karate - Sensei Xiao Zheng completes Kyokushin’s 30-man fight |11 April 2026
Sensei Xiao Zheng in a souvenir photo with Shihan Philip and some of the Seychellois fighters (Photo: Contributed)
The Kyokushin branch chief for Hang Zhou in China, Sensei Xiao Zheng who is currently in the country undergoing a three-week Uchi Deshi training programme under Shihan Phillip Moustache, last Wednesday joined the group of local elite Kyokushin karatekas to demonstrate the ‘Spirit of Osu’ when he successfully completed the 30-man fight (San Ju Nin kumite).
The event took place at the Young Lions Dojo at Belonie in front of a large and vocal crowd who cheered him on throughout the fights.
The last attempt for this test was in June of last year by two local karatekas.
During his visit last year, he had undergone special training sessions from Shihan Moustache in preparation for the event and received advice on how to avoid injuries which would impede his performance during the test.
He was also given a training programme which he has to continue when he returns back to his country.
Sensei Xiao faced an array of the best Kyokushin fighters ranging from coloured grades up to 4th dan black belt holders and all the fights were fought under Kyokushin’s full contact rules with each fight lasting two minutes.
All his fights were hard but he used all the techniques that he had mastered during the preparatory sessions and forged on.
By the half way mark, the fights got harder as his opponents were still fresh but he aptly demonstrated the Spirit of Osu.
His last 10 fights were the hardest but the crowd cheered him on and by the end of 30th fight, he was still standing.
Sensei Zheng was delighted when Shihan Moustache informed him that he had succeeded in his quest and presented him with his 30-man kumite certificate.
He will now be eligible to undertake the 40-man fight preferably in two years’ time.
Congratulations to Sensei Zheng.
It should be noted that this test is not compulsory for all Kyokushin members.
Only those who wish to achieve a unique feat and are prepared to make sacrifices, may do so but must first satisfy the necessary requirements.
Below are local Kyokushin Karatekas who have completed these unique feats in the past
50-man fight: Phillip Moustache (1996)
40-man fight: Bernard Adeline (1998), Flavien Alphonse (1998), Francis Françoise (1998), Steven Lalande (2004)
30-man fight: Bernard Adeline (1996), Flavien Alphonse (1998), Denis Ernest (1996), Francis Françoise (1997), Sonny Simeon (1998), Steven Lalande (2002), Darren Charles (2016), Samuel Fanny (2025), Nathan Pierre (2025).
Contributed