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Kingofchop

Eita Kobayashi defeating Tomahawk T.T in the finals of the first King of Chop tournament.

King of Chop is a singles tournament held in Dragon Gate. This is a little different as it is not so much a wrestling tournament, but rather a tournament to determine who had the strongest chop.

Overview[]

The competitors will each exchange three chops. The primary goal is to chop the opponent so hard that they surrender, generally by ringing the bell personally. If no one gives up, the decision will then be deferred to the fans. Under the circumstance that the fan decision is considered a split, the competitors will each be given an extra chop. The bonus exchanges could continue until one surrenders or the fan decision is more decisive. In the final round, the number of exchanges is ten and if the fan decision is split, each competitor gets five extra chops. The theme music to the American television series Mission: Impossible was used as the music theme for the tournament.

King of Chop I[]

The first tournament took place on April 16, 2012 at Kobe Sambo Hall in Hyogo. The tournament had been announced at the previous Sambo Hall show on March 18 along with the sixteen participants. It was further announced that the winner would receive a 300,000 yen cash prize and a special privilege of their choosing, which could be virtually anything from a title shot or match making rights.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
   CIMA 3-3  
   Jimmy Kagetora Fan  
     Jimmy Kagetora 3-3  
 
     Don Fujii Fan  
   Don Fujii 3-2
   Rich Swann Quit  
     Don Fujii 2-3  
     Eita Kobayashi Quit  
   Eita Kobayashi 2-2  
   Mondai Ryu Quit  
     Eita Kobayashi 3-3
 
     Cyber Kong Fan  
   Naruki Doi 3-3
   Cyber Kong Fan  
     Eita Kobayashi 10-10
     Tomahawk T.T Fan
   Kotoka 3-3  
   YAMATO Fan  
     YAMATO 3-3
 
     Tomahawk T.T Fan  
   Tomahawk T.T 3-3
   Super Shisa Fan  
     Tomahawk T.T 2-3
     Masaaki Mochziuki Quit  
   Masato Yoshino 3-3  
   Akira Tozawa Fan  
     Masato Yoshino 5-5
 
     Masaaki Mochizuki Fan (2)  
   Masaaki Mochizuki 3-3
   Shingo Takagi Fan  

"Naoki Tanisaki" was originally listed as a participant, but he was "unable to show." He was "replaced" in the tournament by Tomahawk T.T.

Mondai Ryu surrendered by Akira Tozawa throwing in the towel for him.

Not only did Masato Yoshino and Masaaki Mochizuki have the first fan decision split, but they had two, forcing a total of five chop exchanges before the fan decision was more decisive.

For his victory prize, Eita Kobayashi requested from CIMA to be included into the King of Gate tournament, even though all sixteen participants had already been announced. CIMA chose to bow out of King of Gate, allowing for Kobayashi to participate. Kobayashi also noted his wish to partake on a learning excursion to Mexico when CIMA next toured the country at the end of May. He would pass an in-ring test at the next Sambo Hall show, allowing him to go.

King of Chop II[]

A second tournament was announced following the end of the 2012 King of Gate tournament. It took place over the course of two nights as opposed to one, occurring on June 9 and 10, 2012. Both shows were at Sapporo Teisen Hall in Hokkaido. There were twenty competitors this time around and the brackets were determined by a random drawing from the fans following the opening match on June 9. Competitors 1-10 made up Block A and 11-20 made up Block B. Competitors 1-4 and 17-20 were placed in a "Handicap Set" where they competed in a bonus round. The first and bonus rounds took place on June 9 while the remaining rounds took place on June 10.

  First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                               
 Naruki Doi 3-3  
 YAMATO Fan  
   Naruki Doi 3-3  
   Shingo Takagi Fan  
 Akira Tozawa 2-1
 Shingo Takagi Quit  
   Shingo Takagi 3-3  
   BxB Hulk Fan  
   
   
   Ryo "Jimmy" Saito 1-1
   BxB Hulk Quit  
 
   
   Shingo Takagi 3-3  
   "Naoki Tanisaki" Fan  
   
   
   Masato Yoshino 3-3
   "Naoki Tanisaki" Fan  
 
   
   "Naoki Tanisaki" 3-3
   Masaaki Mochizuki Fan  
   
   
   Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!! 1-0
   Masaaki Mochizuki Quit  
 
   
 "Naoki Tanisaki" 15-15
 Jimmy Kagetora Fan
   
   
   Gamma 3-3  
   Jimmy Susumu Fan  
 
   
   Jimmy Susumu 3-3  
   Don Fujii Fan  
   
   
   Super Shisa 3-3
   Don Fujii Fan  
 
   
   Jimmy Susumu 3-3
   Jimmy Kagetora Fan  
   
   
   Rich Swann 3-3
   Kzy Fan  
 
   
   Rich Swann 5-5
   Jimmy Kagetora Fan  
 Jimmy Kanda 3-3  
 CIMA Quit  
   CIMA 3-3
   Jimmy Kagetora Fan  
 Dragon Kid 3-3
 Jimmy Kagetora Fan  

General Manager Takayuki Yagi deemed Shingo Takagi's double-handed chop to be acceptable. However, he did not accept the use of a Mongolian chop, which Shingo playfully used on Naruki Doi just as their round began. Doi and Masato Yoshino appealed for Shingo to be disqualified as a result, but Yagi instead issued him a warning.

Jimmy Kagetora was involved in both rounds that featured a fan decision split, including the first to occur in the finals. Along with having to compete in the "Handicap Set" and all of his rounds going to fan decision, he received a total of 29 chops.

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