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U-Kei (U系 or ユーけい; eng. U-Series, U-Group or Class U) is a Japanese combat sports related term that refers to shoot style professional wrestling, martial arts, or mixed martial arts organizations that are derived from the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) or have other shoot wrestling roots. Through various splits, the U-Kei system also came to encompass deathmatch, lucharesu, and sports entertainment promotions.
"U" refers to the UWF, a Japanese professional wrestling promotion that was active from 1984 to 1986. The UWF was founded by Hisashi Shinma and Akira Maeda after their departures from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The UWF is credited with pioneering the shoot style of wrestling, which provided the foundation of modern mixed martial arts in both Japan and overseas.[1][2][3]
Following the collapse of the original UWF in 1986, the professional wrestling and mixed martial arts organizations that derived from the promotion became collectively known as "UWF-Kei", later shortened to "U-Kei".[4][5][6]
- ^ Uの青春 ～カッキーの闘いはまだ終わらない ISBN 978-4331519592
- ^ ザ・UWF最強伝説—格闘プロレスは永遠に不滅! (1995) ISBN 978-4876892006
- ^ 証言UWF 最終章 3派分裂後の真実 ISBN 978-4800283504
- ^ Uの青春 ～カッキーの闘いはまだ終わらない ISBN 978-4331519592
- ^ ザ・UWF最強伝説—格闘プロレスは永遠に不滅! (1995) ISBN 978-4876892006
- ^ 証言UWF 最終章 3派分裂後の真実 ISBN 978-4800283504