Asia's 7 toughest sports

Everybody is familiar with karate, sumo, judo and kung fu. Punch a board, push a fat guy out of a circle, beat up 26 guys in a row, all of whom patiently wait their turns to get their butts kicked.

Sure, these are strenuous sports. But even the tradition of earning belts can be overrated. As Bruce Lee once observed: “A belt is only to hold your pants up.”

Among Asia's many tests of guts and glory, the following are so brutal that at the end of the day their competitors are sometimes either dead or close to it. So, without further nervous stalling or wimpy excuse-making, let's get ready to crumble!

Japanese Rugby -- monster's ball

Introduced to Japan in 1899, rugby has since turned into another of the country’s official obsessions. There’s even a soft drink called “Sports Drink Rugby.” Japan boasts the world’s fourth-largest number of rugby players, most of whom have had a black eye and pulled groin at one point. One downside -- it must be an uphill battle to take the field against a squad of foreign thugs when your national team is named 'The Cherry Blossoms.' Here's a longer look at Japanese Rugby.

Buzkashi -- carcass kicking

Played on horseback, the Central Asian sport of Buzkashi features two teams brutally kicking and whipping each other, fighting to control the carcass of a headless goat or calf. Games can last for several days because, as the narrator of the video explains, the sport's "unwritten rules are seldom observed." Serious Buzkashi players will train for years. Even Rambo took a whack at Buzkashi in Rambo 3.

Kendo -- way of the sword

Kendo ('Way of the Sword'), which simulates the decapitation or evisceration of an opponent with a bamboo sword, is practiced by about six million people around the world. Competitors wear traditional protection and hooded uniforms, which make them look like the killer from the movie "Scream." Kendo is also one of the noisiest martial arts, with lots of shouting and stamping of the feet. How tough is it? It tells you something when each match has three referees. Here's a look at Kendo in slow motion filmed with a high-speed camera.

Ankathari -- war training

The Indian word 'Ankathari' literally translates to 'war training.' The sport requires a variety of metal weapons, any of which can dismember a man in an instant. Practitioners use a dagger, shield, trident, spear, axe or the fearsome urumi, a flexible sword so dangerous that its use is taught to only the most highly skilled students.

Muay Thai -- eight-limbed art

The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai (“The Art of Eight Limbs”) is known for the employment not only of fists and feet, but also shins, elbows and knees to beat an opponent into submission. A Muay Thai fight is a blur of punches, kicks and head butts, often culminating in a knockout. This is why many military and law enforcement groups prefer Muay Thai for neutralizing situations without using weapons. For more knockouts check out this vid.

Panantukan -- dirty boxing

The Filipino martial art of Panantukan combines fist, blade and stick-fighting techniques. In other words, a frenzy of punches, elbows, head butts, shoulder strikes, groin punches, low-line kicks, knee strikes to the legs, shins and groin. There are no rules. Emphasis is on speed, overwhelming the opponent with a relentless series of attacks and, hopefully, paralyzing a limb. Fight sequences in the Jason Bourne films are examples of Panantukan.

Dim Mak -- acupuncture’s evil twin

The mysterious Chinese martial art of Dim Mak (“the Touch of Death”) utilizes a secret attack on a specific body pressure point to instantly render a person unconscious, and possibly even kill them. Only a handful of instructors teach these secret methods, and there are no organized competitions. Dim Mak techniques are utilized in movies such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Clan of the White Lotus," "Kill Bill" and the original "Star Trek" TV series.