Hand Walk is a series of events in Kinniku Banzuke.
In this event, the competitor is tasked to complete an otherwise simple obstacle course, with the twist that they must navigate the entire course while in a constant handstand position. With the exception of small mid-course rest areas known as Break Zones, if any other part of the competitor's body makes contact with the course at any point, they are disqualified and have failed the event.
Hand Walk I[]
The first version of Hand Walk consisted of eight obstacles:
1. Parallel Bars - A set of two thin metal bars running parallel to each other, featuring a single 90-degree turn along its path.
2. Stairway to Heaven - A simple rising set of stairs, with a somewhat large change in elevation between each.
3. Bottomless Ravine - A seemingly shallow downward slope, leading into a cruel 90-degree turn at the bottom.
4. Devil's Double Bridge - A set of two thin "bridges" just about wide enough to fit a hand on each, with two gaps at equal distances along the two of them, meaning the competitor must bridge both to get across.
Break Zone
5. Craggy Mountain - A rising area consisting of many square sections, with major variation in the elevation of each.
6. Stairway to Hell - A simple descending set of stairs, essentially opposite to the Stairway to Heaven.
7. Heartbreak Hill - Known as Shinzou Yaburi no Saka, a rising 32-degree incline. True to its dubbed name this obstacle, in combination with Stairway to Hell, eliminated many competitors
8. Single Bridge - A short yet devilishly thin stretch of platform high at a high elevation. Upon clearing this obstacle the competitor would turn 90 degrees once more to step into the goal, completing the event.
Time limit: Unlimited
This version of the event had two victories, from competitors Iketani Yukio and Nie Aizu.
Hand Walk II[]
To create a new era this event was modified with seven new obstacles. However, the course's difficulty was so extreme, it was later toned down. Most competitors failed before the break zone and others failed before victory. They first had to cross a grid of bars that had several missing sections, followed either by several steep curved hills in the first version, or a single hill and an ascending staircase in the second version. Both sections ended in a curved ramp. The next obstacle was a shallow pool of water with an uneven floor, this lead to the break zone. They then had to climb up a pile of fixed logs and then an unstable bridge. They finally had to go down a series of uneven blocks and three giant ramps going uphill to clear. The only one to clear it was Takahashi Yuki.
1. Grid of Rails
2. Rolling Hills (1st version) / Hill and Stairs (2nd version)
3. Water Hazard
Break Zone
4. Mountain of Logs
5. Suspension Bridge
6. Uneven Steps
7. Elevated S-Curve
Time limit: Unlimited
Hand Walk Tower[]
Hand Walk III[]
This version was made tougher due to previous victories with all but one of the obstacles changing. Like the previous version, this event was toned down as well. Competitors would first have to cross a small staircase which had an ascending and descending portion, covered with gravel. They then had to go up a series of rock-shaped blocks in an uphill incline, before going down two parallel logs. They then had to cross a converyor belt in the first version, or a swinging bridge made of bamboo in the second version. They then had to go up an incline that got steeper half way up before reaching the break zone. Competitors would then slide down two handle bars fixed onto a rolling sort of "car", before getting onto a platform that brought them up to an unstable bridge that was later made easier to cross with the addition of ropes to stablize it. They finally had to ascend a ramp with water coming down it and finally ascend ten narrow steps fashioned to look like a volcano. So far, no known competitor has beaten the course, though it has been confirmed that the course was defeated at some point.
1. Gravel Pile
2. Craggy Mountain
3. Log Ramp
4. Conveyor Belt (1st version) / Bamboo Bridge (2nd version)
5. Green Incline
Break Zone
6. Tram Car
7. Suspension Bridge
8. Cascading Climb
9. Volcano
Time limit: Unlimited
Hand Walk Building[]
Hand Walk IV[]
This version was completely revamped after previous victories. All of the obstacles were changed, though this version was not toned down. Competitors first had to go down a curved slope and then slide down on a small board down a track. They then had to walk around a turning star and cross two parallel angles before reaching the break zone. They then had to walk across a narrow beam while dodging a vertical turnstile at the center of the obstacle. They then had to walk along a large path while dodging several meteor-shaped spheres being dropped on them. They then had to walk across a large, slick circular platform and then climb up several stairs in order to take on a giant crescent-shaped seesaw. They started at the center and had to drag down one side of the seesaw in order to advance. They finally had to ascend a gigantic ramp in order to reach the finish, though the obstacle's name is unknown. No one defeated this version.
1. Saturn Slope
2. Shuttle Move
3. Rolling Star
4. Black Hole
Break Zone
5. Mars Crash
6. Meteorite
7. Moon
8. Crescent Seesaw
9. ???
Time Limit: Unlimited
Hand Walk Climb[]
Results[]
Hand Walk I[]
| Name (Age) | Profile | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nishiyama Kohji (35) | Parallel Bars | ||
| Henmi Gaku (21) | University Student | Heartbreak Hill | |
| Nakano Junya (20) | University Student | Heartbreak Hill | |
| Sato Yoshinobu (20) | University Student | Heartbreak Hill | |
| Kenmotsu Toshihiro | Bottomless Ravine | ||
| Nagayama Jotaro (24) | Olympic Gymnast | Heartbreak Hill (1st Attempt)
Devil's Double Bridge* (2nd Attempt) |
*Nagayama somersaulted into the Break Zone, but was disqualified after dropping his legs too early. |
| Ninomiya Takiyuki (24) | Athlete | Craggy Mountain | |
| Kasamatsu Akihiro (19) | University Student | Single Bridge | |
| Mizutori Shizuna (18) | Gymnast | Craggy Mountain | |
| Iketani Yukio (24) | Olympic Gymnast | Heartbreak Hill (1st Attempt)
Kanzenseiha (2nd Attempt) |
Completed in 0:54 |
| Kojima Masanori (19) | University Student | Craggy Mountain | |
| Osoigawa Hayato (18) | University Student | Bottomless Ravine | |
| Kuroki Kazuhiko (36) | Acrobatic Performer | Stairway to Heaven | |
| Shibano Yasuyoshi (19) | University Student | Craggy Mountain | |
| Nie Aizu (28) | Gymnast | Kanzenseiha | Completed in 02:11 |
| Watanabe Manoru (24) | Businessman | Bottomless Ravine | |
| Koike Satoshi (18) | University Student | Craggy Mountain | |
| Katayama Keitaro (22) | University Student | Bottomless Ravine |
Hand Walk II[]
| Name (Age) | Profile | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishihata Kazuyuki (26) | Gymnast | Grid of Rails | |
| Osawa Naoki (21) | Agriculture Agent | Grid of Rails* | *Fell before reaching the first obstacle |
| Fujita Tamaki (24) | Acrobat | Suspension Bridge | |
| Isomae Masaaki (20 - 1st Attempt, 21 - 2nd Attempt) | Gymnastics Instructor | Rolling Hills (1st Attempt)
Mountain of Logs (2nd Attempt) |
|
| Iketani Yukio (25) | Olympic Gymnast | Rolling Hills | |
| Isokane Yukiko (23) | Gymnast | Rolling Hills | |
| Nakagawa Hisayo (23) | Gymnast | Rolling Hills | |
| Ubukata Masahiko (18) | Student | Grid of Rails | |
| Nie Aizu (28) | Acrobatics Instructor | Mountain of Logs | |
| Uchiyama Takashi (21) | Gymnast | Rolling Hills | |
| Nagayama Jotaro (25) | Olympic Gymnast | Rolling Hills | |
| Nakamura Tomohiko (20) | Student | Water Hazard (1st Attempt)
Suspension Bridge (2nd Attempt) |
|
| Yamaoka Hajime (26) | Actor | Rolling Hills | |
| Kasamatsu Akihiro (20) | Gymnastics Champion | Suspension Bridge | |
| Sato Daisuke (19) | Gymnast | Water Hazard | |
| Endo Kazumichi (22) | Student | Hill and Stairs | |
| Nakano Junya (20) | University Student | Water Hazard | |
| Shintani Tsutomu (24) | Waiter | Grid of Rails | |
| Suzuki Tomoyuki (22) | Gymnastics Instructor | Hill and Stairs | |
| Sato Yoshinobu (21) | Gymnast | Uneven Steps | |
| Sako Yoichi (27) | Gymnast | S-Curve | |
| Miyamoto Kunihiro | Gymnast | Water Hazard | |
| Kamizaki Katsuito (18) | Student | Water Hazard | |
| Nakamura Shuhei (16) | Gymnastics Champion | S-Curve | |
| Akitani Naoki (18) | Student | S-Curve | |
| Tanaka Kenji (18) | Student | Mountain of Logs | |
| Takahashi Yuki (18) | Student | Kanzenseiha | Completed in 01:15 |
Hand Walk Tower[]
Hand Walk III[]
Hand Walk Building[]
Hand Walk IV[]
Hand Walk Climb[]
Gallery[]
Courses[]
Hand Walk I[]
May 1996[]
June 1996[]
Hand Walk II[]
July 1996[]
August 1996[]
January 1997[]
February 1997[]
March 1997[]
Hand Walk Tower[]
Hand Walk III[]
July 1997[]
January 1998[]
Hand Walk Building[]
Player Profile Backgrounds[]
Audience[]
Other[]
