Last month, the world’s first humanoid fighting competition was held in China, where a half marathon race took place featuring humans and humanoid robots running together. Small robots, the height of elementary school children, threw 'uppercuts' and 'hooks' while showcasing various kicking techniques at different heights. While the marathon provided a glimpse of the humanoids' endurance and speed, this fighting competition allowed for verification of the humanoids' agility and balance.
On Sunday, the competition titled 'CMG World Robot Competition Series' was held in Hangzhou at 8:30 p.m. (local time) and was hosted by China Media Group (CMG). Hangzhou is home to leading tech corporations representing China, including the artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek. Six humanoid 'G1' robots from the Chinese robot corporation Unitree participated in this competition, which was broadcast live on the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) science channel.
The competition was divided into demonstration and competition institutional sectors. In the demonstration institutional sector, each humanoid showcased its signature fighting techniques, while in the competition institutional sector, humanoids entered the ring two at a time to engage in combat matches that mimicked reality. The matches were conducted over three rounds, each lasting 2 minutes. A scored punch was worth 1 point, while a scored kick was worth 3 points, and every time a humanoid fell to the ground, 5 points were deducted. If they failed to rise within 8 seconds, they lost 10 points, and the round ended. The humanoids were operated by engineers using voice control and remote control from outside the ring.
The humanoids participating in the competition were equipped with headgear and gloves and stood at a height of 130 cm. During their technical demonstrations and actual matches in the ring, the humanoids mimicked human movements nearly flawlessly without any stuttering.
The most impressive aspect was their sense of balance. Even when the competition coordinator pushed the humanoid from behind, or if it was kicked in the midsection by the opposing humanoid during the match, it was able to regain its balance without falling. When kicked from the side, it maintained its balance by hopping on one foot. The movements exhibited, aimed at not losing posture even in moments of instability, were reminiscent of human reflexes. Even if they lost balance and fell, they managed to regain their posture and stand up straight within 2 to 3 seconds.
However, there were also comical moments during the matches. One humanoid fell to the ground with its legs spread 180 degrees after failing to maintain balance due to an attack from its opponent, causing the opposing humanoid to stumble as well. Additionally, since the humanoids were remotely controlled—much like playing a video game—their movements appeared somewhat slower and less accurate compared to an actual match. The humanoids sometimes punched at empty air and displayed attacks directed at the referee.
Chinese media evaluated the competition, stating that "humanoids, which only appeared in science fiction movies, demonstrated not only their technological capabilities but also breathed new life into industrial development." CCTV reported that "the extreme testing environment provided by the fighting ring promotes the development of humanoid motion algorithms and enhances robot performance. Ultimately, it will provide better services for human production and life." They also quoted researcher Li Gaofeng, stating that "the next innovation will occur in areas like robots' dexterity and tactile ability."
Meanwhile, the 'CMG World Robot Competition Series' plans to expand its scope to team sports such as basketball and soccer in the future. Additionally, in August, a humanoid competition featuring martial arts, soccer, and dance will be held in Beijing.