The issue of "taibatsu" (physical punishment) in Japanese sport has received high-profile media and public attention in recent years. This article addresses the retrospective experiences of "taibatsu" within Japanese high school wrestling, drawing upon a three-month ethnography that included semi-structured interviews. Our findings revealed wrestling's normative core to be infused by "Bushido" (a Japanese feudal warrior ethic) which emphasizes character development, rigid hierarchies and absolute obedience to seniority. Wrestlers reported socialization into this ethic often featured "taibatsu" administered by both coaches and senior students. "Taibatsu" took several forms including: being punched, kicked, hit with bamboo swords, verbally abused and forced to perform menial and time-consuming chores. The lived experiences of wrestlers highlighted the normalized yet often complex experiences of "taibatsu." For example, some wrestlers saw value in their experiences of "taibatsu," whilst some sought ways to navigate the violence and fears of the subculture. This article gives voice to the lived experiences of Japanese wrestlers and as such reveals the complexities of wrestlers' negotiation of the normative culture that gives rise to "taibatsu."