Martial art federation? - Could it work?

[Arthur Dent]

I think you might be thinking of WMAC Masters. That show had story lines and a ladder to get to a championship match. Plus there were cool fight locations.

Yeah, that's it. You forgot the <table style=filter:glow(color=RED)>NINJAS</table>. Who, like any good ninja, knew how to get their buts kicked by the "stars".