Q:   “I want to get stronger, but I avoid weightlifting because I’ve always heard it makes you slow and reduces flexibility. Is this true?” A:  Old-school weightlifting is one of the best ways to build strength. Weight workouts are also a tried-and-true method for improving your personal power output. There are, however, a few secrets to success you may not know. Once you master them, you’ll drastically improve your strength without sacrificing other attributes you need for m

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced Justin Younghans as the organization’s new Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships.  Younghans is a highly experienced veteran in the industry, and joins PFL from Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew where he served as Vice President of Corporate Partnership Sales & Activation since 2022. He has over 16 years of experience in driving partnerships and revenue, and played pivotal roles at both the Washington Commander

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced 24 total events through 2026 with 16 global events across the year which will be available on ESPN in the U.S. In addition, there will be eight regional events evenly split across Africa and MENA.  The first four events in 2026 are: PFL: Road to Dubai: February, UAE PFL Madrid: March, Spain PFL Pittsburgh: March, U.S.  PFL Chicago: April, U.S. PFL will be returning to Dubai for its third event this February 2026, a ci

In English, our slang expressions and idioms reflect the role firearms have played in our history. No doubt you've heard many of them: “He's firing with both barrels,” “You should stick to your guns,” and so on. In Japan, the sword was the weapon that dominated. Whether you were a samurai who carried two swords or a member of another class who wore a single long or short sword, the blade played an enormous role in your culture.

After Bruce Lee’s death in 1973, the world wanted more — and Hong Kong studios answered with one of the strangest subgenres ever created: Bruceploitation.   Dozens of actors stepped into the tracksuit. Some crashed and burned. Some swung for the fences. A few actually delivered something worth remembering. Here are the Bruce Lee copycat movies that stand above the chaos — not because they replace him (nobody can), but because they represent a wild moment in martial-arts cinem

When you’re sparring, getting punched is frustrating, not to mention painful. On the street, getting punched can be far more devastating. The reason: Most street punches are thrown at unsuspecting targets. Have you seen any of the so-called “knockout game” videos on YouTube? If so, you’ve witnessed just how dangerous it can be to fully absorb a punch to the head when you don’t see it coming. The danger doesn’t come just from being knocked out; once you’re unconscious, even if

PFL Lyon will be available to fans in the U.S. exclusively on the ESPN App for fans with access to the ESPN Unlimited plan The full card is now finalised, headlined by two spectacular title fights, features two PFL Europe Tournament finals, and a host of rising superstars in the continent The action will take place from 11am EST on December 13 at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced that PFL Lyon  on December 13 at the LDLC Are

When Fighting Stars  put Bruce Lee on its 1978 cover, it was about honoring a force that still felt alive in every dojo and movie theater around the world. Five years after his passing, Lee’s presence remained electric, his philosophy and screen charisma continuing to inspire anyone who trained, taught, or dreamed of moving the way he moved. The issue served as a reminder that even in absence, Bruce Lee wasn’t fading into memory — he was still shaping the future of martial ar

Christine Bannon-Rodrigues, the legendary karate world champion from Warwick, Rhode Island, has forged one of the most influential careers in modern martial arts. A 9th-degree black belt and student of Don Rodrigues, she earned nine World Championships, including an extraordinary streak of three consecutive W.A.K.O. World Titles. Her dominance in both forms and fighting helped redefine expectations for female competitors and opened doors for women in martial arts, stunt work,

Once avoided for fear it would lead to unwanted weight gain, dietary fat is now embraced by health-conscious martial artists. Scientific research confirms the benefits of eating this macronutrient: It helps your body break down fat-soluble vitamins, increases satiety, provides and stores energy, and even improves heart health. Not all fats are good for you, however, and even the beneficial ones can have their drawbacks.

Q:  You talked about lifting conventional weights for enhanced martial arts performance. What about other forms of weightlifting? A:  There is another type of weight training that deserves discussion. It entails attaching extra weight to your body — specifically, your ankles, wrists, or torso — and then engaging in functional martial arts training. Before I begin, let me say this about “functional training.” All too often, people use the term to refer to a hodgepodge of movem

"In judo, off balancing an opponent is accomplished by moving him in any number of directions. It is essential whether you plan to just move him or to throw him.” So writes Black Belt Hall of Famer George Kirby in his book Jujitsu: Advanced Techniques for Redirecting an Opponent’s Energy.

Celebrated on the Black Belt Magazine  cover in January 2000, LeBell embodied both the grit of a true martial artist and the showmanship of a Hollywood insider. Truly a larger-than-life figure whose legacy continues to straddle two worlds: the discipline of judo and the spectacle of cinema. Long before MMA was mainstream, LeBell was already blending styles, demonstrating how throws, locks, and submissions could level the playing field. Known as “Judo” Gene LeBell, he was more

It will be fascinating for you, if you have the opportunity, to visit one of the museums in the West that have suits of Japanese armor. That’s because feudal Japan took a different approach to body armor than we find in Europe. To some degree, the samurai traded protection for mobility. Rather than using rigid, curved metal sections like the European knights did, the Japanese constructed their armor from an elaborately woven series of leather panels. Roughly half the size of

The July 1981 issue of Karate Illustrated spotlighted two of the South’s most formidable fighters — Tommy Williams of Oklahoma and a young Raymond McCallum from Texas, both in their fighting prime. Renowned for their explosive transitions from point fighting to full-contact competition, the pair represented the cutting edge of the era’s martial artistry. Their kicking prowess was especially legendary; Williams earned the nickname “The Tornado” for his blistering, high-speed

The knife hand strike, once the crown jewel of karate demonstrations, has had quite a fall from grace. Once upon a time, every martial arts student dreamed of chopping through boards like a lumberjack with an anger management problem. Instructors would proudly line up pine planks, and students would step forward with the confidence of someone who definitely wasn’t about to bruise their hand. These days, though, the karate chop feels like it’s been filed away with other retro

“The only thing scarier than the monster… is the Black Belt who fights back.” As Black Belts, nothing scares us. Not sparring. Not spinning back kicks. Not even a flying side kick gone rogue. But there’s one thing that’ll make even the toughest martial artist flinch… Evil monsters, maniacal villains, and blood-sucking vampires! Halloween has crept into the dojo, and we’re celebrating the only way we know how — with a roundhouse-ready movie marathon that’ll have you screaming

The 1988 issue of Black Belt  magazine featured Paul Vunak , the renowned master of Jeet Kune Do, Kali, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A dedicated student of Dan Inosanto , Vunak spent more than three decades refining his craft under the tutelage of one of Bruce Lee’s closest disciples. The cover story explored Vunak’s dynamic interpretation of Kali , highlighting his innovative approach to blending Filipino martial arts with the principles of Jeet Kune Do. His work emphasized adap

Q:  When it comes to lifting weights, they say slower is better for building muscle, but some people insist that you need fast moves to build the explosive striking power that’s required for martial arts. Which approach is right? A:  There’s no short answer to this question because what’s right for one person isn’t always right for another. However, there are some nearly universal truths for building power with iron that can translate to explosiveness in the dojo. Before I ge

I'm amused — and, in some ways, delighted — by the comments that still get posted on YouTube regarding the 1987 matchup of Rickson Gracie and me. Judo enthusiasts say they're proud I was able to upend Gracie a couple of times. Any advantage I received, however, disappeared as soon as we hit the ground and I was caught in an armbar. So judoka say judo won, while Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylists insist their art won. It's a true win-win situation for the martial arts.

The streets of Krasnograd in eastern Ukraine didn't offer much to its children. What it did offer was free time spent outside with friends, lessons learned through experience rather than textbooks, and the understanding that if you wanted something in life, you'd have to build it yourself. For a young Roman Kryklia, those humble streets became the foundation for something extraordinary.  On Friday, November 7, at ONE Fight Night 37, the towering 34-year-old Ukrainian stands o