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

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,

“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

As the theme song to the 1978 Burt Reynolds movie Hooper noted, “There ain’t nothing like the life of a Hollywood stuntman.” A lot of martial artists take those words to heart. There’s a seeming army of skilled — and not-so-skilled — practitioners of karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and other arts trying to break into the motion-picture industry by making use of their ability to kick and punch, but how realistic is this? What do martial artists interested in stunt work need to kno

From Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch to stadium-filling choreographed spectacles, the martial arts demo has evolved into a cornerstone of martial culture bridging tradition, creativity, and entertainment, and laying the foundation for how the world experiences martial arts today. That said the martial arts demonstration has been one of the most under-appreciated contributions to modern martial arts.

When Black Belt  magazine featured Benicio del Toro on its May 2003 cover, it captured an actor at the height of his intensity known for his brooding roles and quiet power. Two decades later, at 58, del Toro channels that same presence in a surprising new form: as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, a local karate instructor in the upcoming film One Battle After Another . Del Toro’s latest performance bridges art and philosophy, echoing the martial wisdom celebrated in the pages of Bla

In the 1970s, Black Belt Magazines owner Mitoshi Uyehara created a book publishing company known as Ohara Publications . The book...

The Smashing Machine  officially lands in theaters today, bringing the legendary story of Mark Kerr to the big screen. The 2025 American...

Billy Blanks , the legendary creator of Tae Bo® who inspired millions in the 1990s, is back — this time in virtual reality. Taebo Reboot:...

When most people think of Chuck Norris, they picture Walker, Texas Ranger , his karate championships, or that legendary fight with Bruce...

Most martial artists know that Fred Weintraub served as producer of Enter the Dragon , the 1973 Bruce Lee blockbuster. What few know is that Weintraub, even though he doesn’t regard himself as a martial artist, has a laudable track record in fight filmmaking. He’s produced a slew of other movies, many of which boasted notable Hollywood stars. Here’s a partial list with some of Weintraub’s fondest memories — and comments from Black Belt ’s resident cinema expert.

The February 1982 cover of Karate Illustrated showcased the stellar Karen Sheperd on its cover. Long before women were expected to...

This past Thursday night, August 21st, in Los Angeles, I attended the screening of Shadow's Edge , Jackie Chan’s latest film, which opens...

The November 1972 cover of Karate Illustrated  featured action film star Calvin Lockhart, best known for his roles as Reverend Deke...

Today marks the nationwide release of Trouble Man, the latest high-impact action thriller from martial arts legend Michael Jai White. ...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! This week on the Black Belt Watch List, we step into the underground fight...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! This week on the Black Belt Watchlist , we spotlight a visually stunning...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! The Black Belt Watchlist proudly recommends a modern martial arts...

It all starts with this iconic photo—a single moment frozen in time, capturing six black belts who helped shape the very foundation of...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! Sworn to Justice  stars martial arts icon Cynthia Rothrock , No Retreat,...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! The tagline hit like a roundhouse kick: “America wasn’t ready... but he...

Get ready to kick off your weekends with Black Belt Movie Weekend —your weekly dose of free, high-octane martial arts action movies! Each...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! It’s the primordial ooze from which all ninja movies sprang—the Mike Stone...

Before ninjas were everywhere—from cartoons and video games to Halloween costumes—there was Sho Kosugi, the man who helped introduce the mysterious, masked martial artist to Western audiences and turned ninja films into a full-blown pop culture phenomenon. In the 1980s, if there was a ninja on screen, chances are it was Kosugi—silent, swift, and deadly. Born in Tokyo in 1948, Sho Kosugi began martial arts training at age 5, eventually earning black belts in karate and kendo,