This article was published in the April 1974 issue of Fighting Stars magazine, a sister publication of Black Belt. That means it appeared just five years after the original Star Trek was canceled and many years before the sci-fi series became a staple of film and television. At the time, William Shatner was not the international superstar he’s recognized as today. He was just an actor who’d had a good run on a series that happened to be set in space. And he was a martial arti

For decades, I’ve wished I could supplement my martial arts skill set with a few years of boxing without subjecting myself to the punishment

Mike Tyson is famous for saying, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Think what you want about the former heavyweight boxing champ, but there’s deep wisdom in his words. That wisdom happens to be the reason martial arts instructors so often remind their students about the necessity of having a backup plan. The logic applies whether you’re engaging in a friendly sparring session in the dojo or fighting full contact in the ring. Or battling for your life

In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Edo harbor (now Tokyo) with four steam-powered warships. The United States was on a mission to open Japan to the outside world, and the arrival of this fleet caused chaos to erupt. It continued until the following year when Perry returned, and a reluctant compromise was reached between East and West.

Before Jigoro Kano and the Meiji Restoration, there was jujitsu. Back then, a person practiced in an ordinary kimono, usually a hakama and..

“If there’s one technique that’s more effective than anything else in a real fight, it’s punching.”

In modern culture, the ninja are often portrayed as coldblooded assassins, men and occasionally women garbed in black and armed with samurai

Often stooped from age, little men hobble onto the mat, their thin wrists hidden within sleeves of uniforms held together by frayed black belts. Their bows are perfunctory but sincere, their faces calm with, sometimes, a slight smile. Opposite them are younger black belts, men whose strength and speed should roll up these oldsters and put them out of their misery.

Perhaps the biggest reason this Black Belt Classic from our May 1968 issue is so intriguing is it relies on input from three martial artists who at the time were fairly ordinary people. Chuck Norris was not a movie star, Ed Parker was not the man who founded a hugely popular art and then died way too young, and Fumio Demura was not the icon of the martial arts world that he’s known as now. The second reason is the roundtable discussion shines a spotlight on the problems with

Recall the stories of Korea’s ancient Hwa Rang warriors, who persevered in battle with human enemies as well as with winter winds raging ..

Damon Gilbert has served the citizens of Oakland, California, as a police officer for more than two decades. Unlike many of his law-enforcement peers across the country, who often gravitate toward self-defense systems with reputations for being “hard core” or “close-combat oriented” — think krav maga, military combatives or even MMA — Gilbert trains in and teaches what could be regarded as a traditional martial art (inasmuch as “traditional” refers to anything that predates t

In the following interview, he discusses his roles in both Ninja Turtles films, as well as his other Hollywood triumphs

As a living legend of the martial arts, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace needs no introduction for the majority of Black Belt’s readers. But for those who are new to our pursuit, here are a few keywords that describe the world’s greatest kicker: high-school wrestler, Air Force veteran, judo black belt, karate black belt, undefeated professional full-contact fighter, bodyguard, fight commentator, actor, stuntman, fight choreographer, Black Belt columnist, author, video talent. Add to

In his budding film career, this dreamy-eyed Adonis has played a variety of roles, from a Latino lover/car thief, to a Filipino avenger..

“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.” —President Dwight D. Eisenhower Jean Jacques Machado understands the concept of having a backup plan very well. As part of the famed Machado family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, he’s a lifelong student of the grappling art. THE PLAN One of the most popular and practical bits of advice you’re likely to hear is this: Always have a backup plan. You run into it everywhere—

Jeet Kune Do or “way of the intercepting fist,” is Bruce Lee’s gift to the martial arts world.

Like most martial arts, karate originated as a system that was designed for hand-to-hand combat.

Martial arts movies have fascinated global audiences for decades with their intense action sequences and captivating characters.

Anyone who’s been around the martial arts long enough no doubt has heard a certain boxing maxim: Make him miss and make him pay. That’s all well and good, but what if there was a way to just make him pay and immediately reverse the momentum of the fight? It just so happens that there is. The Filipino martial arts teach a strategy called “defanging the snake.” It has you literally attacking your opponent’s incoming limb before it can do any damage. While this fighting tactic c

In this edition of The Black List, we’re counting down the the "Greatest Movie Dad" movies that pack a serious punch by men over 40..

When Bruce Lee opened his school in Seattle in 1960, he wanted to create a place where anyone could learn a self-defense method..

I’D NEVER BEEN ATTACKED in broad daylight like that before..

Martial arts TV shows have long held a special place in the hearts of viewers, blending high-octane action with compelling storytelling.

In ancient times, the Greeks developed a culture in which combat played a major role. Athletes prepared to fight unarmed in the “heavy events