In the dynamic realm of martial arts, a new generation of super athletes is emerging and they're rewriting the script on what it means to excel in this ancient discipline.  These remarkable women have devoted their lives to the art of combat, and their dedication is yielding extraordinary results. Through teaching, competition, and captivating movie performances, they are not only pushing the boundaries of their sport but also inspiring countless others along the way.

Rickson Gracie is widely regarded as the best of the best in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but he’s so much more than that. He’s a Warrior, a philosopher, a thinker, an inspiration, and a role Model. Which is why we’re presenting these glimpses of The man that not many black belt readers have seen. The Water “Whether it’s the ocean or a river, I always have to be on the water. Coming from Brazil, I’ve always been exposed to the ocean. I’ve been at the beach and surfing all my life. Th

In the annals of martial arts history, there exists a technique so formidable, so revered, that it became synonymous with the Blood and Guts era of Karate. Enter the ridge hand – a maneuver so potent that careers were built upon its execution alone. The genesis of the ridge hand phenomenon can be traced back to the original Blood and Guts crew, a league of legendary fighters whose names resound through time. Among them were titans like Mike Stone, Allen Steen, Pat Burleson, F

Larry Lam, a martial artist and stunt coordinator, discusses his background in kung fu and transition to taekwondo. He shares his experiences working with Pat Johnson and the evolution of his career from stuntman to fight coordinator and stunt coordinator. Larry also talks about the impact of technology on the industry and his upcoming projects. In the House of Nine Dragons segment, Larry answers rapid-fire questions about his favorite martial arts action stars and A-list sta

Throughout Black Belt's illustrious 63-year history, the flying sidekick has remained among the most revered techniques, the flying side kick first appeared in 1965 and the last in 2014. Earning a place of honor as one of the standout moves performed by the masters and champions featured on magazine covers. In this tribute, we honor the trailblazing pioneers who flawlessly executed this unforgettable maneuver, leaving an indelible imprint on the martial arts landscape. Their

Travis Wong is a martial artist, tricker, parkour expert and stunt coordinator.  The former co-host of MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge, has been featured in 30+ international ad campaigns, choreographed for artists Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, and Miley Cyrus. Stunt Coordinating and fight coordinator credits include Back In Action for Netflix starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, "Witchboard," "Minions: The Rise of Gru," "Stumptown,

Ask the average karate practitioner to name the main styles of Japan, and chances are he’ll rattle off shotokan, goju-ryu and wado-ryu with no trouble. But unless he’s really up on his art, there’s a good likelihood that he’ll stumble over the name of the fourth major style, snap his fi ngers and ask quizzically, “What’s the name of that other one, again?” That other style is shito-ryu, and any karate student’s puzzlement about it is somewhat understandable. That’s because sh

PFL MMA fighter Khai Wu, from Tracy, CA, fights in the bantamweight (135 lbs) division and trains at the Onmi Movement MMA and Dave Camerillo’s Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu. You may recognize Wu as Mark Zuckerberg's trainer and as one of a few MMA fighters who have given a TED talk. His talk was titled “Play With The Cards You’re Dealt."  As a Taiwanese American fighter it's his personal mission to help grow the sport of MMA in Asia. This episode, Black Belt's Tony Parrish interview

“The Karate Nerd” Jesse Enkamp is a #1 Amazon.com best-selling author, entrepreneur, traveler, athlete, educator, and founder of Seishin International . His passion for Karate started in his parents’ dojo and expanded into a lifelong adventure traveling the world, competing, meeting masters, and learning more about martial arts. With more than 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, over half a million on Facebook, and hundreds of thousands across other platforms, he’s created an ar

Senior Grandmaster Malia Dacascos Bernal was a world champion in forms and fighting in the 60s, the first woman to compete in the men’s division, and the first female competitor to grace the cover of Black Belt Magazine . Over the years, she earned a 9th-degree black belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do, and she was the very first woman to own a martial arts school in Hamburg, Germany. As a martial arts instructor and coach, she has tutored many of the top world champions in forms and fig

Travis Wong is a martial artist, tricker, parkour expert and stunt coordinator. The former co-host of MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge, has been featured in 30+ international ad campaigns, choreographed for artists Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, and Miley Cyrus. Stunt Coordinating and fight coordinator credits include Back In Action for Netflix starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, Witchboard, Minions: The Rise of Gru, STUMPTOWN, and M

Consider the following: “None of Morihei Ueshiba’s students has reached his level in aikido, and none is likely to.”

As we gear up for the big game, we are celebrating those gridiron warriors who not only had a passionate dedication to martial arts, but also served as ambassadors for martial arts.  These professional football players recognized early in their careers that the techniques learned in martial arts would also help them excel on the field! Here are 12 very skilled martial artists who made careers in the NFL: The Dangerous Dozen

Considered the GOAT of women's sport karate, Linda Denley is an American karate champion who was born in Houston, Texas. She was rated number one in Sport Karate from 1973 to 1996. Her influence inspired a generation of women to compete in martial arts.  She was still in high school when she qualified for the Olympics in five track and field events, but because of her professional winnings on the karate circuit, she was ineligible to compete in the Olympics. She graced the co

Photo by Cory Sorensen Few martial artists have not heard of Wally Jay and small-circle jujitsu. A member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame, Jay wrote much about the art he founded, as have numerous others. What many people aren’t aware of is the development of the system that’s taking place under Leon Jay.    by John Mellon   As you may have guessed, Leon is Wally Jay’s son and successor. He maintains the superior mechanics for which his father was famed while continuing to ref

In the span of the last seven decades, the global growth, achievements, and heightened awareness of Martial Arts owe much to the contributions of numerous Masters, champions and stars featured on this list. The editorial team at Black Belt acknowledges that, for many years, the magazine lacked diverse coverage across race and gender. While this list doesn't alter historical oversights, it serves as a recognition of the past.  Moving forward, there is a commitment to embracing

by Floyd Burk Managing belt ranks and promotions would appear to be a straightforward part of running a martial arts school, but for many instructors, the process is not easy to implement and keep up with. If you’ve owned a school for long, you might have discovered that for yourself. You probably also know that for many who train at your dojo, earning rank is important. For that reason, you need a good rank-advancement program. Many people fail in this area, and that can be

Black Belt Publisher George Chung sat down with Jesse Enkamp who calls himself “The Karate Nerd.” Jesse is a  #1 Amazon.com best-selling author, entrepreneur, traveler, athlete, educator, and founder of Seishin International . His passion for Karate started in his parents’ dojo and expanded into a lifelong adventure traveling the world, competing, meeting masters, and learning more about martial arts. With more than 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, over half a million on Face

Best known to MMA fans as the “Warmaster,” Josh Barnett is the youngest UFC heavyweight champion in the history of the league.  He is a celebrated veteran of mixed martial arts and has fought in such leagues as Pride Dream, Strike Force and Bellator and has had a successful pro wrestling career in the New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA Wrestling. Today he continues to challenge himself with his Bloodsport promotion as well as competing in submission grappling and BJJ. Once dubbe

The word "promoter" sometimes gets a bad rap when we think of such names like Barnum and Bailey, but in fact the promoter provides one of the most important elements in the landscape of martial arts. If the masters are the soul of martial arts, then the promoter is definitely the tireless body that does the work to amplify the art so all the world can see.  Based upon commercial and historical  significance to the martial arts, this list includes the biggest promoters in the

Sifu Harinder Singh is a speaker, author and high-performance coach. He specializes in training the trainers and has worked with black belt school owners, military, special forces, Secret Service, and SWAT teams across the globe. His leadership programs have been taught to instructors of over 150 law enforcement agencies, business executives, and professional athletes. He is a Master Instructor of Jeet Kune Do, Tai Chi, Filipino Martial Arts, Wing Chun, and holds a Black Belt

Graciela demonstrates swift skills with stick and blade in these two clips: Blade: Considering the scope of self-defense with blades, Filipino martial arts stand unrivaled. kali's superiority lies in its emphasis on fluidity, fostering speed and unpredictable motion. Unlike memorization of structured techniques, kali refines reflexes and patterns that emerge organically. This approach minimizes the risk of freezing during a violent encounter, ensuring practitioners can adapt

“Shou Bo is like Shuai Chiao, but you’re allowed to hit people,” explained Dai Guobing, Dean of the Wushu Institute at Shanghai University of Sport. He said a Shou Bo Master named Yuan Zumou would give a special seminar that weekend and, because I was a wrestling major, he wanted me to attend. by Antonio Graceffo, PhD Photos Courtesy of Antonio Graceffo Later, I asked a professor about shou bo, and he said, “It’s like san da, but you’re wearing a jacket.” Shou bo literally me

Best known to MMA fans as the “Warmaster,” Josh Barnett is the youngest UFC heavyweight champion in the history of the league.  He is a celebrated veteran of mixed martial arts and has fought in such leagues as Pride Dream, Strike Force and Bellator and has had a successful pro wrestling career in the New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA Wrestling. Today he continues to challenge himself with his Bloodsport promotion as well as competing in submission grappling and BJJ. Once dubbe