Karate Master Fumio Demura , renowned for his expertise and contributions to martial arts, strikes powerfully on the cover of the April...

Olympic Judo Champion and mat innovator Mike Swain graces the cover of the May 2005 issue of Black Belt Magazine . Photography by Rick...

There are lots of mistakes to be made when learning the sword - beginning with picking one up without having had proper instruction....

It’s been widely observed that training in the martial arts is ultimately limited by human physiology. As Bruce Lee said, as long as we...

“If you define success by achieving specific things on a rigid path, then you set yourself up for disappointment. True success is...

As the 19th century rolled over to the 20th century, opinions regarding which fighting method was better—English boxing or boxe...

The July 1970 cover of Karate Illustrated   featured Chuck Norris , already a rising martial arts star. He would go on to win a total of...

The January 1992 cover of Black Belt Magazine showed world-class martial artists Hiro Koda and Yuki Koda . Hiro Koda would later work...

You've Learned Your Kata. Now It's Time to Modify Them So You're Better Prepared to Defend Yourself Against Any Adversary! When facing a...

I recently read an article that was critical of randomized training as it relates to the CrossFit Games. My immediate response was: A)  I agree that the randomized CrossFit protocol does not “tunnel in” — that is, adhere to specificity to create skill mastery in a given sport. Such mastery comes only from sport- and skill-specific training. B)  It’s not surprising that the majority of CrossFit Games winners, as well as those who excel there, don’t adhere to the randomized pro

Tony Dorsett, the legendary "Hawk" and College and NFL Hall of Famer, appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars  in December 1981. Learn...

The September 1980 cover of Black Belt featured Kajukenbo Grandmaster George Iversen , founder of the Hawaiian Kajukenbo Association....

Eastern arts, for the most part, have a built-in hierarchy of adherence to lineage and tradition. In other words, “My master was taught...

Martial arts phenom Bruce Lee reached his peak in the late 1960s and early ’70s and then, as we all know, tragically passed away in 1973 at age 32. Yet 44 years later, his combat creation, that which we call jeet kune do , remains as popular as ever. That fact speaks volumes about Lee’s genius. In this tutorial, second-generation jeet kune do instructor Lamar M. Davis II — who’s trained under Ted Wong, Joe Lewis, Howard Williams, Patrick Strong, Jesse Glover, and other JKD lu

I started taking formal martial art lessons in 1971 at age 11. By the time I tested for my first degree black belt in 1979, I was already starting to feel the effects of hip joint degeneration — I just didn't know it.

In the 60s and 70s, Texas was known as the toughest place in the world to compete in tournament karate. Featured on the cover of the...

What other Norris was an acclaimed martial artist? The great Aaron Norris graced the May 1989 cover of Black Belt Magazine  — a star in...

Words matter. But do they matter as much as action in the karate dojo? Not really. You can talk a great game, wax philosophically for an...

Let's face it: As martial artists, we embrace activities that ask a lot from our bodies. Chances are, you know someone who’s asked a little too much from his or her hips and, consequently, is suffering hip pain. Maybe you know someone who’s already undergone surgery to deal with the problem. It’s for martial artists like you that Black Belt  assigned me this article. It explores the hip health stories of some prominent practitioners and explores the options for preserving and

In today’s fast-paced world, martial arts have become more than just a means of self-defense—they’re a lifestyle. Whether you’re looking...

In addition to forgetting, one of the problems with aging—oddly enough—is remembering. "I remember when you could get a cup of coffee for 10 cents." "I remember when gas was 25 cents a gallon." After hearing me make a few statements like that, a young student asked, "What about Judo? What was it like back in the day?" This is the way I happened to experience the history of judo.

Who were the dominant female fighters of the '80s? Today, we’re spotlighting Karate Illustrated’s July 1984 cover, featuring one of the...

Thoughts on Being an Effective Sensei  To be an effective teacher, one must first adopt the mindset of a student. A teacher should...

Is the Reverse Punch the Most Lethal Move in Shotokan karate? Master Kenneth Funakoshi demonstrates the perfect reverse punch in this...