With the popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition continuing to climb on television and online, martial artists of all stripes are becoming more well-rounded in their approach to fighting. The bad news is criminals are learning, too. Police officers report that it’s now common for suspects to challenge arresting officers physically using MMA moves. That means the good guys and gals — people like you — must be prepared to fend off an attacker who may be skilled in ki

Black Belt: If you would never have had the accident that wrecked your right knee and led you to start your career in karate, do you think you'd be called "Superfeet" instead of Superfoot? Bill "Superfoot" Wallace: I really have no idea. I wouldn't have practiced with the left foot twice as much as everybody else, which helped give the foot a mind of its own. I would have been more orthodox and fought like everyone else instead of from the side stance.

Who Was Texas' Greatest Blood-and-Guts Fighter? The April 1982 Fighting Stars  cover featured one of the greatest champions of the...

When was the last time you truly failed? It’s a question we’d all rather ignore. We’re often taught to gauge success by how well we avoid...

The May 1982 Black Belt Magazine cover featured former heavyweight champion, weapons expert and Hollywood stuntman Joe Hess . The...

Vo co truyen is a blanket term for the traditional Vietnamese martial arts. It encompasses kicking, punching, forms and weapons skills,...

There are people who swear “Judo” Gene LeBell has practiced martial arts for so long that an image of him putting King Tut in an armbar can be found etched in sandstone in an Egyptian tomb. LeBell insists that isn’t true: “No, I’m not that old, but I was a bodyguard for Genghis Khan.”

Full-contact combat sports, such as MMA, boxing, and Muay Thai, require athletes to push their physical and mental limits. While...

The sport karate scene in 2024 has been nothing short of thrilling, with groundbreaking achievements, game-changing moves, and plenty of...

The February 1980 issue of Fighting Stars  showcased Chuck Norris in his prime, facing off against the muscular Bill "Superfoot" Wallace...

In the earliest days of martial arts competition, fighters stepped into bare-knuckle matches with nothing but their skill and reputation...

We kick off the year strong, featuring the October/November 2019 Black Belt cover with Black Belt Hall of Famer Carlos Machado —the...

The martial arts industry is shaped by a diverse array of power players—whether they are screen stars, elite athletes dominating the mat,...

As Okinawan Goju-Ryu master Seikichi Toguchi liked to point out, the role of the legs in his style of karate is primarily locomotion. They’re used to move the body into position and then align it so a hand strike can be delivered. The reason is clear: Biomechanically, the most natural and effective weapon for human beings to use is the fist.

Bill Wallace is a true living legend, a man who’s regarded as the world’s greatest kicker by nearly everyone in the martial arts community. “Superfoot” is universally respected for his professional full-contact karate record, in which he amassed 23 consecutive victories before retiring undefeated.

Champion, master, and stuntman Chip Wright of Oregon graces the October 1988 cover of Karate/Kung-fu Illustrated  with his signature...

As we reflect on an incredible year filled with monumental moments in martial arts, Black Belt Magazine is proud to celebrate its first...

During the 10 years Leo Fong knew Bruce Lee, the two shared countless discussions about martial arts. Lee was particularly fascinated by...

Bruce Lee , captured in the iconic Wing Chun punch pose, visited the offices of Black Belt  magazine for these unforgettable photos later...

You know that sumo is Japan’s oldest martial art.That it goes back to Japan’s earliest civilization. That sumo bouts are mentioned in the Kojiki , Japan’s mythological stories of its creation. You know that sumo bouts can be won in only two ways: Force your opponent out of the ring, or cause him to touch the ground with any part of his body other than his feet.

"Fear is not my enemy; it is a friend. Fear is only allowing me to see an aspect of myself I was not willing to look at." – Mike Stone In...

In addition to karate, I teach traditional Japanese swordsmanship, usually with a bokken. When contact is to be made, however, we switch...

The word legend  conjures up images of larger-than-life figures who have performed unbelievable feats over the years. In the realm of...

Attack is imminent, you're ready with a stick strategy – and then life gets in the way! As a practitioner of arnis—or any other stick-based martial art—you devote a ton of time to training, especially to fine-tuning your offense. It's totally understandable because, after all, who doesn't want to be the first to land a clean, precise stick strike in a self-defense encounter that could turn deadly at any moment? But what happens when your opponent does something that takes you