Nominations Form 2025-2026 Black Belt Hall of Fame The deadline for nominations is December 1, 2025. Submit your nomination for the martial artist you believe is most deserving of recognition among the legendary figures of the Black Belt Hall of Fame Click the button to make your nomination Since its founding in 1968, the Black Belt Hall of Fame has represented the highest honor in martial arts achievement. Recognized as the most prestigious distinction in the discipline’s hi

The famed Tong Dojo of New York — home to black belt champions like Thomas “La Puppet” and Hawk Frazier — was led by George Cofield. Cofield established the Tong Dojo in 1959, becoming one of the first Black instructors to commercially teach martial arts in the United States.

In the June 2001 issue of Black Belt , a young Alex Gong was spotlighted as the founder of the U.S. branch of Fairtex. A world champion in ISKA Muay Thai (junior middleweight), Gong held an impressive professional record of 27–2. Gong also appeared as a fighter in the Walker, Texas Ranger  episode “Legends,” sharing the screen with martial arts icons Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Don Wilson, Jean-Claude Leuyer, and Danny Steele. Beyond the ring, Gong opened a Fairtex Gym in San Fr

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

Some people spend their entire lives searching for purpose. Gilbert Nakatani found his in the most unlikely place – a martial arts gym in California, discovered during a period when his life could have spiralled in a very different direction.  At ONE Fight Night 37 on Friday, November 7, the American flyweight will face Indonesian MMA star Eko Roni Saputra in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, carrying with him a story of loss, redemption, and the unbreakable human spirit that refus

On January 29, 2015, the British Journal of Sports Medicine  posted the results of a research study that examined 131 MMA fighters and 93 boxers. It concluded that “greater exposure to repetitive head trauma is associated with lower brain volumes and lower processing speed in active professional fighters.” Although not surprising to many, this inevitably will lead to questions from martial artists who wish to continue to make head contact during training but want to maximize

When asked about the aesthetics of a certain martial arts bout, Helio Gracie  once replied gruffly, “A fight is a fight.” It wasn’t that he didn’t see beauty in the art of jiu-jitsu. He merely thought it was imperative to emphasize that fighting is a serious affair with potentially dire consequences for the loser — and sometimes for his or her family. Judging whether a martial art is good is very different from judging whether a dance or a painting is good. Dancing and painti

NASKA World Ratings are as follows.

The January 1976 cover featured acclaimed point fighter turned kickboxer and proud BKF member Lenny Ferguson—now known as Abdul Latif Muhammad. He made history as the first African American to win the Grand Championship at the Long Beach Internationals and was a member of the Los Angeles Stars in the NKL league. Still active today, Muhammad is regarded as one of the true pioneers of Southern California martial arts.

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.

Who Were These Two Gentlemen and What Was Their Place in Karate History? Read on to find more... The All-Japan Karate Championships, founded in 1957, has long stood as the ultimate proving ground for Japan’s top karateka. Organized annually by the Japan Karate Association (JKA), the event brings together the best of the best to test their skill in Kata  and Kumite . When the very first championship was held, it was strictly a domestic affair - only Japanese competitors were p

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

Ask most martial artists how to get better at sparring, and you’ll hear the same advice on repeat: “Keep your guard up,” “Don’t drop your hands,” “Relax.” All solid points—but let’s be honest, you already know that. So, let’s go a little deeper. Here are the underrated  tips for sparring success—the ones most people overlook until they learn them the hard way. 1. Learn to Lose… Well Getting tagged isn’t failure—it’s feedback. The best fighters aren’t the ones who never get hi

The February 1984 issue of the Fighting Stars  magazine showcased Graciela Casillas  on its cover, cementing her status as a trailblazer...

Back in the 1970s, an action movie hero once delivered a classic line: “I'm gonna take this right foot, and I'm gonna whop you on that...

Before the movies and before the legend, there was just a 1st dan Tang Soo Do Black Belt named Carlos. This dashing first-degree Black...

Eric Lee, captured mid-air with his flying broadsword, faces off against Art Camacho—seen here in a rare photo without his signature...

It’s an argument as old as the dojo itself: Would you rather face someone who’s stronger  than you — or better trained? Every generation...

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...

Some fighters change coaches throughout their careers, searching for the right voice to guide them to greatness. Jonathan Di Bella has...

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

“Sensei, is what you’re talking about similar to what Miyamoto Musashi said in Go Rin No Sho  when he was explaining the effects of go no sen ?” This is the sort of question one occasionally hears in the dojo. Of course, we can say that there are no stupid questions, but we need to understand that at times there are inappropriate questions. One of the most inappropriate questions you can ask in the dojo is one that’s intended not to better your understanding of a topic but to

Some stars don't shine long enough to make a difference. Conversely, Demetrius Havanas' star shone so bright on his short time on earth,...