The master of martial arts demos himself—Tadashi Yamashita—graced the cover of Karate Illustrated in 1978. Already an international star...

The 2007 cover of Black Belt  magazine featured the late Richard Bustillo, a pioneering martial artist and direct student of Bruce Lee....

From his first championship win in 1964 to earning the Black Belt Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, Mike Stone has never...

This 1980 cover of Black Belt  magazine featured Mike Stone , the first American Karate Champion and a member of the prestigious Black...

Do you remember Jay T. Will? Featured on the cover in 1975, Jay T. Will trained under American kenpo legends Ed Parker and Al Tracy,...

Have you ever trained in China? Back in 1983, Black Belt   Magazine featured Roger Tung on its cover—a true Hall of Fame Pioneer of...

Do you have a favorite Steve Fisher memory? The March 1978 cover of Karate Illustrated   spotlighted Steve Fisher —fondly known as “The...

What’s the most unforgettable breaking demo you’ve ever seen? The August 1975 cover of Black Belt Magazine featured tae kwon do master...

Can you name them all? The 1982 Karate Illustrated Yearbook featured the very best of the best! Learn more about this cover and the...

The December 2000 issue of Black Belt Magazine featured legendary tae kwon do Grandmaster Hee Il Cho , founder of the Action...

The January 1974 cover of Karate Illustrated featured “Super Dan” Anderson , founder of American Freestyle Karate. A four-time national...

The September 1969 issue of Karate Illustrated featured a young Pat Burleson alongside an even younger Pat Johnson—two trailblazers whose...

The December 1982 cover of Karate Illustrated featured Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, alongside his wife, Lisa. Sliwa...

Who remembers this iconic cover—the July 1975 issue of Karate Illustrated ? It inspired decades of look-alike poses, emulated by martial...

Do you recall this cover...? The September 1978 cover of Black Belt Magazine featured 28-year-old Michael Echanis , an American soldier,...

The May 1988 cover of Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated spotlighted Jean Frenette , a 10-time Canadian kata champion and WAKO World Champion....

Who remembers this tae kwon do star? The June 1982 cover of Black Belt Magazine featured five-time cover star Pu Gill Gwon , a tae kwon...

He brought a new level of performance to an era when traditional forms still dominated the tournament circuit. Peter Morales , featured...

Think you know your Karate history?  Meet David Deaton —Karate Shihan and beloved champion. Named the #1 Lightweight Fighting Competitor...

Who knows the legacy of James Mitose? The November 1992 cover of Black Belt Magazine featured Thomas Mitose , son of the legendary...

Remember this powerhouse? The October 1975 cover of Karate Illustrated  spotlighted a rising star—Ray Sua. Then an up-and-coming...

The March 1994 cover of Black Belt Magazine featured Richard Norton alongside kickboxing champion Peter Cunningham, photographed by Doug...

Featured on the cover of Black Belt 's December 2005 issue, Christine Bannon-Rodrigues poses with grace and power. The Rhode Island...

Featured on the cover of Black Belt's December 2008 issue, Cung Le . A Vietnamese-American mixed martial artist and kickboxer from San...