“You can’t define someone else’s success—choose your own path in martial arts and life” –Stephan Kesting In this episode of The Black...

Black Belt Magazine showcased Hirokazu Kanazawa on the cover of the May 1987 issue. Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in...

Featured on the cover of Karate Illustrated ’s January 1971 issue, the incredible Thomas LaPuppet stands as a defining figure in...

When the scenario is laid out, when you know what attacks will come and how you’re expected to respond, you can be forced to employ...

Much Emphasized, Yet Least Discussed One of the most emphasized yet least talked about karate techniques is kata—the dance-like series of...

Louis Delgado, who appeared on the December 1970 cover of Karate Illustrated , was one of the greatest fighters ever to emerge from the...

It doesn’t matter whether you practice boxing, judo, jujitsu, karate, kendo, or tai chi. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to use a...

Roger Greene remembers the first time he walked into a martial arts class in California way back in 1964. Having always held an interest...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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.

"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...

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

The Street Fighter  franchise isn't just a treasure trove of nostalgic combos and Hadoukens—it’s a celebration of martial arts from...

Westerners seem fascinated with Zen — or, at least, with what they think Zen is. Zen seems to describe a state of mind, for many...

This article was published in the April 1974 issue of Fighting Stars magazine, a sister publication of Black Belt. That means it appeared just five years after the original Star Trek was canceled and many years before the sci-fi series became a staple of film and television. At the time, William Shatner was not the international superstar he’s recognized as today. He was just an actor who’d had a good run on a series that happened to be set in space. And he was a martial arti

Almost every day of the week except Sunday, I put on my gi and drive to the dojo, then teach for several hours. I started doing this in...

Often stooped from age, little men hobble onto the mat, their thin wrists hidden within sleeves of uniforms held together by frayed black belts. Their bows are perfunctory but sincere, their faces calm with, sometimes, a slight smile. Opposite them are younger black belts, men whose strength and speed should roll up these oldsters and put them out of their misery.

Black Belt Magazine proudly showcases exceptional martial arts training programs from around the world. This curated list takes in mind...

The practice of martial arts in the United States started small and was mostly limited to World War II veterans