In this issue

Black Belt Magazine is the world’s leading martial arts media outlet and is dedicated to both the classical and the modern eclectic martial arts.

A THOUGHT FROM "SENSEI LOWRY"

IN JAPANESE, TITLES GO AFTER ONE'S NAME. IN ENGLISH, IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE. SO MR. SUZUKI WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN JAPANESE AS SUZUKI-SAN, AND PROFESSOR SMITH WOULD BE SMITH SENSEI.

4 mins

FIGHTING WITH ROPES AND SASHES

THE WORD "THUG" CAN BE FOUND IN ANY DICTIONARY OF MODERN ENGLISH, BUT FEW PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT ACTUALLY ORIGINATED IN ANCIENT INDIA. THERE, MEMBERS OF CRIMINAL GANGS BORE THAT NAME, AND THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE KNOWN AS THUGGEE IN THE LOCAL DIALECT.

2 mins

NEW FRONTIERS

WITH THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WOMEN ARE LEVERAGING NEW POWER, AUTONOMY AND IDENTITY IN THE MARTIAL ARTS. WITH THOSE, THEY'RE CREATING MORE PLATFORMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES THAN EVER EXISTED EVEN A GENERATION AGO. TODAY'S WOMEN ARE EXPLORING NEW TERRITORIES AND BREAKING THROUGH OLD GLASS CEILINGS TO DEFINE THEIR OWN REALITIES. LISTED BELOW ARE A FEW EXAMPLES.

3 mins

A CHIP OFF THE OLD (KARATE) BLOCK

IT'S NOT EASY BEING THE SON OF A FAMOUS SPORTS FATHER. FOR EVERY PEYTON AND ELI MANNING, THE SONS OF NFL QUARTERBACK ARCHIE MANNING WHO FOUND MASSIVE SUCCESS IN THE SAME SPORT AS THEIR DAD, THERE'S A JEFFREY OR MARCUS JORDAN, THE SONS OF BASKETBALL LEGEND MICHAEL JORDAN WHO DID NOT. RICHARD AVERY PLOWDEN IS DECIDEDLY IN THE FORMER CATEGORY.

4 mins

Hit the Road

Fit to fight

7 mins

THE LAST RESORT OF PROACTIVE SELF-DEFENSE, PART 3

Returning once again to the scenario I described in the June/ July 2022 issue: You've done everything possible to de-escalate the volatile confrontation, all to no avail. It's crystal clear that the aggressor is about to attack at any moment. After doing everything you can to de-escalate the situation, you make the decision to get physical.

5 mins

HOW BRUCE LEE INSPIRED THE EVOLUTION OF COMBAT SPORTS

IN A NEW EPISODE OF THE COMBAT SHOW ON THE FREE BLACK BELT MAGAZINE CHANNEL ON JUNGO PLUS, GEORGE CHUNG INTERVIEWS SCOTT COKER, FOUNDER OF STRIKEFORCE AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF BELLATOR MMA. COKER HAS BEEN A MARTIAL ARTIST FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. THAT, COUPLED WITH INSIDER ACCESS AT HIS FIGHT SHOWS, HAS GIVEN HIM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMBAT SPORTS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, HERE ARE A FEW OF THE CHANNEL'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS.

4 mins

HOW HE BEAT BULLYING AND BECAME A WRESTLING AND MMA CHAMPION and How He's Giving Back!

Justin Wren began making a name for himself in our world when he embarked on his MMA career in 2006. He went on to build a respectable record of 13-2 in the UFC, Bellator and other orgs. But he really started to shine when he dedicated his life to helping the Pygmies in Africa improve their lot in life by building water wells and eventually a school and a hospital. Now the 35-year-old Wren, whose ring name is "The Big Pygmy," is taking aim at a problem that's plagued society forever: bullying.

10+ mins

STREET CRED

TOP 7 STYLES THAT WILL SUPERCHARGE YOUR SELF-DEFENSE QUOTIENT!

9 mins

3 Real Black Belts Who Appeared in

One has already resurfaced in "Cobra Kai"! Will the other two?

10+ mins

PUT UP YOUR DUKES

SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT YOUR MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS WITH BOXING? HERE ARE THE PROS AND CONS!

9 mins

THE MANJI SAI

HOW TO HANDLE THE LESSER-KNOWN COUSIN OF THE UBIQUITOUS SAI

6 mins

HIDETAKA NISHIYAMA

STUDENT OF GICHIN FUNAKOSHI EXPLAINS KARATE'S REAL GOAL - NOT TO BASK IN THE GLORY OF ACHIEVEMENT BUT TO PUSH FORWARD TO THE LIMIT OF YOUR CAPABILITY! -

6 mins

BENEFITS OF LONG-TERM STUDENT CONTRACTS, PART 2

In the August/September 2022 issue of Black Belt, Floyd Burk began his examination of the value of student contracts for martial arts schools. Here, he concludes his interview with Marcia D. Watters, Esq., who operates Mr. Jimmy's White Tiger Martial Arts in Hagerstown, Maryland, with her husband Jimmy Smith.

3 mins

Read all stories from Black Belt

Black Belt Magazine Description:

World's Leading Magazine of Martial Arts.
Black Belt is dedicated to both the classical and the modern martial arts. First published in 1961, it features interviews with the world's most prestigious masters and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles. The magazine also provides in-depth coverage of mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, Bruce Lee, weapons defense, cutting-edge training methods, fight films and industry trends.World's Leading Magazine of Martial Arts.
Black Belt is dedicated to both the classical and the modern martial arts. First published in 1961, it features interviews with the world's most prestigious masters and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles. The magazine also provides in-depth coverage of mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, Bruce Lee, weapons defense, cutting-edge training methods, fight films and industry trends.World's Leading Magazine of Martial Arts.
Black Belt is dedicated to both the classical and the modern martial arts. First published in 1961, it features interviews with the world's most prestigious masters and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles. The magazine also provides in-depth coverage of mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, Bruce Lee, weapons defense, cutting-edge training methods, fight films and industry trends.