SELF-DEFENSE READINESS TEST

PREPARATION IS NO GUARANTEE OF SURVIVAL, BUT FEW DOUBT THAT THE ODDS OF PREVAILING IN ANY STRESSFUL SITUATION INCREASE FOR THE PREPARED PERSON.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE KATA?

IF YOU’RE A STUDENT OF JAPANESE OR OKINAWAN KARATE, YOU’VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE FIRST OF THE FIVE HEIAN OR PINAN KATA.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING “COBRA KAI”

Because I’m somewhat familiar with the Black Belt demographic, I can safely say there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me. You probably grew up in the martial arts, and when The Karate Kid came out in 1984, you loved every minute of it.

KUNG FU HIP HOP, DA MARTIAL ELEMENTS AND MARCO JOHNSON

BEING ONE OF THE TOP MARTIAL ARTISTS IN THE WORLD SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ANY PRACTITIONER OF KUNG FU, KARATE OR TAEKWONDO. YET THAT ALONE ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH TO BRING SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS AND TOURNAMENT VENUES.

KEYBOARD WARRIORS

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, A PLETHORA OF VIDEOS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAINING WHILE IN LOCKDOWN OR NEAR LOCKDOWN. THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR ALL PRACTICING MARTIAL ARTISTS BECAUSE EVERYONE SUDDENLY HAS ACCESS TO NOTABLE FIGHTERS AND TRAINERS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE TO THE MASSES.

4 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR DOJO AND YOUR LIFE

These four ways to improve your dojo and your life are all about attitude. As such, they will elevate the mood in your school and make learning more enjoyable. First up: Make "yes" your favourite word.

10 YEARS OF TRAVEL, PART 2

THIS MULTIPART COLUMN WAS WRITTEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 10 TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS LAUNCH AND ITS ASSIGNMENT TO A WRITER NAMED ANTONIO GRACEFFO, THE MARTIAL ARTIST WHO HAS BECOME BLACK BELT’S ROVING REPORTER IN ASIA. IT PRESENTS MORE OF THE AUTHOR’S CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S MARTIAL ARTS.

2019 Black Belt Hall Of Fame

As you’ve no doubt noticed, this is Black Belt’s annual Hall of Fame issue. Presented here are five inductions for 2019. Appended to the Demetrious Johnson cover story is the sixth. Watch for additional coverage of these talented martial artists in future issues of Black Belt.

How To Tame Your Dragon

Learn the mechanics and do the drills, then unleash the beast that is your round kick!

Behind The Scenes: Martial Arts In Saudi Arabia

IN 1932 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was unified, after which it became recognized as a nation.

The Sword Behind The Smile

In Karate Way, often I’ve discussed the many Japanese idioms and sayings that refer to the sword. This aspect of colloquial Japanese reminds one of how deeply the sword and the warrior influenced the culture of that country.

Take Your Dojo To A Higher Rank In 3 Easy Steps!

I’ve run martial arts schools for many years. Like most school owners during the days before Google and Bing, I depended on listings in the White Pages, which I augmented with paid ads in the Yellow Pages. To stay near the top, I used the alphabet, making sure my dojo names started with “Burk” or “American.” When coupled with the occasional display ad in a local publication, this strategy worked well for decades. The phone would ring regularly with calls from interested parties, and those leads often turned into new enrollments.

Sudden Violence

My Kembativz organization recently ran its Sudden Violence course for the second time this year. The intensive training session puts students in some very unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations with drills that require ferocity and legitimate performance. The focus is on developing enough skill to deal with situations that suddenly — and unexpectedly — become critically violent.

Power Of The Punch

How It Stacks Up Against 3 Other Go-To Responses To An Attack

Navigating The Maze That Is The Japanese Language

Those giant mazes, made of hedges or carved from cornfields and designed so that you have to wind your way through, are a simple stroll compared to the maze presented when working your way through the Japanese language.

Martial Arts Worldview

Training in Hapkido, Watching Billy Jack and Becoming a Sheepdog

Demetrious Johnson

MIXED-MARTIAL ARTS SUPERSTAR TALKS ABOUT BEING A SMALLER FIGHTER IN A COMBAT SPORT RULED BY GIANTS

Shot Across The Bow, Kuk Sool Style

6 Precision Kicks That Will Stun an Attacker Long Enough for You to Escape! (And You Can Crank Up the Power If You Need to Do More Damage) 

Karate College Training Camp Begins Its Third Decade

The annual summer gathering of masters and students known as Karate College celebrated its 30th anniversary with something old, something new and its usual cavalcade of more martial artists than you can shake a stick at — although with bunches of kali and kung fu stylists in the house, you can bet there were no small number of sticks being shaken.

Don Wilson Is Playing A Hit Man?

Don “The Dragon” Wilson, the kickboxing legend who became an action star, is back on the screen, and this time the movie is a quirky action comedy with a twist for the former fighter: He plays a hit man.

Bill Wallace

If We Knew Then What We Know Now!

Avoid Rather Than Fight

For years, I’ve used the term “self-offense” to promulgate the notion that self-defense is a misnomer, that defending — by its very nature — is at best delaying an inevitable loss. To convince a predator to stop, you have to attack him and make him understand that he’s at equal risk of sustaining serious injury.

Martial Arts Discipline Drives Global Expedition Leader

MARTIAL ARTS NEWS YOU CAN USE. READ IT - KNOW IT - LIVE IT

Pros And Cons Of Randomized Training For Martial Artists

I recently read an article that was critical of randomized training as it relates to the CrossFit Games.

Samurai Poetry

Senryu are not as familiar to Westerners as the more popular haiku.