Black Belt Magazine

Black Belt tells you everything you need to know about every style of self-defense in the world! It offers the broadest, most informative coverage of all aspects of the traditional fighting disciplines that were developed in Asia, as well as the modern eclectic systems that were devised in the West.

8 THINGS I NEED TO KNOW TO BE A COMPLETE MARTIAL ARTIST

Black Belt Magazine • VOLUME 58, NO. 2 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020

5 RANDOM READER QUESTIONS ON THE JAPANESE SWORD

DOJO LISTINGS

COMMUNITY

Release Your Mind! • Gichin Funakoshi was not the greatest karateka of all time.

Back to the Kung Future • Alvin Toffler, in his 1970 book Future Shock, talked about the rapid rate of change in the modern world, how people were having trouble keeping up and how that rate would only increase in years to come. The martial arts entertainment world — and the martial arts in general, for that matter — may be proving Toffler correct.

Silat Under the Volcano in Bali, Part 2 • In his matter-of-fact manner, Mas Aan, the man who had agreed to teach me silat tapak suci in Bali, Indonesia, explained the difference between using a hard block against a kick and simply stepping aside. With a hard block, he noted, your arm absorbs the force of the technique — and it’s possible a bone in your forearm will break. With a side step, however, the kick slips right on by. That enables you to avoid all its destructiveness before you counterattack.

Let Us Not Slash History to Shreds • A few like-minded associates and I recently were comparing notes on the historical blade work of some indigenous cultures — for example, sword, knife and tomahawk skills.

The Truth About Countering Edged Weapons

Female Empowerment Comes of Age!

QUEEN OF ALL MOVES

AFRICAN WARRIORS FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP • GET READY — THE AFRICAN MARTIAL ARTS ARE ABOUT TO HIT THE WORLD STAGE!

HISTORY 101 • How JEFF SMITH Became a Kickboxing Champion — and One of the Most Respected Instructors in the World!

WHEN A KICKBOXING TITLE FIGHT SCORED 50 MILLION VIEWS!

WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A MARTIAL ARTS SUPERMAN

ULTIMATE POWER • How Breathing Right Can Enhance Your Martial Arts Performance and Your Life

STRENGTH-BREATHING EXERCISES

RETURN OF THE DRAGONS • Three Kickboxing LEGENDS Step Back Into the Ring!

MASTER WONG • Shares His Insights on the Role Awareness Should Play in Your Training and Proves Why He’s Become a YouTube Sensation!

ESSENTIAL GEAR

Good Leaders and Great Leaders • Dealing with employees — which some pundits have likened to operating an adult day-care center — is both challenging and rewarding. However, if you wish to grow your business beyond the garage-dojo stage, it’s inevitable that you’ll have employees. After all, there’s only so much teaching and administrating one person can do. Sooner or later, you’ll need a team to help you take your martial art to the masses.

How CBD Is Helping the BJJ Warrior Who Once Ruled the MMA World • You don’t have to know the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to know Royce Gracie’s claim to fame — but it certainly helps. Schooled in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by his father Helio Gracie, Royce was groomed to be a grappling star. When his brother Rorion Gracie teamed up with Art Davie in the early 1990s to create the UFC, Royce got his chance to shine. And shine he did, winning three of the first four events. Note that the UFC followed a tournament format back then, which meant the man who won had to prevail in three bouts in the same evening (four bouts in the case of the second show). With the aforementioned being just a fraction of his fight record, it comes as no surprise that Royce paid a price for dominance, a price that’s been demanding repayment for years. Now, however, the BJJ...