Black Belt - April/May 2021

In this issue

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.

WATCH YOUR WORDS

THINK ABOUT HOW WORDS SPOKEN OR HEARD CAN INFLUENCE THE WAY WE TRAIN IN THE DOJO. THOSE SAME WORDS CAN INFLUENCE THE WAY WE MOVE OUR BODIES.

5 mins

JEET KUNE DO COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO TAKY KIMURA

MEMBERS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS COMMUNITY — AND FOLLOWERS OF THE ARTS OF BRUCE LEE, IN PARTICULAR — SUFFERED A LOSS ON JANUARY 7, 2021, WHEN SEATTLEBASED INSTRUCTOR TAKY KIMURA PASSED AWAY AT AGE 96. HE HAD BEEN THE MOST SENIOR LIVING STUDENT OF LEE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE PEOPLE (ALONG WITH DAN INOSANTO AND THE LATE JAMES YIMM LEE) CERTIFIED BY LEE TO TEACH. “SPEAKING FOR MYSELF — AND I KNOW BRUCE WOULD HAVE FELT THIS WAY, AS WELL — IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE HAD TAKY AS A PART OF MY LIFE,” SAID LINDA LEE CADWELL, LEE’S WIDOW.

4 mins

THE DANGAL IN THE JUNGLE, PART 1

YOU KNOW YOU’RE SOMEBODY WHEN YOU’VE APPEARED ON AN INDIAN DANGAL POSTER — IN OTHER WORDS, IN A WRESTLING ADVERTISEMENT.

6 mins

COMBATIVES COROLLARIES

IN LIFE, DRAWING COROLLARIES BETWEEN RELATED SUBJECTS IS INTERESTING AND OFTEN ENLIGHTENING. IN PARTICULAR, COROLLARIES BETWEEN WARFIGHTING AND PERSONAL COMBAT CAN TEACH US MUCH.

5 mins

A LOVE LETTER TO BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU

When actor Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) was a kid, a prophetic event occurred, one that contradicts the oft-heard phrase that says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Why do I say “prophetic”? Because if what happened had stayed in Vegas, Flanery still might be digging ditches instead of using that moment in time to forge a future that led to Born a Champion.

5 mins

STAMP

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad — For Most People. For STAMP FAIRTEX, However, It’s Not Enough!

9 mins

LETHAL HANDS

11 TIME-TESTED TOOLS You Need for Close-Quarters Combat Courtesy of the Ancient Greek Art OF PANKRATION!

10 mins

WING CHUN'S LINK TO TRIADS It's Not What You Think!

One of the most popular systems of kung fu in the world today is wing chun. It was cast into the international spotlight by Bruce Lee, whose formal training started in the art, but its popularity has exploded since Donnie Yen brought founder Ip Man to life in four blockbuster movies.

8 mins

EVICTION NOTICE! WHEN YOU'RE FORCED TO TEACH OUTSIDE, PART 1

FROM THE DAY BLACK BELT WAS FOUNDED, MARTIAL ARTISTS HAVE LOOKED TO THE MAGAZINE FOR GUIDANCE ON CURRENT TRENDS IN THE ARTS, FROM KICKBOXING IN THE 1970s TO GROUND FIGHTING AND REALITY-BASED SELF-DEFENSE IN THE 2000s. NOWADAYS, THE HOT TOPIC IS, UNFORTUNATELY, SCHOOL SURVIVAL IN THE ERA OF COVID.

6 mins

RANDOM THOUGHTS WITH RICKSON GRACIE

RICKSON GRACIE IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, BUT HE’S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. HE’S A WARRIOR, A PHILOSOPHER, A THINKER, AN INSPIRATION AND A ROLE MODEL. WHICH IS WHY WE’RE PRESENTING THESE GLIMPSES OF THE MAN THAT NOT MANY BLACK BELT READERS HAVE SEEN.

4 mins

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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.