Christine Bannon-Rodrigues, the legendary karate world champion from Warwick, Rhode Island, has forged one of the most influential careers in modern martial arts. A 9th-degree black belt and student of Don Rodrigues, she earned nine World Championships, including an extraordinary streak of three consecutive W.A.K.O. World Titles. Her dominance in both forms and fighting helped redefine expectations for female competitors and opened doors for women in martial arts, stunt work,

It will be fascinating for you, if you have the opportunity, to visit one of the museums in the West that have suits of Japanese armor. That’s because feudal Japan took a different approach to body armor than we find in Europe. To some degree, the samurai traded protection for mobility. Rather than using rigid, curved metal sections like the European knights did, the Japanese constructed their armor from an elaborately woven series of leather panels. Roughly half the size of

The July 1981 issue of Karate Illustrated spotlighted two of the South’s most formidable fighters — Tommy Williams of Oklahoma and a young Raymond McCallum from Texas, both in their fighting prime. Renowned for their explosive transitions from point fighting to full-contact competition, the pair represented the cutting edge of the era’s martial artistry. Their kicking prowess was especially legendary; Williams earned the nickname “The Tornado” for his blistering, high-speed

The famed Tong Dojo of New York — home to black belt champions like Thomas “La Puppet” and Hawk Frazier — was led by George Cofield. Cofield established the Tong Dojo in 1959, becoming one of the first Black instructors to commercially teach martial arts in the United States.

The January 1976 cover featured acclaimed point fighter turned kickboxer and proud BKF member Lenny Ferguson—now known as Abdul Latif Muhammad. He made history as the first African American to win the Grand Championship at the Long Beach Internationals and was a member of the Los Angeles Stars in the NKL league. Still active today, Muhammad is regarded as one of the true pioneers of Southern California martial arts.

Who Were These Two Gentlemen and What Was Their Place in Karate History? Read on to find more... The All-Japan Karate Championships, founded in 1957, has long stood as the ultimate proving ground for Japan’s top karateka. Organized annually by the Japan Karate Association (JKA), the event brings together the best of the best to test their skill in Kata  and Kumite . When the very first championship was held, it was strictly a domestic affair - only Japanese competitors were p

“Sensei, is what you’re talking about similar to what Miyamoto Musashi said in Go Rin No Sho  when he was explaining the effects of go no sen ?” This is the sort of question one occasionally hears in the dojo. Of course, we can say that there are no stupid questions, but we need to understand that at times there are inappropriate questions. One of the most inappropriate questions you can ask in the dojo is one that’s intended not to better your understanding of a topic but to

Some stars don't shine long enough to make a difference. Conversely, Demetrius Havanas' star shone so bright on his short time on earth,...

When most people think of Chuck Norris, they picture Walker, Texas Ranger , his karate championships, or that legendary fight with Bruce...

Richie Barathy was equal parts as a brawler and a showman, Barathy earned a reputation for his explosive breaking demonstrations in an...

Before Tae Bo became a household name , the martial arts world got its first real glimpse of Billy Blanks  in January 1983. That month’s...

Donnie Williams and Steve Muhammad , two towering figures of the Black Karate Federation (BKF) . Together, they formed a dynamic duo...

On a hot Saturday afternoon, when most people were seeking a cool theater or a breezy beach, I headed to Pasadena to watch my friend and...

There's something powerfully intimidating about a traditional dojo. It looks like nothing we have in the West. What is intimidating is the emptiness of it all. There’s nothing to distract, nothing to divert one’s attention. The emptiness, severe and silent, can work on the mind. This emptiness is deliberate. Life is full of distractions. Many of them serve to keep us from looking into ourselves, a process that can be uncomfortable. We can distract ourselves with video games,

Front and center on this vintage cover: promoter Joe Corley  stepping into the spotlight for what was billed as The Karate Match of the...

If you’re taking medical advice from someone like me, you have more serious problems than can be addressed in a column. So it is that I never offer any advice on gaining flexibility. If you have questions about improving yours, consult a physical therapist. Unless your sensei has that kind of professional training, he has no business giving you instruction on flexibility other than to say, “This is what has worked for me.” That is what I would say. I can tell you, however, wh

The February 1993 cover of Black Belt featured Joe Lewis, the legendary fighter who revolutionized American martial arts. A former Marine...

In the world of martial arts, few events carry the historical weight of the legendary Long Beach Internationals. For decades, this...

The July 1976 cover of Black Belt magazine featured Kenny Knudson , widely known as the "Midwest Karate King." A legendary martial...

The master of martial arts demos himself—Tadashi Yamashita—graced the cover of Karate Illustrated in 1978. Already an international star...

From his first championship win in 1964 to earning the Black Belt Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, Mike Stone has never...

This 1980 cover of Black Belt  magazine featured Mike Stone , the first American Karate Champion and a member of the prestigious Black...

Do you remember Jay T. Will? Featured on the cover in 1975, Jay T. Will trained under American kenpo legends Ed Parker and Al Tracy,...

Do you have a favorite Steve Fisher memory? The March 1978 cover of Karate Illustrated   spotlighted Steve Fisher —fondly known as “The...