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

Ready to hear the wild story behind our January 1976 Black Belt cover? Long before Instagram fighters, YouTube beefs, or TikTok callouts,...

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

Most combatives practitioners spend a lot of time learning to develop powerful strikes. It’s important to be efficient, to be able to exploit the momentary vulnerabilities your attacker presents and not waste them on half-assed or weak attempts at hitting and hurting. Unfortunately, what people don’t spend enough time on in their martial arts training is understanding the importance of movement, establishing range, and being harder to hit. Sure, the combatives mentality lends

In a world often dominated by egos and the clamor for recognition, Tony Thompson  stood apart—not by demanding the spotlight, but by...

The November 1972 cover of Karate Illustrated  featured action film star Calvin Lockhart, best known for his roles as Reverend Deke...

Do you know his name? Do you remember his legacy? If you do, share a memory—keep his spirit alive. He began his martial arts journey in...

Today marks the nationwide release of Trouble Man, the latest high-impact action thriller from martial arts legend Michael Jai White. ...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! This week on the Black Belt Watch List, we step into the underground fight...

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

Martial artists can learn a lot from people who have mastered different realms of combat because often the principles and tactics they use can be adapted to what we do. Case in point:  Oswald Boelcke. This German flying ace was one of the top innovators and instructors in the Axis air force during World War I. Among his many accomplishments, Boelcke chose a young Baron Manfred von Richthofen to become his pupil and coached him to an astonishing string of air victories. Von Ri

If you want to make it in the martial arts biz, you've got to connect with dojo shoppers. They're the people who look for deals before...

The March 1970 early edition of Karate Illustrated featured Tonny Tulleners, a formidable martial artist best known as the 1965...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! This week on the Black Belt Watchlist , we spotlight a visually stunning...

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

Today, we honor a living legend whose journey through martial arts has profoundly shaped the landscape we know today: Dan Inosanto. From...

Do you have a Bruce Lee story — a moment where he inspired your path, shaped your mindset, or changed your life? On the anniversary of...

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! The Black Belt Watchlist proudly recommends a modern martial arts...

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

Before I get to the meat of today’s thought exercise for real-world fights, you’ll need to take a few inventories. For the first inventory, list at least a dozen “designated weapons,” or devices that are carried and used primarily for self-protection. I'll get you started:  firearm, folding knife, fixed-blade knife, Taser, pepper spray, tactical flashlight  — feel free to continue the list. Next, assume a complete absence of designated weapons and look to your environment for

The July 1977 issue of Karate Illustrated  spotlighted Jun Chong, the acclaimed Tae Kwon Do master and one of Hollywood’s most in-demand...