Wanna know what it was like to attend the Black Belt Hall of Fame?

Imagine this: It’s a Thursday night in California, and you’re headed to an invite-only event in the heart of Hollywood. You drive right past Capitol Records Tower and arrive at Avalon, a legendary live entertainment venue that has hosted everyone from the Beatles to the Black Eyed Peas.

Cynthia Rothrock poses for pics

Once you step inside and make your way past the red carpet, you’re immediately captivated by the state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and visuals.

The crowd is a who’s who of legends—actors, performers, fighters, promoters, and presidents of renowned organizations—all buzzing with excitement, reveling in the unique atmosphere as a live DJ keeps the energy alive before the ceremony officially begins.

This is a small taste of what attendees invited to the exclusive event experienced—an awards show that felt like the Oscars for martial arts icons.

Even as part of the team that helped organize the night, I was completely blown away and immensely proud of what had been created.

Pam Grier takes to the stage

Celebrated that evening were:

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Mike Stone

• Pam Grier

• Hatsuo Royama

Martial Arts Entertainment Award

• Phillip Rhee

• Ernie Reyes Jr.

• Mark Dacascos

The Publishers Award

• Scott Coker

• Chong Lee

• Curtis Wong

Martial Arts Stunt Performer Award

• James Lew

• Simon Rhee

• Jeff Imada

Instructor of the Year Award (Kenpo)

• John Sepulveda

Instructor of the Year Award (BJJ)

• Machado Brothers (Carlos, Roger, Rigan, Jean Jacques, and John)

Competitor of the Year Award

• Amit Elor

A special Pioneer Award also went to:

• Michael Warren

• Carlos Bunda

• Jerry Piddington

As screens around the venue scrolled through the covers of past issues of Black Belt Magazine, it struck me what the night truly represented.

Whether flipping through its pages in a bookstore or reading it at home, many of us grew up with Black Belt Magazine as a constant presence in our lives. As one of the longest-running titles dedicated to martial arts, it’s no wonder it has woven itself into the fabric of our journeys.

Since 1961, Black Belt Magazine has illuminated the achievements of those at the pinnacle of our industry. The faces that graced its covers often inspired us to begin our own paths in martial arts.

Arnold Chon, J.J. Perry, and Andy Cheng

That night, those early memories came rushing back as publisher George Chung took to the stage to announce the return of the print magazine, kicking off with a November issue featuring Dolph Lundgren, who was in attendance, on the cover.

As associate editor, I can only say…be prepared for an amazing era with Black Belt Magazine.

Michael Jai White helping present an award

Throughout the evening, notable martial artists—including Michael Jai White, Randy Couture, Cynthia Rothrock, Kathy Long, Graciela Casillas, Dennis Brown, Mike Chat, Tom Callahan, and host Harinder Singh—helped present the special Black Belts awarded to those honored.

It’s worth mentioning that the many decades of experience and accomplishments were honored in under an hour. This was done—without undercutting the significance of those celebrated—thanks to the preparation and streamlined show plan put together with the vision of Chung.

Together, we all paid respect to the past while seeking to inspire the future, united in our shared pursuit of excellence as Black Belts.

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