In the realm of martial arts and pop culture, few names resonate as powerfully as Bruce Lee. Decades after his untimely death, Lee’s legacy remains untarnished and unparalleled. He wasn't just a martial artist; he was a philosopher, an actor, a filmmaker, and a visionary. But why is it that despite the emergence of numerous martial arts stars and action heroes, there will never be another Bruce Lee? Let's delve into the myriad reasons why his unique blend of skills, charisma, and philosophy has cemented his place as an irreplaceable icon. A Revolutionary Martial Artist Bruce Lee’s approach to martial arts was revolutionary. He was the pioneer of Jeet Kune Do, a philosophy and form of martial arts that emphasizes adaptability, efficiency, and simplicity. Jeet Kune Do was Lee’s answer to the rigid, traditional martial arts forms of his time. By integrating techniques from various disciplines, he created a hybrid style that was highly practical and effective. His willingness to break from tradition and innovate has set a precedent that few have been able to follow. The Charismatic Philosopher Bruce Lee wasn’t just about physical prowess; he was deeply philosophical. His writings and interviews reveal a man who contemplated life, existence, and human potential. Phrases like "Be water, my friend" encapsulate his philosophy of adaptability and resilience. This blend of physical skill and deep intellectualism made Lee a unique figure who could appeal to both the body and the mind. His philosophy transcends martial arts, offering wisdom that applies to various aspects of life. Trailblazer in Cinema Lee's impact on cinema is another facet of his legacy that remains unmatched. Before Bruce Lee, Asian actors were seldom seen in leading roles in Western cinema. Lee broke through these barriers with his magnetic screen presence and undeniable talent. Films like "Enter the Dragon" and "The Way of the Dragon" not only showcased his martial arts skills but also his ability to captivate an audience with his charisma and authenticity. His films were not just action-packed; they were imbued with deeper messages and showcased martial arts as a profound art form. Cultural Icon and Bridge Between East and West Bruce Lee served as a cultural bridge between the East and the West at a time when cultural exchange was limited. He introduced the world to the beauty and depth of Chinese martial arts, simultaneously breaking down stereotypes and fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of Asian culture. This role as a cultural ambassador has had lasting impacts, influencing countless individuals and promoting a more inclusive and interconnected world. The Tragic Hero The circumstances of Bruce Lee’s life and death add a layer of mystique to his legend. Dying at the young age of 32, Lee left the world at the peak of his powers, creating an almost mythical image of a hero gone too soon. His sudden death left fans mourning what could have been, while cementing his status as an eternal icon. This tragic end, combined with his larger-than-life persona, contributes to the enduring allure of Bruce Lee. Unmatched Legacy and Influence Bruce Lee's influence is ubiquitous. From martial artists and actors to philosophers and everyday people, his teachings and philosophy have touched countless lives. Modern martial arts and action cinema owe a significant debt to Lee's innovations. His impact is evident in the techniques practiced in dojos worldwide and in the action choreography seen in contemporary films. Despite the evolution of martial arts and action genres, no one has managed to combine Lee’s level of skill, philosophy, and charisma. An Irreplaceable Icon In conclusion, the reasons why there will never be another Bruce Lee are multifaceted. His revolutionary approach to martial arts, deep philosophical insights, groundbreaking work in cinema, role as a cultural bridge, and the tragic nature of his life all contribute to a legacy that is unparalleled and irreplaceable. Bruce Lee wasn’t just a martial artist or an actor; he was a transformative figure whose influence transcends time and disciplines. His unique combination of skills, intellect, and charisma creates a legacy that, while inspiring many, remains untouched and unrivaled.

No one person in history has done more for the growth of martial arts and martial arts cinema than Bruce Lee. Besides giving the Chinese people a sense of pride and national identity, he was the first martial artist to mainstream the concept of cross-training and combine the best attributes of different arts into one. His cult of personality continues to dominate mass media martial arts circles as his treasure trove of celebrity and non-celebrity fans, publicity machines and timely projects maintains his idealized and idolized image. A martial artist, an Asian and Hollywood movie icon, a philosopher and a man of action with a message, Lee became a hero to moviegoers regardless of race, color, creed, gender or religion. It’s a crime he didn’t live long enough to run for president of the United States! Instead, we’re left with millions of opinions overflowing with admiration and praise not to mention jealousy and ego and five history changing films. The following are my recollections from the period in which his life overlapped with mine. Faced with Death On March 21, 1973, ordinary Americans got their first taste of a wild-and-woolly Chinese kung fu film. It was The Five Fingers of Death, a Lieh Lo vehicle that was titled King Boxer when it was released in Hong Kong a year earlier. The U.S. premiere took place around the time my doctor broke the news: I’d be dead in five years because of cystic fibrosis. I was popping 30 pills a day and visiting the hospital every three months, and that was not going to save my life. Two weeks later, my brothers, home on spring break, dragged me to a drive in theater in Vestal, New York, to see Lee in The Big Boss (aka Fists of Fury). Cheng, the character Lee portrays, is perplexed by the disappearances of his co-workers at a Thai ice factory. Around Cheng’s neck hangs a jade amulet, a reminder of his vow to refrain from fighting. The tension builds as Cheng helplessly watches one friend after another get pulverized like apples in a cider mill. Midway into the movie, Cheng gets whacked across the face. Rage boiling in his veins, he seeks out his amulet to remind himself of his promise, but wait, the amulet is broken. What follows was an explosion of fists and feet more dynamic than anything I’d ever been exposed to. Lee’s patented snarl elated me as he dealt out everything he’d been taking, making sure each villain got what was coming to him. It started with two greased-lightning kicks that had me cheering inside the car. I instantly went from being depressed and waiting to die to wanting to live and learn what Lee was doing. The Big Boss wasn’t the best martial arts movie ever made, but it was without a doubt the most important one for several reasons: It introduced Lee to the people of planet Earth, it launched a martial arts craze in the West that’s still going strong, it revitalized the kung fu film industry in the East and it gave at least one person the power to save his own life. No Sick Man Speaking of power, Lee’s next project was one of the most powerful martial arts movies ever made. To explain why, I’ll need to set the historical context. After the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), China was fractured, divided and carved up by European, Japanese and American powers. Japan started playing a villainous role in Chinese history—in small part because of this carving and in large part because of the cruelty of the Japanese forces in occupied China. Recall the Rape of Nanjing, the heinous incident in which Japanese troops killed 300,000 Chinese and raped 20,000. Despite Japan’s defeat in World War II, Hong Kong and the Republic of China (aka Taiwan) kept silent on this because Japan’s postwar economy was U.S. supported and they feared a backlash if they spoke up. It took the clout of Bruce Lee to overcome Hong Kong’s fear of producing anti-Japanese films. Fist of Fury (aka The Chinese Connection) was set during the occupation of Shanghai in 1909. The story revolves around the death of Huo Yuan-jia, after which Huo’s student Chen Chen (Lee) vows revenge. Chen endures ridicule from the visiting Japanese entourage, who claim China is the sick man of Asia, until he’s pushed too far. Enraged, Chen defeats every Japanese martial artist in a monumental battle. On-screen and off, Lee single-handedly broke down the barrier that stood between the Chinese and national pride. Never again would they forget what it meant to be Chinese—or a Chinese martial artist. Although I’m by no means Chinese, I sensed this at every showing of Fist of Fury I took in. I felt the emotions when I watched it in 1979 in Taiwan, where normally quite audiences cheered with every nunchaku strike Lee landed. Afterward, I remember thinking it was cool that an American actor in a Chinese kung fu film could make a Japanese (actually Okinawan) karate weapon the most popular martial arts fighting implement in the world. Now that’s power! In the ensuing years, during which I worked as an entertainment reporter, I interviewed scores of top Chinese martial arts filmmakers, always asking them about Lee. Without fail, they all referenced Fist of Fury. “It gave our country an identity and made me proud to be Chinese,” they’d say. But the ultimate cult-of-personality power of this film—dare I say propaganda?—was Lee’s subliminal message that the Chinese are the equals of any nationality. It was manifested in part when Lee defeated a bunch of Japanese fighters near Shanghai Park, then slammed a flying kick into a wooden sign that read “No Dogs or Chinese Allowed.” To this day, many people believe that sign really existed, while in actuality it was a prop designed to make a political statement. Return of the Nunchaku In Way of the Dragon (aka Return of the Dragon), Lee revisited the race card, this time in Italy. He plays a Hong Kong resident who’s sent to Rome to work at his uncle’s restaurant, where he quickly finds himself taking on the Mafia with a pole and a pair of nunchaku prompting some to joke that the movie should have been named Return of the Nunchaku. The crime boss hires three karate killers to slay Lee; they’re played by Bob Wall, Whang In-shik and Chuck Norris. Few fans know that Way of the Dragon drew from Lee’s own life for inspiration. He spent time waiting tables in a Chinese restaurant in Oakland, California, where he no doubt ran into anti Asian sentiments that eventually made their way into the script. Lee’s fights were symbolic, messages designed to convey the notion that Chinese people no longer had to be subservient to the West witness his victory over Norris’ character, a fair-haired, Hollywood goldenboy. It’s ironic that none of the white villains in any of Lee’s films were British, considering that much of the racism Lee experienced took place while he was living in Hong Kong, a British colony. It’s interesting to note that the last time I was in Hong Kong, the consensus among those I spoke with was that the residents of the enclave preferred the British presence to the Chinese. As they say, you miss something only after it’s gone. End Game In 1972 and ’73, Lee wrote and filmed 40 minutes of a concept piece that was to be titled Song of the Knife. It encapsulated his philosophy about the existence of martial arts styles, focusing on separating the useful from the nonessential, a process that’s revealed via a hero’s journey up a five-story pagoda. Each floor was a step toward truth and was guarded by a practitioner of a different style—one of whom was Dan Inosanto, representing the Filipino martial arts. What was the treasure at the top of the pagoda? Perhaps knowledge, understanding or the realization that the journey toward truth never ends. Five years after his death, the project, now called The Game of Death, would be released. If the star had lived to see it, chances are he’d have been less than thrilled by the final version, which contained only 15 minutes of the footage he directed. It’s possible Lee never intended for the scenes he’d created for Song of the Knife to be part of a final cut of anything—perhaps they were shot and edited only to get financing. He must have known that once funding was secured, he’d have to re-shoot some of the battles to ensure the quality he’d always served his fans. Example: In a nunchaku sequence with Inosanto, Lee makes two mistakes that are as obvious as an elephant running in a herd of buffalos. The Blockbuster The reason Lee never finished Song of the Knife was Warner Bros. agreed in 1973 to finance a film that would unite Hong Kong and Hollywood under the parasol of kung fu. Little did they know the $550,000 they were about to invest in Enter the Dragon would gross $90 million worldwide. Sure, the movie had some phenomenal fights, but what really stands out now, nearly four decades later, is how it was politically correct 20 years before it was politically correct to be politically correct. In the language of the day, the heroes were a black, a white and an Oriental; nowadays, it’s safer to say they were African American, Caucasian and Asian.On July 20, 1973, Lee passed away. My dad was driving me home from the public library in Endicott, New York, when I heard the news on the radio. I cried all the way home. I vowed to dedicate my life to the martial arts and all they stand for, and to use them for the betterment of myself and others. Enter the Dragon came out about two weeks later. Then and now, whenever I watch the movie I shed a tear. Battling Public Opinion The irony about Lee’s ascension in the West is that it commenced in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the early 1970s when his movies were taking off around the world, the United States was reeling from the Vietnam War. As such, anti-Asian sentiment was rampant. Furthermore, in those days, most Westerners regarded the use of feet in a fight as the refuge of sissies. Real men punched—just look at any John Wayne movie. There couldn’t have been a worse time for an Asian actor/martial artist to make his mark on Hollywood, yet Lee did exactly that—by using facial contortions, rapid-fire punches, jaw-dropping kicks and high-pitched screeches. And he resonated with everyone. Millions of moviegoers myself among them walked out of theaters channeling Lee, launching kicks, punches and screams just like he did on-screen. Not once have I seen a person do that after watching a martial arts movie headlined by a different star. As for this writer, Lee’s inspiration helped me find the true martial arts the first lesson of which was that not fighting is better than fighting. (Most MMA competitors would do well to remember that tenet.) My second Lee-inspired discovery was chi kung, which I subsequently studied in Taiwan. Five months after starting, I was able to wean myself off the medications I’d been taking and dispense with the therapies. How could I possibly pay him back? In 1986 I walked 3,000 miles across America to give my respects at his grave in Seattle. And for the past 25 years, my wife Silvia and I have dedicated our lives to healing others using the martial arts as our foundation. Thank you, Bruce. RETURN OF THE NUNCHAKU

How many times have you entered the ring at a martial arts competition and faced your opponent — and had no idea what he or she was about to throw at you? If you’re like most martial artists, you probably haven’t seen this particular opponent fight before. And because of the fleeting nature of most kumite matches, you probably won’t have time to “feel out” the person. The result: In short order, you find yourself behind on points and on the brink of losing. What if I told you that there’s a way to hack into the mind of your adversary and figure out what he or she is going to do next? Would you want to know? Of course you would.  The key to doing this is to use a methodology known as “positional setup.” It’s a system that was developed by “Super” Dan Anderson. In short, PSU is a prediction tool that examines how opponents position themselves and lets you know which techniques they’re most likely to deploy. Developing such a skill can put the odds in your favor almost immediately. At this point, you might be asking yourself why you should listen to this Anderson guy and what makes him so “Super.” Well, I could tell you that he’s a four-time national karate champion who won more than 70 grand championships and was rated a top-10 fighter by Black Belt. Or I could mention that his book American Freestyle Karate: A Guide to Sparring has been a go-to manual for fighters for the past four decades. Or I could note that after five decades as a black belt — he’s now a 10th degree — he still kicks butt in tournaments against fighters who are one-third his age. If you still need convincing, this should do the trick: When he teaches seminars across the country, Anderson routinely shocks attendees by predicting 97 percent of the time which techniques an opponent will use. Based on a quick scan of how a volunteer positions himself on the firing line, Anderson can divine which guns will be used when the battle begins. “He’s telling you with his body position,” Anderson said. “He might as well write you a letter and mail you a check. If you learn how to read his position, it’s that easy. And anytime you can tell that much about what your opponent is going to do, you have quite an advantage.” Skill Development Never the biggest, fastest or strongest fighter on the circuit, Anderson developed PSU to gain the upper hand on the martial artists he faced in tournaments. Instinctively, he knew that he had to outthink his adversaries to offset their superior physicality and eke out the win. The concept came from an unlikely source, he said. “Back in 1977, I was at home watching my favorite boxer Muhammad Ali against the ropes doing his rope-a-dope, a favorite tactic of his since the George Foreman fight,” Anderson said. “Most people thought he was covering up against the oncoming punches. He was actually watching the punches coming in. He was watching his opponent’s hands! He would either pick off the blows or cover up at the very last instant. “I went back to the karate school the next day and began to experiment. I watched the hands of my sparring partner, and to my surprise, I could see everything he was going to do. It was from there that I developed my method of attack recognition.” Four Factors Anderson said the success of PSU hinges on four factors that are based on information every martial artist reveals. NO. 1 IS WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION. Most martial artists unwittingly tip you off as to whether they’re offensive, defensive or neutral, and they do this by the way they distribute their weight. If more weight is on the front foot, chances are they’re an offensive fighter. If more weight is on the rear foot, likely they’re a defensive fighter. If their weight is balanced 50-50, they’re probably a balanced fighter who’s comfortable being offensive or defensive. “The nice thing about watching weight distribution is that a lot of fight- ers do not closely hide this aspect, and they present you with a tip on what they’re going to do,” Anderson said. He went on to explain that weight distribution is a tool that provides valuable feedback against less-experienced fighters and those who are set in their ways. However, he noted that an experienced fighter can mask his real intentions. For example, he might rest his weight on his rear foot so he can throw a lead-leg kick. NO. 2 IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FEET. According to PSU, the distance between an opponent’s feet is a good indicator of whether he’s going to kick with his front foot without any other type of pre-kick preparation. If his feet are one to one-and-a-quarter shoulder-widths apart, count on a lead-leg kick coming at you. If his feet are wider than one-and-a-quarter shoulder widths, your opponent will need some sort of step before he can execute a front-leg kick. However, he might throw a rear-leg kick offensively. A defensive kick is a possibility, but from a wider stance, the person’s weight will need to be on his rear foot. NO. 3 IS HAND AND FOOT POSITION IN RELATION TO THE POSITIONAL CENTER LINE. Key to PSU is reading the clues an opponent gives by the way he holds his hands. How they are positioned in relation to his centerline will tell you what he plans to throw. Are they up in a boxer’s position? If so, that’s useful information. If he moves a hand away from the centerline, it’s likely to come back at you in a hook punch or an angled strike. If it crosses the centerline, it’s probably coming at you as a backfist. If the arm is parallel to the center- line, chances are the fist will be used to deliver a straight shot. Does he have only one hand aimed at you? It’s likely he’s a one-handed fighter. Pay more attention to the hand that’s pointed at you and less to the other one. NO. 4 IS WHERE THE FEET ARE POINTING. Knowledge of human anatomy and the natural function of body parts is key here. The foot, ankle, knee and hip are all connected. None moves independently of the other. As you turn your foot, you turn your shin, knee, thigh and hip, as well. The leg always functions as a unit. The direction your opponent’s lead foot is pointing forms the basis of the PSU premise that a person normally won’t make things hard for himself. If his foot is pointed forward, the easiest kick will be a lead-leg front kick. If his foot is pointed inward at an angle, the easiest kick will be a lead-leg roundhouse. If his foot is pointed sideways, the easiest kick will be a lead- leg side kick. If he’s standing with his lead foot pigeon-toed, the easiest kick will be a lead-leg hook kick.  Implementation While anyone can learn a new skill, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to immediately use it with success. Just because you can hit a baseball doesn’t mean you’ll be able to knock one out of the park in a major-league game. Like any other physical skill, PSU must be practiced for it to flourish. Gaining proficiency is best accomplished by following this sequence, Anderson said. “First, you learn about the positional centerline. This is different from the centerline that everyone uses. The PCL is the exact horizontal split down the body in whatever position [a person is] in. Your PCL will be different if you are in a horse stance than if you are in a boxer’s stance. “Second, you learn to recognize what an attack will do in the first 4 inches in relation to the PCL. Very simply stated, it will a) cross the centerline, b) move away from the center line or c) do neither and simply travel straight toward you. “Third is recognizing the types of blows that will follow this move- ment regarding the centerline. An easy example is that a backfist strike crosses the centerline before launching. A hook punch moves away from the centerline before it comes at you. A straight punch just comes at you. So you drill [while] spotting the telegraph of a strike in its first 4 inches of delivery until you can recognize them easily. From there, you learn how to defend against them with blocking, moving, etc. “Fourth is finding out what attack a person can throw when his body is in a certain position. Here is a maxim I go by: No fighter knowingly puts himself in a position that makes it difficult for him to attack from. Every fighter I have faced or seen follows this maxim. So what is the easiest attack to throw from any particular position is what I go by.” Sparring Anderson had additional helpful words regarding how to cultivate your PSU ability through dojo sparring: “Developing this skill takes time, and at first, you need to go quite slowly in your sparring. Why? Because most people do not spar. Why? Because most people do not know the difference between sparring and fighting. “Sparring is working together on the development of moves, tactics and strategies to later utilize in fighting. Fighting is win or lose. When you collapse sparring and fighting into a semi-fight, way too many factors get in the way. Flinching, wanting to win or [seeking to avoid] pain are the most prevalent.” So how do you develop your skill at PSU? Start by understanding what sparring really is, then get a partner you trust, he said. Pay attention to how your partner is telegraphing his attacks. Go slowly so you have time to analyze what he’s doing. When you’re able to respond appropriately, increase the tempo slightly. If you’re diligent and have a partner who works with you instead of against you, it should take two to three weeks to learn the basics of PSU, Anderson said. Once you understand the PCL, it’s easy. The beauty of this concept is that it’s not style-specific, Anderson explained. It’s based on perception of the body and how it moves, so it doesn’t matter if your opponent does Japanese karate, Thai kickboxing or mixed martial arts. The concept works across the board because it’s based on clues he gives you. Other Uses Knowing that martial arts skills are not intended just for competition, I quizzed Anderson on how this methodology can be used on the street. He said that when grappling and takedowns are added to the mix, the only modifica- tion you need to make to PSU is to learn how a person might position or shift his arms if he’s going to grapple. For use in self-defense situations, he said, “Positional setup is even simpler. Go to YouTube and search for ‘street fights’ or ‘one-punch knockouts,’ and you will see the most prevalent types of attacks. They are mostly hook or arcing straight punches — easy to see. However, the closer your attacker gets, the higher you should hold up your hands. The most glaring error in nearly all these videos is that the guy getting punched has his hands down.” Effort Required Much to the chagrin of some martial artists, there are no “secret deadly techniques” that will render any opponent helpless in seconds, Anderson said. Tournament success and self-defense proficiency are achieved through qual- ity instruction and by having the grit to endure hours of rigorous training. That said, Anderson’s PSU methodology is a golden nugget of mind hacking that can accelerate your progress. And the best part is you now know how to begin training. Practice PSU in dojo sparring, then try it in competition. The next time you’re facing a fighter who may be faster, stronger and more experienced, see how well Anderson’s brainchild serves you. It just might take you to the podium. That’s where it took me when I competed at the 2017 World Police and Fire Games in Los Angeles — and won a gold medal. Perry William Kelly has a sixth-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu and is an instructor in four other martial arts. He’s the former national coordinator for use of force for the Correctional Service of Canada. In 2018 he received the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award. His website is perrywkelly.com .  READ MORE: Drills to Learn Martial Arts Breathe Like a Martial Artist Essentials for Beginners in Self-Defense

Below we showcase the pinnacle of combat excellence with a recap of the top five UFC fights of the first half of 2024. Each bout not only thrilled audiences but also demonstrated the technical and strategic prowess of the fighters involved. Here are the Most Electrifying UFC Fights till Mid 2024. 5 – Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa: In a gripping co-main event, Robert Whittaker clinched a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). The fight erupted into a fierce contest right from the start, with both fighters exchanging heavy blows. Costa momentarily shook Whittaker with a perfectly executed spinning heel kick. However, Whittaker regained his composure and dominated the subsequent rounds with superior striking and movement, securing a clear victory and reaffirming his elite status in the middleweight category. 4 – Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje: Max Holloway captured the UFC's BMF title with a dramatic knockout of Justin Gaethje in the final second of the fifth round. Holloway showcased his signature precision and timing throughout the fight, dismantling Gaethje's defenses with sharp, long-range punches and a critical spinning back kick that broke Gaethje's nose. The climax came when Holloway, reminiscent of his iconic standoff with Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199, invited Gaethje to exchange blows in the center of the Octagon, leading to a knockout with a swift right hand, sealing his status as one of the fiercest competitors in the division. 3 – Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan: Zhang Weili successfully defended her UFC strawweight title against Yan Xiaonan with a unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45) at UFC 300. Zhang almost finished the fight in the first round with a deep rear-naked choke, but Yan was saved by the bell. Throughout the fight, Zhang dominated on the ground, searching for submissions and controlling the pace. Despite Yan's attempts to rally in the middle rounds, Zhang's ground control and strategic striking in later rounds ensured her victory and reinforced her dominance in the 115-pound division. 2 – Dustin Poirier vs. Benoît Saint Denis: Dustin Poirier overcame Benoît Saint Denis in a thrilling encounter, securing a knockout victory in the second round. Poirier faced intense pressure from the outset but managed to find his rhythm, landing decisive strikes after regaining his footing against the cage. His victory was a testament to his resilience and tactical acumen, marking a significant rebound in his career after a previous loss. 1 – Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier: In a dramatic title defense, Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight championship by submitting Dustin Poirier with a D’arce choke in the fifth round. The fight showcased Makhachev's grappling superiority, as he controlled Poirier on the ground for the majority of the bout. The submission came after an intense exchange, with Makhachev securing the choke and forcing Poirier to tap out. This victory extended Makhachev's win streak to 14 and tied him with legends of the division for consecutive title defenses. These exceptional fights not only captivated fans worldwide but also significantly impacted the rankings and future matchups in the UFC, setting a high bar for the remainder of 2024.

Get Ready for a Thrilling Return to UFC APEX! The UFC is back in Las Vegas for a quick stop at the APEX before heading to Manchester, featuring an exciting 12-fight card headlined by a crucial strawweight matchup. Here’s what you need to know: UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs Jandiroba Main Event: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Where to Watch: ESPN+ Main Card Highlights: Brad Tavares vs. JunYong Park Steve Garcia vs. Seung Woo Choi Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva Dooho Choi vs. Bill Algeo Prelim Matches: Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Hyder Amil Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Gibson Miranda Maverick vs. Dione Barbosa Loik Radzhabov vs. Trey Ogden Luana Carolina vs. Lucie Pudilova Mohammed Usman vs. Thomas Petersen Fight Previews: Main Event: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba Two Brazilian powerhouses, Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba, clash in a high-stakes strawweight bout. Lemos, ranked No. 3, aims to secure another title shot after a dominant performance against Mackenzie Dern. Meanwhile, Jandiroba rides a three-fight winning streak, eager to break into the championship conversation for the first time. Co-Main Event: Brad Tavares vs. Junyong Park Veteran middleweights Brad Tavares and JunYong Park meet in what promises to be an electrifying co-main event. Tavares looks to bounce back from a recent loss, while Park aims to continue his impressive UFC run. Steve Garcia vs. Seung Woo Choi Expect fireworks as all-action featherweights Steve Garcia and Seung Woo Choi square off. Garcia, on a hot streak, faces Choi, who is known for never backing down from a fight. Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky TUF 31 winner Kurt Holobaugh takes on DWCS graduate Kaynan Kruschewsky in a lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver action. Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva Flyweight Cody Durden faces Bruno Silva, who returns to the Octagon looking to extend his winning streak. Dooho Choi vs. Bill Algeo “The Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and Bill Algeo open the main card with a featherweight battle sure to get fans on their feet. Prelim Highlights: Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Hyder Amil:  Featherweight strikers clash in an exciting prelim bout. Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Gibson:  Bantamweight veterans look to rebound in a highly anticipated matchup. Miranda Maverick vs. Dione Barbosa:  Flyweight contenders vie for a critical victory. Loik Radzhabov vs. Trey Ogden:  Lightweights look to build on recent wins in a competitive prelim bout. Luana Carolina vs. Lucie Pudilova:  Bantamweights face off early in the evening. Mohammed Usman vs. Thomas Petersen:  Heavyweights kick off the night with a bang. Catch all the action of UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prelims start at 5pm ET/2pm PT, with the main card kicking off on ESPN & ESPN+ at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Black Belt Magazine proudly showcases exceptional martial arts training programs and events from around the world. Find this event in our Directory Section and list your event free to a worldwide audience. This week we feature the biggest open martial arts tournament in America. The US Open Entering its 40th year the tournament has become one of the most influential and prestigious tournaments to win with categories that include forms fighting and even breaking each year the event is seen worldwide on networks like ESPN.  The US Open is different from other events in that it encompasses all open martial arts styles and types of competition, including Sport, MMA, Grappling, Breaking, and has been the leader in expanding basic martial arts competition to include fight choreography, multiple synchronised team traditional and open-style forms and weapons, demonstration teams, multiple light-contact styles of sparring, including point, clash, and continuous, and much more. The Open has also been the leader in separating amateur-level competitors from those black belts with truly world-level professional skills. This is in the anticipation of the launch of the World Pro Sport Karate League and Tours. This leadership in the organization of the sport’s infrastructure is what is helping drive both competitor participation and interest in the immense worldwide general sports media. The most exciting of the types of competition that we highlight at the US Open for worldwide television coverage includes the Professional Divisions in Men’s Weapons, Women’s Weapons, Synchronized Forms and Weapons, Demonstration Teams, and Team Sparring. These marquee divisions are followed closely by Open Weight Sparring, and Men’s and Women’s Traditional and Open Individual Forms. The up-and-coming Junior and Youth divisions are packed with talent such as we have never seen in our under-18 divisions. Future SuperStars like Pia Flores Rodrigues, Phillip Brumme, Luca Ricotti, and too many to list are the future Super Champions of our sport, capable of skills and innovations that yesterday's practitioners could only dream of, and the Champions of yesteryear would never have believed possible.

Creating the ultimate martial art style for self-defense and fighting is a profound endeavor, as it involves a careful consideration of the myriad styles, each bearing unique strengths and weaknesses. We asked experts spanning generations, posing the thought-provoking question: "If tasked with creating the ultimate martial art, which styles would you combine?"  Prepare to be enlightened by their responses. Mike Stone  Muay Thai  and JiuJitSu The foremost principle, though not inherently tied to martial arts, is mastering proper breathing techniques. Understanding the essence of breath, perhaps through Eastern philosophies, takes precedence. Breath control, particularly during exertion or moments of stress, holds paramount importance. There is no "normal" breathing; each breath carries significance, especially amidst fear or intense situations and that style can best be learned in arts like yoga.  Regarding the amalgamation of martial arts styles, unquestionably, Muay Thai encompasses a wide array of techniques and is unparalleled in its arsenal. When coupled with the ground expertise of Jiu-Jitsu, a formidable self-defense system emerges. Kathy Long  Kung Fu San Soo, Muay Thai & Catch Wrestling  Kung Fu San Soo focuses on striking vital targets, (if possible) without missing anything else. Knowing how the body reacts away from pain one can create a collision course of strikes. There are many small joint locks, throws, and sweeps in this art also... Adding a solid striking art like Muay Thai which also utilizes some elbows, knees, punches, and kicks, thirdly.  Catch Wrestling is a very tough and rough martial art that emphasizes the “pain”  made while in the transition of move which is very effective.  Jim Arvanitis Boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ   Historically, ancient Greek pankration was the first documented combat sport to combine striking and grappling for both standup and ground fighting. It extracted elements from the earlier combat sports of wrestling (pale) and boxing (pygmachia), and added kicking techniques.  This dates back 2500 years ago to the 33rd Olympic Games of 648 B.C. My reconstruction of pankration circa 1969 preserved this concept by integrating artistic remnants of ancient Greek palaesma (techniques) with my ongoing studies of boxing, muay-Thai, Greco-Roman and Catch wrestling, kosen judo, and boxe Francaise savate.  These arts offered me personally the best solutions for addressing all possible angles and ranges of both standup and ground fighting in the pankration tradition. There was also an efficient flow to this unique mix resulting in many seamless transitions. In MMA today, I can conclude from my analysis of the competitors that the best the combination tends to be boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ (which evolved from kosen judo). In my many years of proactively training in various arts these tend to complement each other in a total combat setting under a limited-rules format. Ron Van Clief  Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Judo and BJJ At 51 years old Ron Van Clief holds the record for being the oldest person ever to enter the Octagon to fight in the UFC.  But even at 51 he took away learning experiences that would change his study of martial arts and today at 80, he is still learning and has a lesson for us all. In a question about what is the best martial arts to combine his answer was personal and profound. “To be a complete/balanced martial artist striking and grappling must be sophisticated for optimum results,” said Van Cleif  “I learned this at UFC 4 realizing my lack of ground fighting was self-evident.”  To be complete, Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai (stand up), and Jiu Jitsu/Judo (ground/grappling).  From my personal experience, all stand-up arts must include ground/grappling. 13 years ago I started studying Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.  Now at 80 years old, I received my brown belt.  It has been an amazing journey. I now have an understanding of the basics of groundwork. Harinder Singh FMA/Muay Thai/Wing Chun The ultimate style of martial arts would have to address striking, clinching, trapping, ground fighting, edged weapons, blunt weapons, and multiple opponent scenarios. I would learn the 5 angles of attack and the U-Drill from Filipino Martial Arts.  Learn the eye jab, cross, palm hook, uppercut, and overhand for empty hands. Learn how to kick the groin, and the leg, and intercept the knee with a stomp kick. Learn Muay Thai Clinch and Wrestler’s Pummel.  A slapping and pulling hand from Wing Chun to clear barriers. Takedown defense and pull guard vs a shoot is essential.  Learn to escape mount, side control, and a back take. Learn how to breathe, relax under pressure, and read your opponent so you can intercept, deceive, and seamlessly transition between all of the skills above. The ultimate style is the style of no style, which allows the martial artist to take any shape and adapt to any situation or circumstance. Joe Corley  American Karate/Tae Kwon Do + Warrior Krav Maga From my personal experience and perspective, I believe that the combination of realistic “American Karate and Tae Kwon Do” training, combined with “Warrior Krav Maga” training provides the greatest applications in Self Defense. In the “American Karate and Tae Kwon Do,“ training, we learn the importance of distance and timing, explosive speed, and focused power in our strikes; and in the Warrior Krav Maga, we apply those elements of timing, distance, and focused power with very pragmatic and simple uses of those techniques, combined with specific skills from BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and Kali knife principles for use in defense against knives and counter attacks with knives and empty hand counters. The distance and timing elements from the American Karate and American Tae Kwon Do styles blend very nicely with the   pragmatic uses of the skills from Warrior Krav Maga Tom Callos  Boxing / Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu If the teachers are experienced, seasoned veterans of their respective arts. Arts that allow for live, unrehearsed training with a partner, like boxing and jiu-jitsu, introduce practitioners to something akin to resistance/reality in combat —or as close as one can get and still train safely.  “Classical” arts that promote exacting form in technique have their uses and value, but they are not usually fast tracks to pragmatic fight/defense strategy, in my opinion.  That being said, the name of any given style does not automatically contain or dispense the skills, attitude, or effectiveness of an “art.” The actual usefulness and/or manifestation of skill originates with the knowledge and experience of the person teaching.  All arts and styles are only as good, useful, and pragmatic as the knowledge/experience of the coach. Dan Anderson Hard-contact Karate, Judo, Jiu-jitsu, and Wrestling From my perspective, I would say any kind of karate that was based on strong sparring and any ground sport.  I don’t choose specialties such as Gojuryu karate and Japanese Jiu-jitsu.  I think any kind of karate that will allow you hard contact free-fighting and any ground game (Judo, Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, etc.) are a good combination. I grew up in an era where you had to throw techniques hard enough to hurt your partner if you decided to follow through with them.  It was not “touch and tag” back then. I remember that in 1977 I got tired of being “second punched” after the call of break. I spent the entire year dropping my opponents to cure them of that comedy. I bring up this memory because that is how we were taught back then – to be able to hit hard as needed. I wrestled for a short while in high school.  I wasn’t any good but I did have one very good takeaway.  I was familiar with being on my back on the ground. I knew enough to scramble back up to my feet.  Later I learned a couple of Ju-jitsu Houdini moves from Coach Jeff Burger so that I could effect escapes from the current vogue ground and pound tactics.

This holiday weekend in the USA marks the 40th anniversary of the US Open, the largest open karate tournament in America. To celebrate this milestone, we are highlighting some of the most prestigious tournaments in modern martial arts history and the champions who emerged victorious. These Are World's Most Prestigious Martial Arts Tournaments JKA All Japan Karate ................................... 1957-present  The Internationals ........................................ 1964-present  Henry Cho’s All American............................. 1967-1989 World Taekwondo Championship................. 1973 - present  Battle of Atlanta............................................. 1970 - present Karate World Championships ...................... .1970-present  WAKO World Championships ........................ 1977 - present  Diamond Nationals..........................................1978-present US Capitol Classics ........................................ 1982 - present  US Open ...........................................................1984-present JKA All Japan Karate Championships  1957-present Japan’s first All-Japan Karate Championship was held in a Tokyo gymnasium in 1957. Since then, a yearly celebration of the All Japan Karate Championship has been conducted. It's considered one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in Japan. The JKA was founded by Gichin Funakoshi, known as the "father of modern karate". Legendary Champions: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Mikami Takayuki The Internationals 1964-present  The first International Karate Championships was organized by Kenpo Karate Grandmaster Ed Parker at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California, on August 2, 1964, the crowned champion was Mike Stone.  The event was the original seen-and-be-seen event on the West Coast and often had celebrities showing up including Elvis Presley.  The event was known for the introduction of Bruce Lee who first demonstrated his Kata of Jun Fan Gung Fu with Taky Kimura, two-finger push-ups, and one-inch punch. This continues today under the guidance of Steve Cooper. Legendary champions: Mike Stone, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Jim Kelly, Benny Urquidez, Chong Lee,  and Steve Muhammad Henry Cho’s All American 1967-1989 The All-American Open was held in Madison Square Garden Center in New York City for twenty-three consecutive years, from 1967 to 1989. It was at the 1967 All-American Open where Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee first met. The All-American Open has been continued and staged outside the Garden since 1989.  Legendary Champions: Chuck Norris, Chuck Norris, Mitchell Bobrow, Michael Warren, Albert Cheeks, Herb Perez, Mark Williams, George Thanos, Tony Blanchard, Keith Kelly and William Oliver.  World Karate Championships 1970-present  The Karate World Championships , also known as the World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for karate organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF). The competition is held in a different city every two years.  In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships. Legendary Champions: Rika Usami, Rafael Aghayev, Antonio Diaz The Battle of Atlanta  1970-Present  Created by famed promoter Joe Corley in 1970, the tournament was originally called the SouthEast US Championship. Then karate master and writer Dirk Mosig coined the phrase “The Battle Atlanta” in an article written about the event.  During the 1980s and 1990s, the tournament was the premiere Karate event in America and was the most important tournament to win as the event also gained national television coverage on ESPN. It was also the first open tournament to feature full contact in the evening finals.  The tournament is held every year in Atlanta GA and is currently run by Greg, Toby, and Tommy Ruth, and features an 6A Rating in the NASKA organization making it one the most important American tournaments to win.  Champions include: Joe Lewis, Keith Vitali, Howard Jackson, Michael Warren, Haley Glass, and Cynthia Rothrock  World Taekwondo Championship 1973-present  The World Taekwondo Championship is held every two years by World Tae Kwon Do, and changes countries. Past events have been held in Seoul, Chicago, Mexico City, Manila, and Bangkok. The World Championships includes athletes from 144 countries across 16 weight categories (8 men and 8 women) for the coveted world title as well as vital qualification points for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Outside of the Olympic Games, the World Championships is the premier Tae Kwon Do event which not only showcases the best of elite Taekwondo but also the globality and inclusivity of the sport. Champions include: Herb Perez, Lynette Love, Jimmy Kim   WAKO World Championship 1977-present  Jeff Smith team coach WAKO 10th Annual World Championship circa 1980s In 1977, WAKO was founded in Europe And formulated the rules and regulations acting as the Kickboxing Federation of the World. It was founded by American Kickboxing promoter Mike Anderson, and his friend, German Kickboxing promoter Georg Brueckner.  WAKO offers 7 different styles: Points Fighting, light-contact, full-contact, kick-light, low-kick, K1-style, and musical forms.  Today WAKO can count on 126 affiliated nations in the five continents, with 95 officially recognized by their respective Sports or Olympic Council. W.A.K.O. held its first amateur world championships in 1978 in West Berlin, after having previously staged two European championships two years previously. It followed this with a second world championship a year later in Tampa, Florida.  During the 1980s the world championships were held every other year except for in 1985 when a feud within the W.A.K.O. organization led to two versions of the championships being held on the same date – one in London, the other in Budapest. Today the US tournament or Tatami operations are overseen by Bill Viola Jr. Chairman  Champions include: Mike Bernardo Diamond Nationals 1978-present In 1978 The first Diamond National Karate Championships was promoted in St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately 550 competitors entered the event, which received great reviews due to the level of competition and organization.  It grew to become North America’s largest and most prestigious martial arts tournament. It is named the Diamond Nationals because the Black Belt grand champions win a diamond ring. The Diamond Nationals have been voted the number 1 tournament in the United States for the last 18 years, and once recognized as the number 1 tournament in the world by Black Belt Magazine. Today the tournament is conducted by JLB Productions. Champions include: Dan Anderson, Keith Vitali, George Chung, John Chung, Keith Cooke, John Valera, Steve Anderson, Arlene Limas, Linda Denley US Capitol Classics China Open  1982-Present  The US Capitol Classics , a premier event in the martial arts community, has been held annually in Washington, DC since its inception in 1982 created by Wushu Master Dennis Brown. This prestigious tournament holds a NASKA 6A rating and is renowned for its unique focus on Chinese martial arts. In 2007, the event expanded to include the China Open, reflecting its significant role in providing Chinese martial artists with greater opportunities to compete in diverse divisions. This expansion introduced categories not typically recognized by NASKA, such as Kung Fu, Taijiquan, Wu Shu, Sanda, Chinese Continuous Sparring, Pencak Silat, Self-Defense, and Kyokushin. The US Capitol Classics serves as a cultural bridge, fostering goodwill and mutual respect through a shared passion for martial arts.  Champions include: Billy Blanks, Steve "Nasty" Anderson, Hakim Alston, Linda Denley, Helen Chung, George Chung, Charlie Lee, Cynthia Rothrock, and Caitlin Dechelle. The US Open 1984-present  Starting in 1973 as the “East Coast Grand Nationals” by Ted and Kim Kresge. Between 1982 and 1983 the tournament was owned by Tampa area trophy manufacturer Brown's Trophies. Pro-Kick Productions, LLC, the promotion company owned by Mike McCoy and Mike Sawyer, purchased the event, which had been renamed the “ US Open ” and promoted it from 1984 to date. The Open is a 6A-rated event, the largest tournament on the North American Karate Association (NASKA) Tour, and a strong anchor for that circuit. It also has been recognized since 1998 as the ISKA Annual Open Martial Arts World Championships, and the Premier Event on the global ISKA collection of tournament circuits on multiple continents. Today the event operates from Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and includes television coverage with ESPN. With hundreds of divisions, the event is diversified in tournament competition as a pioneer in televising creative forms, demos, and breaking as part of the competition.  Champions include: Haley Glass, Esteban Tremblay, Devon Hopper and Justin Cuellar

In the realm of professional fighting, we delineate three distinct categories: boxing, characterized by the use of hands only; kickboxing, which incorporates hands, feet, elbows, and knees; and MMA, where ground fighting is a pivotal component . In this compilation, we'll delve into the realm of kickboxing, spotlighting the finest practitioners of the craft. To compile this list, we've heeded the counsel of legendary kickboxers and astute promoters who have intimately witnessed the sport's evolution and brilliance.  Benny the Jet Urquidez  made multiple lists and is considered by many to be the world's greatest kickboxer of all time.  Record: 63–0 with 57 KOs Contributors: Scott Coker, Jeff Smith, Joe Corley, Graciela Casillas, Hillary Sandoval and Mike Sawyer. The list is in alphabetical order: Peter "The Dutch Lumberjack"  Aerts Troy Dorsey Demetrius "The Greek" Havanas Ernesto Hoost Rob "The Dutchman" Kaman Joe Lewis Rick "The Jet" Roufus Jean -Yves “The Iceman”Theriault Benny "The Jet" Urquidez Bill "Superfoot" Wallace Don "The Dragon" Wilson Scott Coker One of the country's most acclaimed promoters who started in the 1980s with his own brand West Coast Productions, co-founder of the ISKA, President of K1 USA,  CEO of Strikeforce, and President of Bellator. Scott has seen it all with his promotions covering every part of the world. Peter Aerts Benny Urquidez Ernesto Hoost Peter Aerts  is a legendary Dutch kickboxer. Known for his devastating high kicks, which earned him the nickname "The Dutch Lumberjack," he is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.  Record: 108-35 with 81 KOs Ernesto Hoost is a Dutch retired professional kickboxer. A four-time K-1 World Champion, Hoost is considered to be one of the greatest K1 kickboxers of all time. Record: 99-21 with 62 KOs Jeff Smith  Former PKA Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Black Belt Hall of Fame has fought in over 3 decades and coached numerous champions. A national Karate treasure.   Benny Urquidez Rick Roufus Troy Dorsey  Troy Dorsey did it all, point, full contact, kickboxing, and boxing, and held WAKO world championships as well as the IBO and IBF Boxing belts Record: 33-2 with 25 KOs Joe Corley  Former President of the PKA, the most highly respected Kick Boxing company of the 80s and 90s, and was the true pioneer of televised fight sports today. Bill Wallace Jeff Smith Rick Roufus Rick "The Jet" Roufus  made multiple lists as the greatest kickboxers of modern-day history.  Record: 65-9 with 44 KOs Bill "Superfoot" Wallace  is the undisputed king of kicks, undefeated world champion, movie star, and one of the most beloved seminar instructors of all time. He will go down in history as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Record: 23-0 with 14 KOs Jeff Smith  known in his day as the DC Bomber, there has been no light heavyweight in kickboxing more dominant and skilled. From the Blood and Guts era to professional kickboxing, he ushered in an era of modern-day technique and athleticism now and forever associated with the sport. Record: 32-1 with 16 KOs. Hillary Sandoval  The legendary Texas kickboxing promoter, who promoted over 20 televised world championship matches. Benny Urquidez Rick Roufus Rob Kaman Robert Diem Kaman, also known as "The Dutchman" (5 June 1960 – 30 March 2024), was a Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai legend, who secured nine world championships throughout his career.  Record: 97-2 with 77 KOs Graciela Casillas The former undefeated world boxing and kickboxing champion is considered one of the greatest female kickboxers in history.  Benny Urquidez Demetrius Havanas Joe Lewis Spanning a fighting career from the 60s to the 80s and becoming a movie star in the process. Joe Lewis goes down in history as one of the greatest Karate, Point, and Kickboxing champions and innovators of the time.  Record: 17-4 with 15 KOs Demetrius Havanas lived  from 1950-1981, and was known as 'The Golden Greek'. In 1975, entering full-contact competition, he won the PKA U.S. Welterweight Championship. Star System ranked him the number-one world welterweight contender in 1980-81. His life ended tragically in an airplane crash along with promoter Tony Sandoval.  Record: 39-4 with 24 KOs Mike Sawyer Promoter of the long standing US Open Karate Championship and co-founder in the ISKA International Sport Karate Association which has sanctioned thousands of championships over the past 40 years. Don "The Dragon" Wilson Rick "The Jet" Roufus Jean-Yves “The Iceman” Theriault Known by millions as the movie star Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, his amazing record of 11 world titles in 3 weight divisions is unmatched. Record: 72-5 with 49 KOs Jean-Yves Thériault  ("The Iceman") the Canadian-born champion held the 80s captive as the unquestionable superstar of the PKA.  Record: 69-6 with 61 KOs

We asked 12 of the most acclaimed Black Belts to answer this timeless question “What is a Black Belt” The answers are humbling! In the world of martial arts, the black belt stands as a symbol of excellence, discipline, and mastery. It is a universally recognized achievement that signifies a high level of competence and commitment in a particular martial art. However, the black belt is more than just a piece of fabric worn around the waist; it represents a journey of personal growth, perseverance, and the pursuit of perfection. Here is what our experts had to say.  Mike Stone Karate  My mindset and belief system about what makes a black belt and master was established over 60 years ago. Sensei Koichi Tohei was the first Black Belt Master I met, and he set the standard by which I judged black belts and those I considered Masters of the martial arts. I view all martial arts under the same principles and values of understanding honor, discipline, respect, integrity, honesty, humility, and compassion. These are the traits of a Black Belt.  John Sepulveda Kenpo  What is a Black Belt? I've longed to follow Senior Grand Master Parker's philosophy of "It is not the aim of Kenpo to merely produce a skillful practitioner but to create a well-integrated student respectful of all". Ricardo Liborio  BJJ There are so many qualities that define a black belt, but besides the technical skills, the most important is to have respect and discipline, which makes any person a true leader. Jeff Smith Tae Kwon Do  A Black Belt is someone who has trained weekly under the supervision of a qualified certified Black Belt Instructor and passed all the under belt tests required both physically and mentally. After Having performed all requirements satisfactorily to their style and association standards should/could be awarded a 1st degree black belt. Ron Van Clief  Chinese Goju  A black belt is a symbol of attained knowledge and skill; an understanding of the basics of martial technical application.  The prerequisite for black belt differs from the numerous martial arts styles.  Dedication, discipline, respect, passion, and confidence are necessary to attain the level of black belt.  A black belt expert should have 10,000 hrs of training and study. Tom Callahan Kyokushin Kan Karate The definition of a Yudansha (a person who wears a black belt) can vary among individuals. Generally, earning a shodan (1st degree black belt) signifies that someone has "mastered the basics" of a particular martial art style. This includes the fundamental techniques (Kihon), etiquette, and the compulsory kata for the style's curriculum, typically requiring around five years of consistent training. For me, however, wearing a black belt goes much deeper. It should also reflect one's character. Through the self-discipline of constant training, over time, one develops a sense of humility and self-awareness. Overcoming the many challenges presented by martial arts transforms a person. Bram Frank  Filipino Martial Arts  Being a Black Belt or earning one's Black Belt is the beginning of one's martial arts journey.  It's like graduating high school and going off to college. You graduate high school and you're supposed to have learned and acquired basic skills so you can use them in college...the professors move along to teach some subjects that need that knowledge ready and available for use. Same with a black belt. Being a black belt is when you get to really learn martial arts. No one has to teach you how to do a myriad of techniques. You already KNOW the basics. Yo know how to punch, how to kick, how to step, how to body shift.  Being a BLACK BELT is the true beginning of being a martial artist. Simon Rhee Tae Kwon Do   A Black belt means a person has accomplished basic training of their style of martial arts. It’s almost like finishing a high school education, to put it simply.   Herb Perez Tae Kwon Do  A modern black belt in Taekwondo is a testament to unwavering dedication, technical mastery, and a profound respect for the art's traditions and philosophy.   They embody humility and sportsmanship, recognizing that victory and defeat are part of the journey, and that true success lies in the ongoing quest for self-improvement.  In essence, a modern black belt is not just a fighter, but a lifelong learner, a role model, and an ambassador for the values that Taekwondo embodies. Jian Lee Tae Kwon Do  A Black Belt should possess a combination of qualities including skill acquisition, dedication, a strong sense of ethics, leadership, and a willingness to continually pursue a deeper understanding of their craft. Skill acquisition reflects countless hours of training and refining techniques. Dedication involves taking your art and making it a part of your daily routine. A strong sense of ethics ensures that the practitioner upholds the principles and values shared in their training environment. Leadership is important to help guide future generations and to mentor those who are at an earlier stage of the journey. Lastly, a true Black Belt remains eager to learn more and is always seeking a way to expand on their experiences.   KC Jones Kenpo  A Black Belt is a black-colored belt or sash awarded to an advanced practitioner in various martial arts disciplines, such as Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, and Jujitsu. It signifies a high degree of expertise and rank within the martial arts community. However, the meaning and requirements associated with a black belt can vary depending on the specific martial art and organization. Achieving a black belt signifies that the wearer is competent in the style’s basic techniques and principles. It follows the Bushido Code. Quoting Renzo Gracie,  “It is a white belt that never quit! Graciela Casillas Traditional Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu and Shen Chun D o  As a martial arts instructor and founder of the art Shen Chun Do (The Way of the Warrior Spirit), I believe a black belt can be defined as a mature practitioner of the arts who goes beyond proficiency in techniques and forms.  A black belt signifies a deep commitment to mastering the art.  However, beyond physical prowess, he/she demonstrates humility, integrity, continuous learning, and personal growth within and beyond the dojo. A black belt lives by the virtue of “nintai” perseverance and endurance and never gives up, upholding virtues taught within the arts.   This includes cultivating inner peace, self-control, self-respect, and respect for the elders who paved the road they travel upon.  Achieving this rank is not an endpoint but a milestone that marks the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of excellence and self-improvement. Harinder Singh  Jeet Kune Do and BJJ A Black Belt is someone who understands the value of hard work, discipline, determination, and deliberate practice.  A Black Belt is someone who loves the art, who loves to train, and who loves to learn.  It is someone who has discovered the power of martial arts and the gift of courage, confidence, and clarity.  A Black Belt is a teacher and a leader who leads by example and inspires others to overcome their limitations.  A Black Belt is someone who knows how much they do not know and is always ready to begin again.  A Black Belt has a command over their external tools and is now ready to take the journey inwards to discover “who” is executing those tools.

Get ready for a WILD NIGHT of MMA action THIS SATURDAY, July 20th, as the UFC Apex in Las Vegas becomes the epicenter of a 12-bout FIGHT FEST! 💥 The main event?  A STRAWWEIGHT WAR between Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba that could SHAKE UP the entire division! 😱 These two warriors are ready to UNLEASH in a 5-ROUND MAIN EVENT that promises to be an all-out BRAWL! 🥊 Who will emerge victorious and take a giant step towards title contention? 🏆 Catch ALL the ACTION LIVE on ESPN, ESPN2, and Fight Pass! 📺 But the excitement doesn't stop there!  Stay LOCKED to www.blackbeltmag.com  all week long for EXCLUSIVE updates, behind-the-scenes scoops, and predictions that will get your adrenaline PUMPING! 🤫 This is ONE UFC Fight Night you WON'T want to miss! Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and prepare for a night of MMA MAYHEM! 🔥

Lumpinee Stadium is set for another fun evening on Friday, July 19, with ONE Friday Fights 71. This time, the weekly event series will be headlined by a 116-pound Muay Thai catchweight barnburner between Songchainoi Kiatsongrit and Rak Erawan. The two first met at ONE Friday Fights 41, where Songchainoi earned a six-figure contract with ONE Championship with his victory. Two early knockdowns were not enough to completely secure the win, as he was on the receiving end of a knockdown in the second frame from Rak. In the final frame, Songchainoi found his groove again and got his hand raised by unanimous decision. However, the closely contested battle left a lot to be desired for his counterpart. Since dropping that match, Rak posted back-to-back victories to move his ONE record to 4-1. The Thai athlete is ready to level the score against his rival and show he is very much his equal on the global stage. Silangern Lanna Waterside will make his promotional debut in the co-main event against Petlampun Muadablampang in a 128-pound catchweight Muay Thai matchup. Petlampun has been perfect in his ONE run thus far, with a perfect 4-0 record. However, Silangern hopes to build upon his regional success with a massive win on the global stage. Superball Wankhongohm MBK will take his 3-0 ONE record into a 142-pound catchweight affair against Ilyas Musaev.  The “art of eight limbs” will be on full display as both men try to send a message with highlight-reel strikes that they deserve more in the latter part of the year. ONE Friday Fights 71 airs live and free on ONE’s official YouTube channel at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. on Friday, July 19. ONE Friday Fights 71 Full Card Songchainoi Kiatsongrit vs. Rak Erawan Petlampun Muadablampang vs. Silangern Lanna Waterside Chartpayak Saksatoon vs. Pornsanae Sor Phumipat Yoddoi Kaewsamrit vs. Chokdee Maxjandee Padejsuk Looksuan vs. Pettaweesak Sangmorakot Rifdean Masdor vs. Petaek Sitbigjasskonrakpathum Superball Wankhongohm MBK vs. Ilyas Musaev Ongbak Fairtex vs. Abdulla Dayakaev Petmuangsri Wankhongohm MBK vs. Assadulah Imangazaliev Timur Chuikov vs. Issei Yonaha Nachyn Sat vs. Ivan Bondarchuk Faine Mesquita vs. Yuka Okutomi