Gabriel Sousa was the last man to defeat Mikey Musumeci, and he did it via submission. At ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II , the American got his revenge with a calf-slicer submission just over three minutes into their match. But the heated post-match interview captured much of the attention, because Musumeci claimed his reason for being so aggressive was due to years of online bullying by his opponent. “So for three or four years, this guy harassed me for every match that I did, discrediting me, ‘Yo, he’s not fighting me, he’s scared of me, he’s running away from me,’ just over and over and over and over,” Musumeci told ONE. “Darth Rigatoni” was on a mission at ONE 167, and it paid off with a spectacular finish in his bantamweight scrap. The feelings within were not new to Musumeci, who has been dealing with bullies his entire life. “It was just more about me finally shutting him up. The day before, he tried to make me flinch. He was walking chest out with me. And he brought out a part of me from when I was a kid,” the BJJ star recalled. “I’m not really a tough guy, and my whole life competing with these alpha macho people, and they always would act tough, and I like action. So it just brought out me as a kid, always dealing with this type of people.” Musumeci was apologetic after his match, but the overflow of emotions was a look into his character. Pushed to the brink by his rival, the American star used his feelings as motivation for one of his best performances to date. “It brought out Little Mikey from when I was a kid, and my anger towards that personality and that person. But, again I got very emotional. I’m sorry, guys. But I just leave it all out there, you know,” Musumeci stated. With ONE 167 behind him, Musumeci now has another test lined up. On September 6, “Darth Rigatoni” will challenge Kade Ruotolo for the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship. The flyweight star will move all the way up to lightweight but is not looking to get too bulky, as it may adversely affect his performance. “For me, it’s not about putting on weight. It’s about just feeling as strong as I could be, right? I’m afraid if I get too heavy, I’ll lose cardio and gas out in the first minute, especially because Kade has the best cardio,” Musumeci said. Working with strength and conditioning coaches, Musumeci is still focused on getting stronger. Against Ruotolo, he will need to be at his peak condition to dethrone his fellow American. ONE 168: Denver is shaping up to have one of the most compelling submission grappling bouts of the year when the two pound-for-pound stars collide inside the Ball Arena. “I’ll definitely probably stay lighter, and maybe if I can, I’ll try to put on another 5 pounds of muscle. I feel like that would be a reasonable number, 10 pounds max,” the American remarked. “I was trying, for this match, to eat more protein, so that helped me get a little heavier. So maybe another 5 pounds, if that.”

Are Martial Arts in the Olympics? The martial arts currently in the Olympics are Judo (introduced in 1964) and Tae Kwon Do (introduced in 1988). Karate was in the Olympics in 2021 but was later dropped. READ MORE: Karate and Kickboxing Considered for 2028 Olympics Emerging Judo Stars to Watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics Sport Karate in the Olympics

Martial arts and action movie legend, Dolph Lundgren spent years bringing Wanted Man to life.  In this film written, directed and starring Dolph Lundgren, J ohansen (played by Lundgren) portrays an aging detective whose traditional policing techniques have caused a recent public relations debacle for the department. In a bid to salvage his career, he's dispatched to Mexico with the task of extraditing a female witness (Villa) implicated in the killings of two DEA agents.  Upon arrival, he not only confronts a clash of ideologies but also discovers that dangerous individuals on both sides of the border are now targeting him and his witness. Also starring Kelsey Grammar, this movie hits nostalgic notes that we rarely see today.

GLORY 93 takes place July 20 from the Topsportcentrum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and it is set to be a summer blockbuster event! The card is headlined with two superfights as former GLORY world champion  Endy Semeleer (36-2, 18 KO)  welcomes current GLORY lightweight world champion  Tyjani Beztati (26-4, 9 KO)  up to welterweight for the first time in the main event and reigning GLORY featherweight world champion Petch (169-40-3, 27 KO)  goes head-to-head with RISE national champion  Kento Haraguchi (25-3-1, 14 KO)  in the co-main event. Two former middleweight title challengers collide as the number one ranked  Michael Boapeah (17-4-1, 7 KO)  takes on the number three ranked  Ulric Bokeme (32-5, 17 KO) , both fighters chasing a rematch at champion Donovan Wisse. Top Dutch star  Tayfun Özcan (86-10-3, 28 KO)  will make his highly anticipated GLORY debut against French champion  Majid Amarouche (25-2-1, 10 KO) . Elsewhere on the main card, we will see a heated rematch between  Robin Ciric (22-7, 7 KO)  and Diaguely Camara (24-6-1, 10 KO)  following their controversial outing at GLORY 91 and an explosive featherweight contest between  Abraham Vidales (16-3, 13 KO)  and  Miguel Trindade (58-6, 24 KO) . In the GLORY 93 prelims, top ten welterweights  Mehdi Ait El Hadj (32-4-2, 8 KO)  and  Don Sno (4-1, 2 KO)  battle, the always exciting  Juri De Sousa (44-8-1, 20 KO)  welcomes France’s  Frangis Goma (21-6, 10 KO)  into GLORY, and man mountain  Colin George (23-11, 21 KO)  meets Belgian-Albanian Asdren Gashi (16-4-1, 8 KO)  in the opening bout of the night. Tickets for GLORY 93 are available right now through  GLORYKickboxing.com . GLORY 93 will be available to watch exclusively on Videoland in the Netherlands, Bally Live & Stadium across the United States & Canada, DAZN in France & Belgium, and on U-Next in Japan. GLORY 93 Fight Card Main Event: GLORY Welterweight Superfight Endy Semeleer (36-2, 18 KO) vs. Tyjani Beztati (26-4, 9 KO) Co-Main Event Featherweight Title Petch (169-40-3, 27 KO) vs. Kento Haraguchi (25-3-1, 14 KO) Middleweight Michael Boapeah (17-4-1, 7 KO) vs. Ulric Bokeme (32-5, 17 KO) Catchweight 73.5 kg | 162 lbs Tayfun Özcan (86-10-3, 28 KO) vs. Majid Amarouche (25-2-1, 10 KO) Featherweight Abraham Vidales (16-3, 13 KO) vs. Miguel Trindade (58-6, 24 KO) Welterweight Robin Ciric (22-7, 7 KO) vs. Diaguely Camara (24-6-1, 10 KO) Preliminary Card Welterweight Mehdi Ait El Hadj (32-4-2, 8 KO) vs. Don Sno (4-1, 2 KO) Middleweight Juri De Sousa (44-8-1, 20 KO) vs. Frangis Goma (21-6, 10 KO) Heavyweight Colin George (23-11, 21 KO) vs. Asdren Gashi (16-4-1, 8 KO)

Century Martial Arts hosted four Machado brothers ( John, Carlos, Roger, and Rigan Machado )  for a special seminar, following the seminar, there was a ceremony for the promotion of two members to the elusive BJJ coral belt. The red belt (or coral belt) is the Ninth-Degree black belt, according to the International Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation (IBJJF). There are thousands of Jiu-Jitsu black belts in the world, yet only roughly 40 Jiu-Jitsu coral/red belts exist! Coral belts are considered the most prestigious in BJJ and are the result of thousands of hours of training. The new coral belts are... Bob Bass – First Filipino coral belt in their organization. He was one of their “ dirty dozen .” This is a name often used to describe the international pioneers of the Brazilian grappling style.  “One of the best grapplers of his generation, Bob Bass did the unthinkable at the 1995 Pan American Championship (the 1st official Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan Am tournament), defeating the jiu-jitsu prodigy Márcio Feitosa  of Gracie Barra  at the brown belt division. Bass had many great results as a competitor, later founding the South Bay Jiu-Jitsu Academy.” - BJJheroes.com Renato Magno – Is often referred to as the sixth Machado brother, as he is one of their closest friends. Having been in their lives for over 45 years. Also one of the “dirty dozen.”  Magno played a major role in the movie " Red Belt. "

Here are the latest shifts in the UFC rankings across various divisions, highlighted by the recent events in Louisville and the upcoming bouts at UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira. Changes were noted in four divisions—lightweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight—after the latest bouts at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov. Here are the updated UFC Rankings. Lightweight Division Although the spotlight was on the lightweight category earlier in the month at UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier, the rankings saw a shift this week. France’s Benoît Saint Denis climbed to No. 12, nudging Jalin Turner down to No. 13. Middleweight Division In a pivotal matchup, Nassourdine Imavov defeated former title contender Jared Cannonier in the fourth round, taking over the No. 4 ranking spot. This adjustment pushed Cannonier to No. 5, Marvin Vettori to No. 6, and Brendan Allen to No. 7. Roman Dolidze also moved up to No. 10 following a previous loss to Imavov. Light Heavyweight Division Dominick Reyes advanced two spots to No. 13 after securing his first win since 2019 with a first-round knockout, causing Alonzo Menifield and Azamat Murzakanov to slide to No. 14 and No. 15, respectively. Heavyweight Division In the heavyweight ranks, Tai Tuivasa advanced to No. 10, while Derrick Lewis moved down to No. 11. Upcoming Fights at UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira The upcoming event at the UFC APEX features crucial flyweight division fights. Tagir Ulanbekov, currently ranked No. 12, faces Joshua Van, who is entering the fight with an eight-fight win streak, including three victories in the Octagon. The main event showcases a clash between veteran Alex Perez, ranked No. 5, and undefeated newcomer Tatsuro Taira, ranked No. 13. Perez aims to build on his recent victory, while Taira seeks to continue his unbeaten run with a significant win over Perez.

What if I told you that strength, speed, power and health all start with your nose? Depending on how you breathe, you can either maximize or depress your martial arts performance. Just because you’re breath- ing doesn’t mean you’re breathing correctly. Things like stress, the common cold and our modern life- style can make your breath- ing pattern worse. Ideally, proper breathing will be taught while a martial artist is still young — Brazilian karate champion Igor Leite learned from his father and karate sensei when he was 4 years old. With the right instruction, however, the skill readily can be acquired later in life. “Breathing properly must be learned, practiced and made a habit by everyone,” says Leite, now 36. “Everyone is born breathing through the nose, but as people get older, they unconsciously switch their breathing from the nose to the mouth. “There are too many things in modern life like sitting too much, working, stress, inactivity, etc. that compromise our breathing pattern. We must be mindful about our breathing to optimize and maximize its energy. If not, it will lead to a path that worsens health and impedes strength.” With a little effort, breathing correctly can become natural for you, just as it is for Leite. Then you’ll be fully aware and mindful of your inhalations and exhalations at all times while reaping the benefits as you practice your art, he says. So are you breathing correctly for martial arts? Lets find out. NASAL DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING Breathing through your nose is the key to boosting your health, increasing your chi, enhancing your vitality and improving your strength. In fact, nasal diaphragmatic breathing (NDB) is essential for any fitness and conditioning program, and it sits at the heart of all martial arts. When air is delivered to the lungs via NDB, the lungs function optimally and performance is maximized. That occurs because the following actions take place: VO2 is enhanced. Intra-abdominal pressure produces the tension needed to create core power during martial arts movements, is boosted. Oxygen and CO2 are exchanged efficiently. Relaxation is facilitated. Mental clarity and sharpness are augmented. Reflex responses occur more quickly. Note that breathing through the mouth does not offer any of these benefits. Even worse, it can sabotage them, fostering the opposite effects. Furthermore, NDB creates volume in the lungs by contracting the diaphragm, which is the muscle that pulls down the lower part of the lungs so we can breathe. The mid to lower areas of the lungs are 30 to 50 percent larger than the mid to upper areas. This is important because the bottoms of the lungs feature more alveoli than the upper parts. Alveoli are sacs that exchange oxygen and CO2. The more alveoli you use, the better your muscles function which is how you increase your VO, or your body’s maximum rate of oxygen usage.  Because you’re using more space and more alveoli when you engage in NDB, your breathing slows and you actually pause after each exhalation. As a result, your heart rate decreases because it has to pump less blood. This is important in the prevention of arrhythmia and the transition into an athlete. Correcting a misconception: If you don’t need oxygen, you won’t breathe until you need it. There’s no need to take deep breaths all the time. This is how you create imbalance. Another benefit of nasal breathing is the production of nitric oxide. This gas is produced in the nose and acts similarly to CO2, which means it has powerful dilation effects. When you inhale, the nitric oxide present in your nose keeps your bronchial tubes and bronchioles dilated to a normal resting level. That makes it easier for air to enter the alveoli so oxygen can be transported in the blood. Nitric oxide also acts as an antimicrobial in that it filters the air in your nose, thus preventing bacteria and pollutants from entering the body. Clearly, NDB has the potential to alleviate many common physical ailments, and all that’s required is restructuring your breathing. It’s even more important in the quest to maximize your martial arts endurance. MOUTH BREATHING When you breathe through your mouth, you use the mid to upper parts of the lungs, where there are significantly fewer alveoli, and that reduces CO2 below normal levels. CO2 is an essential gas because it’s a natural dilator that relaxes muscles, stimulates nerves (especially nerves to the brain), and reduces inflammation in joints and muscles. This is important because how you breathe will affect your training and your energy levels. For example, when CO2 is high during exercise, it acts as a dilator to increase the blood flow so O2 can be released into areas of high CO2 concentration, thus balancing the acidic environment. On the other hand, when CO2 levels are low, less O2 is released, which causes veins and arteries to contract. That reduces blood flow to the brain, heart and muscles. You create this condition because you’re exhaling too much CO2 at one time through your mouth. Just because you can move more air more quickly through the mouth does not mean it’s better than moving it through your nose. In the end, it will affect your performance, strength and endurance in a negative way. ONE-MINUTE BREATHING TEST (BUTEYKO) It’s useful to determine how many breaths you take in one minute. Just breathe normally as you monitor the time. Don’t inhale so your shoulders rise as you struggle to get in the last bit of air. If you’re a mouth breather, breathe through your mouth. If you breathe rapidly, do it for the test or you’ll be missing the point. If you don’t know what is dysfunctional, you won’t know how to move forward. Note that when you’re counting, one breath includes an inhalation and the subsequent exhalation. Evaluate your results as follows: 3 to 7 breaths per minute — excellent/normal 8 breaths per minute — good (normal) 9 to 18 breaths per minute — below normal/poor 19 or more breaths per minute — poor HEALTHY BREATHING PATTERN Here’s how you can alter your breathing to make it healthier. At rest, inhale and exhale through your nose while keeping your mouth closed. Take a long, natural, comfortable inhalation and then exhale. This will create a pause after each breath. Don’t force anything or struggle to inhale more air. Let your body cue you to take deeper breaths when it needs to. If you take extra-deep breaths all the time, it will have the same effect as mouth breathing. The more you practice breathing, the more it will adjust over time. Aim for a five-second pause after each exhala- tion before the next inhalation. In trained athletes, the normal resting breathing rate is frequently low. They often pause for 10 seconds or more because of NDB.  When you breathe through your mouth, there is little to no pause. BREATHE INTO THE STRETCH FOR FLEXIBILITY Breathing into the stretch is important to facilitate muscular contraction and the relaxation you need to foster flexibility. The breathing pattern for flexibility is much slower than for the strength phase of movement. In Travell & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Janet G. Travell, M.D., and David G. Simons, M.D., write, “Inhalation encourages the contraction of most muscles, and exhalation encourages their relaxation.” Try this drill: Get into a lunge position. Contract your glute. Inhale, and while you do so, tighten your abdominals and stretch your hip flexor to maximum by lower- ing your hips. Inhale into the stretch. Once the move- ment stops, pause at the barrier and then slowly exhale. Pay attention to how your hips can move closer to the floor. You’ll feel the increase in flexibility instantly. Breathing and contracting facilitate the stretch, whereas just stretching places excessive force on the muscles, which is not optimal. After the exhalation, inhale again, repeating the exercise three or more times to instantly increase range of motion. STRENGTH AND POWER BREATHING During strength and power training, inhaling through the nose contracts the diaphragm and produces intra-abdominal pressure to create abdominal ten- sion. And the slow exhalation is a hiss through the mouth. Hissing through the mouth maintains abdominal tension. The hiss is the power release. It can be controlled for more or less tension. If you don’t have pressure and tension, you won’t generate force and power. Stuart McGill, Ph.D., a renowned biomechanics professor, refers to this as “bracing breath.” He says, “Bracing breath transfers to the spine and muscles throughout the body.” The diaphragm is the key to making this happen. BREATHING EXERCISE Stand up and contract your glutes to about 70 per- cent. This will activate your lower abdominals below the navel where chi is located and bring your hips into alignment. This is the center and the strongest point of your body. Inhale through your nose. As you do, tighten your abdominals while keeping your glutes contracted. Don’t let your stomach distend. As you inhale, you’ll feel it all the way down to your feet, which helps you generate power from the ground up during martial arts movements. Your abdominals should automatically tighten because your diaphragm is contracting. Tighten around the pressure of your breath and think “brace.” Now exhale-hiss, keeping your glutes tight. Don’t exhale all your air; just release your breath through your mouth. Exhale by hissing the air out, making an actual hissing sound. The harder you push the air out through the exhale hiss, the more your abdominals will engage in isometric contraction. You can use “breathing ladders” to build your breathing strength: three seconds for the inhalation and three seconds for the exhalation, working your way up to four and four, then five and five. The abdominal cavity has receptors that sense the increase in pressure from the inhalation. That increases tension, which increases power. Practice training your breathing reflex with a little force and then a lot of force. Feel the differences in intensity and in the resulting abdominal contractions.  “Energy, strength and power must come from the diaphragm practiced through nasal diaphragmatic breathing,” Leite said. “You cannot suck air in and out of the mouth. This is not energy efficient and is the [way to become] tired and fatigued, as well as the limitation hindering strength, performance and progression. “Strength and power development is all about how you breathe, function and train to deliver maximal results. Doing the latest and greatest workout does not ensure progression; how you breathe does. Breathing expresses how we can and will move.” Jason Kelly has worked as an exercise physiologist for 20 years. He’s written three books: The Balanced Body, Your Breath Is Your Power and Instant Strength. He also teaches workshops on strength, performance and health. This article originally appeared in a 2020 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

After enduring a year of relentless pursuit, punctuated by moments of doubt and external skepticism, Belal Muhammad's unwavering faith and ferocious determination have finally led him to a long-awaited UFC welterweight title shot against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester, England on July 27. Muhammad, a 35-year-old standout from Chicagoland, has been on a meteoric rise, extending his winning streak to five and his unbeaten run to 10 with a decisive victory over Gilbert Burns. However, his championship aspirations were tested as he watched other contenders vying for a title shot while his name was conspicuously absent from the conversation. Despite the setbacks and uncertainties, Muhammad's unwavering belief in a divine plan, a cornerstone of his Muslim faith, fueled his perseverance. He remained steadfast in his conviction that his time would come, even as he grappled with doubts and faced criticism from those who questioned his abilities. Throughout the year, Muhammad maintained a relentless presence, attending UFC pay-per-view events and constantly reminding Edwards of his readiness for a title fight. His patience was ultimately rewarded when the UFC officially announced the championship clash with Edwards, scheduled to take place in Edwards' home territory of Manchester. Muhammad views the delays in securing the fight as a blessing in disguise, allowing him to refine his skills and cultivate a deep-seated animosity toward Edwards that has ignited a burning desire to dethrone the champion. The contender is confident in his chances, believing that Edwards' style is tailor-made for his strengths. Muhammad sees the champion as mentally fragile and prone to breaking under pressure, a weakness he intends to exploit relentlessly. Drawing from his experience facing top contenders like Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and Sean Brady, Muhammad is convinced that Edwards presents an easier challenge than any of his previous opponents. He envisions a dominant performance, visualizing a broken and defeated champion, a scenario he finds immensely satisfying. While acknowledging Edwards' winning streak since their first encounter, Muhammad remains undeterred. He sees the champion's recent victories over Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington as inconsequential, attributing them to Usman's premature return and Covington's perceived lack of skill. Muhammad's journey to the title shot has been arduous, marked by perseverance, unwavering faith, and a burning desire to prove his doubters wrong. With the weight of uncertainty lifted, he embraces the opportunity to silence his critics and solidify his status as the best welterweight in the world. The world may still be hesitant to acknowledge his greatness, but Muhammad is confident that once he claims the championship gold, there will be no room for further debate. The fight against Edwards represents a defining moment in his career, a chance to fulfill his destiny and etch his name in UFC history.

The UFC makes a thrilling return to Manchester on Saturday, July 27, with a stacked card featuring two UK champions defending their titles at the Co-op Live arena. Main Event Welterweight Showdown: The headline event sees Birmingham's Leon Edwards (22-3) put his welterweight title on the line in a highly-anticipated rematch against Chicago's Belal Muhammad (23-3). Edwards, undefeated in his last 13 fights, aims to continue his dominance while Muhammad, riding a five-bout win streak, looks to seize the championship opportunity. Co-Main Event Heavyweight Clash: In the co-main event, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (14-3), a Manchester native, seeks redemption against Curtis Blaydes (18-4-0) in a rematch of their 2022 encounter. Aspinall, known for his explosive finishes, will be fueled by the home crowd as he defends his title for the first time. Action-Packed Undercard: The undercard promises a series of exciting matchups, including fan-favorite Paddy Pimblett taking on Bobby Green, undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev facing Manel Kape, and a featherweight clash between Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze. The card also features rising stars like Molly McCann, Shauna Bannon, Caolan Loughran, and Nathaniel Wood, among others. Here are more details: An entertainer inside and outside the Octagon, Paddy Pimblett (21-3, fighting out of Liverpool, England) will be taking on the no.15 ranked lightweight Bobby Green (32-15-1, fighting out of San Bernardino, United States). Undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev (12-0, fighting out of Manchester, England) takes on the well-rounded Manel Kape (19-6, fighting out of Luanda, Angola), who has won his last four bouts. One of the UK’s brightest talents, Arnold Allen (19-3, fighting out of Ipswich, England) faces Giga Chikadze (15-3, fighting out of Tbilisi, Georgia) in what should be an electric featherweight bout Looking to continue her winning momentum, Molly McCann (14-6, fighting out of Liverpool, England) faces Bruna Brasil (9-4-1, fighting out of Paranavai, Brazil) who signed to the UFC after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series . Searching for her first UFC victory, Shauna Bannon (5-1, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) takes on Brazilian Ravena Morais (9-2-1, fighting out of Miguel Calmon, Bahia, Brazil) in what should be an exciting bantamweight bout between two strikers. Two bantamweights looking for a second win this year go head to head, as Caolan Loughran (9-1, fighting out of Tyrone, Ireland), faces Ramon Taveras (10-2, fighting out of Duval County, United States). Entertaining featherweights collide as Nathaniel Wood (20-6, fighting out of London, England) squares off against Daniel Pineda (28-15, fighting out of Dallas, United States), who has secured finishes in all 28 of his victories. Undefeated heavyweight Mick Parkin (9-0, fighting out of Sunderland, England) faces Lukasz Brzeski (9-4-1 fighting out of Zakopane, Poland) who secured his first UFC victory in April. Looking for his second UFC win in the UK, Christian Leroy Duncan (10-1, fighting out of Gloucester, England) takes on Polish striker Robert Bryczek (17-6 fighting out of Bielsko, Biala, Poland). Winning his UFC debut in February, Oban Elliott (10-2, fighting out of Stroud, Wales) faces Preston Parsons (11-4 fighting out of Jacksonville, United States) who has secured nine of his 11 wins by submission. Highly technical light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas (15-6, fighting out of London, England by way of Klaipeda, Lithuania) matches up against Marcin Prachnio (17-7 fighting out of Warsaw, Poland), who holds six career wins in under two minutes. Englishman Sam Patterson (11-2-1, fighting out of Watford, England) goes head to head with Irishman Kiefer Crosbie (10-4 fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) in an exciting bout between two well-rounded mixed martial artists. Tickets for UFC 304: EDWARDS vs MUHAMMAD 2 go on sale Friday, June 7, at 10 a.m. BST via Ticketmaster. Fight Club members and registered fans can access early pre-sales.

The significance of this cover lies in a historical error made by the magazine, which took over 50 years to rectify. It portrays a young Chuck Norris engaged in battle with Carlos Bunda, the inaugural IKC Lightweight Champion in 1964 and 1966. Although the artwork was originally based on a photo depicting Bunda, the artist mistakenly rendered it as Joe Lewis. The error remained unnoticed until Bunda's daughter Jackie told Black Belt's publisher this story in a casual conversation. As a gesture of respect and honor, Master Carlos Bunda is rightfully credited for his contribution.   The original photo was taken with Norris and Bunda in the full contact bare knuckle era of blood and guts Karate.

Amanda Nunes: A Pride Month Celebration of MMA's Greatest and LGBT Icon As Pride month dawns upon us, it’s not only a time for vibrant celebrations but also a time to honor individuals who have broken barriers, shattered stereotypes, and inspired countless others. In the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), one name stands tall - Amanda Nunes. Regarded as the greatest female fighter in MMA history and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever to grace the octagon, Nunes' journey is not only a testament to her exceptional skill but also to her unwavering commitment to authenticity and advocacy. What sets Nunes apart from her peers isn’t just her dominance in the cage, but her courage outside of it. As an openly gay athlete, Nunes has fearlessly embraced her identity and used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Her marriage to Nina Nunes Ansaroff, a former UFC fighter, not only signifies a union of love but also symbolizes resilience and representation within the LGBTQ+ community. In a world where LGBTQ+ individuals often face discrimination and prejudice, Nunes and her partner Nina stand as beacons of hope and inspiration. Their love story transcends the boundaries of sport, resonating with people from all walks of life. Nunes’ journey to self-acceptance wasn’t without its challenges. Coming out to her family, particularly in a culture that held traditional values, presented its own set of obstacles. Yet, through it all, Nunes found the courage to embrace her truth, buoyed by the support of her partner and loved ones. “A lot of people that are homophobic, or they don’t know how to act around gay people, if they meet one couple it can change their mind about everything,” Nina Nunes said. “I feel like if we can do that for a little boy or little girl that’s struggling because their parents don’t know how to accept them, we are so down to do it.” Their openness and willingness to share their story serve as a lifeline for those who may be struggling with their own identity or facing adversity within their own communities. The two are also mothers of two. As a power couple in the MMA world, Amanda and Nina Ansaroff a  represent resilience, strength, and unity. Their journey as athletes and advocates has earned them admiration not only within the MMA community but also within the broader LGBTQ+ community.

Cathy Cade, an LGBT pioneer and acclaimed photographer, immortalizes Sensei Keiko Fukuda, the remarkable individual who held the distinguished title of being the final living student of judo's founder,. Judo practitioner Sensei Keiko Fukuda (born April 12, 1913, Tokyo, Japan and died February 9, 2013 at 99 years old in San Francisco, CA) was a pioneer and trained under one the greatest masters-- Kanō Jigorō . Naturally, she was the highest-ranked female judoka in history reaching 10th dan two years before her passing.  Early trailer for Mrs. Judo film Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful In 1934, at 21 years of age, Keiko Fukuda embarked on a long journey with judo as her vehicle.  This path meant giving up marriage, family, and her Japanese citizenship. She has endured war, discrimination, and crossed oceans, to become the only woman to attain 10th degree black belt.  She was the last living student of judo's founder, Kano. She continued to teach until just weeks before her death in 2013. The photos below were taken by a famous Northern CA photographer Cathy Cade of Berkeley (now 82 years old).  "'Cade is a longtime activist in the civil rights, gay liberation, and women's liberation movements, and her photographs are intricately linked to her work for social justice.' In 1989 she shared her photographs 'showing the strength, diversity and pride of lesbians"'at a presentation in Davis." These remarkable photos of the Fukuda were shot at Mills College in 1974. Sensei Fukuda taught there from 1967 to 1978. Ms. Cade has signed and dated each photo/card.