Think about how words, spoken or heard, can influence the way we train in the dojo. Those same words can influence the way we move our bodies. Watch your words. This may seem far-fetched. Most of us don’t believe in magic spells, in the ability of mere words to affect the physical world. Nobody has died because someone pointed a finger at them and shouted “bang!” That said, there are ways that words can affect not just our perceptions but also the way we exist. The karate dojo is but one place where this can happen. How do you, for example, translate jodan uke? Probably you’ll say “upper-level block.” Uke, though, does not mean “to block.” The uke in judo or aikido does not block. He or she “receives” the technique. That’s what “uke” means: to receive. If you think in terms of blocking, you miss the value of receiving the technique and using that reception to your advantage. Likewise, when you hear, week after week, your teacher talk about this or that block, it influences the way you perceive the movement. If you don’t believe that, mentally translate the word differently: Each time you hear “block,” think “receive.” That is an obvious example; most karateka will identify with it. Others are more subtle. What, for instance, is a “front kick?” In Japanese, this is called mae geri. Practitioners of most forms of Japanese karate will immediately have a mental picture of a front kick. Okinawan karateka, however, don’t have such a clear image. In traditional Okinawan karate, there are many ways of kicking in a generally forward direction, all of which could be described as “front kicks.” Some forms call for the foot and leg to twist out from the hip, corkscrewing. The kick isn’t aimed directly ahead; it’s meant to rotate, much like a turning punch. Some front kicks in Okinawan kata are actually delivered on an oblique angle. In other systems, a front kick refers to a kick with the toes. Using the ball or heel to strike is thought of as a thrust. Two hundred years ago, it’s doubtful any Okinawan karate teacher used the term “mae geri” or a similar word in Okinawan. He may not have used any term at all. That’s the point. He and his contemporaries probably just said, “Kick like this.” Then they demonstrated. The emphasis was never on words. Understand that a class, lined up in neat rows and performing their kata or basics as a unit, is not a part of Okinawan karate’s history. Quite the opposite. Training wasn’t conducted in a dojo — there isn’t even an equivalent word in Okinawan for that space. Karate “class” happened in a teacher’s yard or in a clearing in the forest. The teacher probably was related to some of the students; he would have known the others personally, known their families. Every student would have had the attention of that teacher. He wasn’t standing at the front of the class, barking orders. He was standing right next to you. In this environment, there wasn’t any need for terminology. Your teacher didn’t need words. He just showed you and you copied. This also is true of the Japanese arts, by the way, those traditional koryu from the feudal age. I was contacted by a novelist a while back; he wanted me to give him some terms for various sword cuts that he wanted to describe in a book — stuff like “interlacing dragonfly sweep.” I had to tell the writer there weren’t really many of those. Tsubame gaeshi, the “returning swallow,” is one example, true. But for the most part, most classical ryu do not have a lot of terminology. Just as with the Okinawans, the groups were so closely related they did not need a lexicon of terms. This will sound odd to many karateka. Modern karate has a massive terminology. There is yoko geri kekomi to describe a side kick that drives in, and yoko geri keage to describe one that rises as the side of the foot goes out. Mae sagi ashi is a one-legged stance with the foot of the raised leg against the front of the supporting knee, and ushiro sagi ashi is when it’s on the rear of the knee. For obvious reasons, most karate books include extensive glossaries. Inevitably, these are in Japanese. Creating a Japanese terminology for karate was a deliberate step many early Okinawan karate sensei employed to make their art more acceptable on the mainland. There’s nothing wrong with this — but it can make karate a static art, one in which doing something “correctly” becomes more important than doing it efficiently. A front stance, or zenkutsu-dachi, is one in which there must be a certain percentage of weight on the forward leg and another percentage on the rear leg. This is the “right” way, in the dojo, to take a front stance. It is a front stance. But meeting these standards is not the same as taking a stance in the most effective manner, a stance that can differ depending on one’s size, leg length, fitness or flexibility. The teacher, instructing next to a single student, can see and accommodate for that. When there is a set word with a corresponding standard, however, that sort of individuality is lost. When the student hears “front stance,” he or she has an ideal in mind. It’s one that may not be appropriate or even healthy for that student. In this sense, the phrase “front stance” has a kind of power — and not a good one. We need to remember that when we talk about a “front kick,” a mae geri, both terms are approximations at best. The words are not the thing. And when the words become fixed in one’s mind in a particular way, they can inform the way we perform the techniques they’re meant to describe. It is always good to study Japanese terminology in the dojo. It can provide valuable clues to the meanings of techniques. It’s good, too, to remember that whether in Japanese or English, the words shouldn’t have too much power over your training. Dave Lowry has written Karate Way since 1986. For more information about his articles and books, visit blackbeltmag.com and type his name into the search box.

Two of Europe's top combat sports promotions will host second show in the continent, following collaboration in the Netherlands BRAVE Combat Federation will make its much-anticipated return to Germany on October 12, when the most global organization in the world lands in Essen, the second biggest city in the region of Ruhr valley. The event will be co-promoted with leading European powerhouse Enfusion, through its ECE MMA brand, following a collaboration that will first take BRAVE CF into the Netherlands for the first time, on May 25. Both BRAVE Combat Federation and Enfusion have a long history with Germany, with the former having hosted two events in previous years: BRAVE CF 61, which took place in Bonn and BRAVE CF 68, hosted in Dusseldorf. Enfusion has hosted 12 of its 132 events in the country and ECE has hosted two events in the nation, in Darmstadt and Wuppertal, with a mixture of disciplines included in both shows.  When they join hands in Essen, BRAVE CF and ECE will be looking forward to delivering a huge fight card for the hardcore MMA fans in Germany, and to elevate the sport in its entirety.  As one of the most traditional hubs for martial arts in Europe, the country is home to many big names in the sport, and as part of the efforts to bring in a new era for the sport in the continent, a proper sports development structure and both companies are eager to help accelerate the creation of a true MMA ecosystem within Germany that will elevate the sport in all sectors.  Following their collaboration in the Netherlands, BRAVE CF and ECE will be landing in Germany to provide the local MMA fans with the opportunity to see world-class fighters live while giving the regional fighters the opportunity to showcase their skills on a global platform and against international opposition.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading global mixed martial arts organization, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), has announced its return to Abu Dhabi for a thrilling UFC Fight Night. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena, marking it as the second major UFC event in the UAE capital within a year. Anticipation is building for the yet-to-be-revealed fight lineup, promising a night filled with exciting matchups between international and local MMA fighters. This event will be the 18th UFC event held in Abu Dhabi, a relationship that dates back to UFC 112: INVINCIBLE in April 2010. The previous event, UFC 294: MAKHACHEV vs VOLKANOVSKI 2 , saw a packed Etihad Arena where fans witnessed Islam Makhachev defend his lightweight title against Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion who accepted the fight on short notice. This event not only showcased high-level MMA but also highlighted the growth of the sport in the UAE, evidenced by the signing and debut of Mohammad Yahya, the first Emirati athlete in the UFC, at the same event. UFC President Dana White expressed his admiration for Abu Dhabi, noting its appeal as an extraordinary global city and a prime destination for fight enthusiasts. He encouraged fans to experience the vibrant culture, exquisite cuisine, and unique experiences Abu Dhabi offers before enjoying the spectacular fight night. H.E. Saleh Al Geziry, the Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, echoed the excitement for hosting another UFC Fight Night, emphasizing Abu Dhabi's emerging status as a worldwide sports event hub. He highlighted the event's role in attracting MMA fans globally to Abu Dhabi and strengthening the city's reputation as a premier destination for combat sports through ongoing collaborations with the UFC.

This Saturday night, March 9, will see the historic GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix event take place at the GelreDome in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Eight of the best heavyweights on the planet will compete in an epic eight-man one-night tournament where the winner will walk away with a cool $500,000 & the title of GLORY Grand Prix Champion. The 'King of Kickboxing'  Rico Verhoeven (61-10, 20 KO)  will compete against a field of heavyweights which include rising Dutch star  Levi Rigters (15-1, 7 KO) , former interim champ  Tariq 'Cookie' Osaro (25-3-1, 13 KO) , the wild  Bahram Rajabzadeh (65-1, 58 KO) , French technician  Sofian Laïdouni (35-2-1, 17 KO) , power puncher  Uku Jürjendal (20-8, 16 KO) , and more. In addition to the Grand Prix,  Donegi Abena (27-9, 7 KO)  goes head-to-head with  Tarik Khbabez (49-10-1, 28 KO)  to decide the undisputed GLORY light heavyweight champion and lightweight champion Tyjani Beztati (25-4, 9 KO) defends his title against top German Enriko Kehl (53-15-2, 31 KO). Please go to  GLORYKickboxing.com  for full viewing information.  GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix begins at 6:30pm CET | 5:30pm GMT | 12:30pm ET | 9:30am PT- Event Prelim begins at 6pm CET | 5pm GMT | 12pm ET | 9am PT. GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix Fight Card Main Event: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Winner of SF1 vs. Winner of SF2 Co-Main Event: GLORY Light Heavyweight Title Champion Donegi Abena (27-9, 7 KO) vs. Interim-Champ Tarik Khbabez (49-10-1, 28 KO) Middleweight No. 6 Ivan Galaz (58-10-1, 15 KO) vs. No. 10 Iliass Hammouche (33-6, 7 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Semi Final 2 Winner of QF3 vs. Winner of QF4 Heavyweight Grand Prix: Semi Final 1 Winner of QF1 vs. Winner of QF2 GLORY Lightweight Title Champion Tyjani Beztati (25-4, 9 KO) vs. No1 Enriko Kehl (53-15-2, 31 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter Final 4 Ch. Rico Verhoeven (61-10, 20 KO) vs. No. 5 Sofian Laïdouni (35-2-1, 17 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter Final 3 No.8 Nabil Khachab (27-4-1, 4 KO) vs. No. 9 Benjamin Adegbuyi (35-7, 20 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter Final 2 No. 3 Tariq ‘Cookie’ Osaro (25-3-1, 13 KO) vs. No. 7 Bahram Rajabzadeh (65-1, 58 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter Final 1 No. 2 Levi Rigters (15-1, 7 KO) vs. No. 6 Uku Jürjendal (20-8, 16 KO) Heavyweight Grand Prix: Reserve Bout Cihad Kepenk (22-6, 15 KO) vs. Michał Bławdziewicz (11-7-1, 5 KO)

Senior Grandmaster Malia Dacascos Bernal was a world champion in forms and fighting in the 60s, the first woman to compete in the men’s division, and the first female competitor to grace the cover of Black Belt Magazine . Over the years, she earned a 9th-degree black belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do, and she was the very first woman to own a martial arts school in Hamburg, Germany. As a martial arts instructor and coach, she has tutored many of the top world champions in forms and fighting and her legacy can still be seen today.  In this exclusive interview, Black Belt's Tony Parrish sits with the legend as she recalls her greatest moments and lessons.

Usman Nurmagomedov meets Alexander Shabliy for the Bellator Lightweight title Patchy Mix defends the Bellator Bantamweight belt against Magomed Magomedov Complete schedule of 2024 Bellator Champions Series events confirmed Tickets available for Bellator Champions Series Paris on Thursday at noon CEST at   Accorarena.com Bellator Champions Series will make its 2024 debut in Paris on May 17 at the Accor Arena, headlined by two Bellator World Championship fights. In the main event, Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) will attempt to remain undefeated and retain his Lightweight title when he locks horns with Alexander Shabliy (23-3) a man who has not been beaten in eight years. The co-main event features Bellator Bantamweight champion Patchy Mix (19-1) returning to action against Magomed Magomedov (16-1). Mix and Magomedov renew a rivalry that began in  2022 at the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Semi Finals, a tournament Mix went on to win. In addition to the main and co-main events, France’s Gregory Babene (23-11), who has won eight consecutive contests will compete in a Middleweight no. 1 contender bout against Holland’s Costello van Steenis (14-3) during the main card. Also, former Olympian and French Heavyweight, Slim Trabelsi (6-0) returns to Paris where he began his career as Francis Ngannou’s training partner. Trabelsi is set to face Scotland’s Louie Sutherland (6-2) at Heavyweight. The preliminary portion of Bellator Champions Series Paris is also beginning to take shape, with the news that France’s Mansour Barnaoui (20-6) will compete on May 17 at Lightweight against Japan’s Bellator and RIZIN veteran Yusuke Yachi (26-13). Additional contests including additional top French athletes will be announced shortly. Bellator Champions Series Paris can be seen live by fans throughout Europe via DAZN, with the action beginning at 5 pm CEST. A U.S. distribution partner will be announced shortly.Tickets for Bellator Champions Series Paris Thursday at noon CEST at   Accorarena.com . Bellator Champions Series kicks off at SSE Arena, Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday, March 22 and is followed by Bellator Champions Series Paris on Friday, May 17 at the Accor Arena. The full slate of 2024 Bellator Champions Series events are as follows: Friday, June 22  - Bellator Champions Series Dublin - 3Arena Saturday, September 7  - Bellator Champions Series San Diego - Pechanga Arena Saturday, September 14  - Bellator Champions Series London - OVO Wembley Saturday, October 12  - Bellator Champions Series Chicago - Wintrust Arena Saturday, November 16  - Bellator Champions Series Paris - ADIDAS Arena Tuesday, December 31  - Bellator Champions Series - TBD Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy Usman Nurmagomedov has proven to be one of the most dominant champions in the sport at just 25 years of age. In seven fights with Bellator, Nurmagomedov has gone undefeated and captured a world title in a division many consider to be the toughest in the sport. Dethroning former lightweight world champion Patricky Pitbull, the Khabib Nurmagomedov protege defended his title against MMA legend Benson Henderson enroute to his matchup on May 17. A striking specialist who has gone 8-0 under the Bellator banner, Alexander Shabliy has also defeated the upper echelon of the 155-pound division, including the aforementioned Pitbull and Tofiq Musayev, and impressively scored a second-round knockout against former Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus.  Patchy Mix vs. Magomed Magomedov Widely regarded as the best bantamweight in MMA, Patchy Mix has been on a rampage since his first title shot in 2020. Currently in the midst of six straight victories, Mix dominated the Bantamweight World Grand Prix where he defeated former interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots with a devastating “Knockout of the Year” nominee in the first round. Most recently, Mix met former bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis in a title unification bout where he submitted Pettis in the second-round. A World Grand Prix semifinalist, Magomedov inserted himself back into the win column when he submitted former title challenger Danny Sabatello in Japan in the opening frame. Now with momentum back on his side, Magomedov enters his first title shot with revenge on his mind in a highly anticipated rematch. Updated Bellator Champions Series Paris Main Card Lightweight World Title Bout:   Usman Nurmagomedov  (17-0, 1 NC) vs.  Alexander Shabliy  (23-3) Bantamweight World Title Bout:   Patchy Mix  (19-1) vs.  Magomed Magomedov  (16-1) Middleweight No. 1 Contender’s Bout:   Gregory Babene  (23-11) vs.  Costello van Steenis  (14-3) Heavyweight Main Card Bout:  Slim Trabelsi  (6-0) vs.  Louie Sutherland  (6-2) Updated Preliminary Card Lightweight Preliminary Bout:  Mansour Barnaoui  (20-6) vs.  Yusuke Yachi  (26-13)

Cedric “The Best” Doumbe headlines against Baissangour "Baki" Chamsoudinov  Abdoul “Lazy King” Abdouraguimov squares off against Jack Grant in co-main event All PFL Europe events will be streamed live on DAZN The Professional Fighters League (PFL), announced tickets for the PFL Europe Paris event this Thursday, March 7 at Accor Arena have sold out. The event will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. CET in France and throughout Europe on DAZN at the global sports streaming platform. To celebrate the launch of the 2024 PFL Europe season, the last five bouts of the event will be available to stream live in the U.S. on   PFLmma.com  and PFL’s YouTube Channel. A raucous crowd will be on hand to witness the return of  Cedric “The Best” Doumbe  (5-0) as he takes on  Baissangour "Baki'' Chamsoudinov  (8-0) in a Welterweight main event. The co-main event features former two-weight ARES FC champion  Abdoul “The Lazy King” Abdouraguimov  (17-1) facing  Jack Grant  (19-7). “PFL is excited to launch the 2024 PFL Europe season this Thursday night in Paris in front of a sold out crowd at Accor Arena,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The Professional Fighters League provides the best MMA action in the world and we look forward to having fighters from 15 countries across Europe competing in the 2024 PFL Europe Paris card." Doumbe returns following a memorable nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo at the Zenith Arena in Paris on 30th September, a crowd voted number one MMA crowd of 2023. The fight sent shockwaves throughout the world of MMA, as the French superstar put the sport on notice that he was the next global superstar. Now, in front of a sold-out, high-energy crowd at the Accor Arena, Doumbe has the opportunity to further cement his position at the top of the MMA world when he meets Chamsoudinov.  Complete PFL Europe Paris Card - March 7 at Accor Arena Live on DAZN at 5 pm CET Welterweight Main Event Cedric Doumbe  (5-0) vs.  Baissangour "Baki" Chamsoudinov  (8-0) Welterweight Co-Main Event Abdoul Abdouraguimov  (17-1) vs.  Jack Grant  (19-7) Welterweight Season Bout Ibrahim Mane  (13-4) vs.  Chequina Noso Pedro  (8-3) Lightweight Season Bout Yazid Chouchane  (10-4) vs.  Ignacio Capella  (7-1) Lightweight Season Bout Jakub Kaszuba  (11-0) vs.  Kane Mousah  (14-5) Welterweight Season Bout Yassin Najid  (9-4) vs.  Daniele Miceli  (11-5) Heavyweight Bout Mickael Groguhe  (3-0) vs.  Islem Masraf  (2-0) Lightweight Bout Patrick Habirora  (1-0) vs.  Claudio Pacella  (3-1) Welterweight Season Bout Marian Dimitrov  (10-3) vs.  Erhan Kartal  (11-2) Lightweight Season Bout Connor Hughes  (8-1) vs.  Anatolij Baal  (10-3-1) Lightweight Season Bout Alex Chizov  (10-2) vs.  Daniele Scatizzi Welterweight Season Bout Tomasz Łangowski  (6-4) vs.  Florim Zendeli  (7-1-1) Lightweight Bout Mark Ewen  (5-0) vs.  Andreeas Binder  (8-2, 1 NC) Middleweight Bout Younes Najid  (6-5) vs.  Kevin Del  (4-7-1)   The 2024 PFL Europe Season begins in Paris this Thursday, before returning to where it all started in Newcastle Upon-Tyne at Utilita Arena on June 8, and moving on to new territory in Glasgow for a huge night of playoff action at OVO Hydro on September 28. The season will conclude with an epic Championship event at a venue to be confirmed.

Islam Makhachev knows a thing or two about elite mixed martial arts. He is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion and stands atop the company’s pound-for-pound rankings. Yet, he does not believe the title of the most dangerous man on the planet belongs to him. He gives that moniker to ONE Championship’s Anatoly Malykhin. Makhachev posted those thoughts to his Instagram stories following Malykhin’s triumph at ONE 166: Qatar , where he became a three-division king by capturing the ONE Middleweight MMA World Championship. Malykhin holds a perfect 14-0 professional record. Since arriving in ONE in 2021, he has been a perfect 6-0 with six KO/TKO finishes. On March 1, the Russian bulldozer stuffed the takedown attempts from Reinier De Ridder and used his damaging punching power to wilt the Dutchman. In the third round, De Ridder could not reach his feet and signaled the end of the bout. “Sladkiy” now holds the ONE Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and Middleweight MMA World Championships. The achievement is the first of its kind in mixed martial arts. Malykhin has already carved out a special slot in the sport’s history. But he shows no signs of slowing down, which only means his legacy is certainly to grow. Makhachev’s praise of his fellow countryman is resounding recognition of what he has been able to accomplish. The scariest part for anyone looking to challenge Malykhin is that he is only getting better. The 36-year-old is a Russian Wrestling Champion with good boxing fundamentals and crushing power. There are few holes in his game already. It will take a Herculean effort to dethrone “Sladkiy” in all three divisions. After Malykhin’s most recent domination inside the Circle, it is difficult to disagree with Makhachev. Malykhin is the most dangerous man on the planet.

Travis Wong is a martial artist, tricker, parkour expert and stunt coordinator. The former co-host of MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge, has been featured in 30+ international ad campaigns, choreographed for artists Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, and Miley Cyrus. Stunt Coordinating and fight coordinator credits include Back In Action for Netflix starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, Witchboard, Minions: The Rise of Gru, STUMPTOWN, and Marvel's LEGION on FX just to name a few. Today, Travis is also the co-owner of the world renown Joining All Movement Center - JAM Gym in Van Nuys, CA where the gym welcomes all enthusiasts of the martial arts, tricking and parkour to discover their next level.  In this clip, George Chung challenges Travis' martial arts knowledge in the "House of Nine Dragons." Watch George Chung's full interview with Travis Wong here! Connect with Travis here: www.TravisWong.com www.imdb.me/TravisWong @TheTravisWong  | @JAMovement

Jailton Almeida has his sights set on an interim title bout with Tom Aspinall, contingent on overcoming Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299. Although Almeida had initially hoped for their encounter to span five rounds, he remains optimistic about the rescheduled three-round fight following the postponement due to Blaydes' injury. The upcoming showdown in Miami has stirred discussions on the tactical nuances and physical demands of extended versus shorter MMA fights. Almeida's preference for a lengthier bout underscores the strategic depth and physical endurance required in longer engagements, which often play to the strengths of fighters with superior conditioning and tactical planning. Almeida brings a formidable 16-fight winning streak into the octagon, with an impressive eight-fight run in the UFC. Notably, his bout with Derrick Lewis, which went to a decision, stands out as a testament to his versatility and endurance inside the cage. Despite the shift to a shorter fight format, which Almeida feels might benefit Blaydes—who he views as less enduring in the later rounds—he remains focused on leveraging the three-round structure to his advantage. A victory against Blaydes could pave the way for Almeida to face Tom Aspinall for an interim title, with potential matchups being eyed for UFC 301 in May or a bout in Manchester come July. While Almeida had initially envisioned a different scenario, his immediate goal is clear: defeat Blaydes to earn a shot at the title. His unwavering determination and strategic approach to fighting underscore his readiness to ascend the ranks in the heavyweight division, signaling his aspirations for championship glory.

Jarred Brooks arrived in Qatar intending to defend his ONE Championship gold against his chief rival in the organization. Instead, in less than a minute, he lost his title in an inauspicious fashion. As Joshua Pacio attempted a kimura on “The Monkey God,” Brooks slammed Pacio to the canvas. Upon landing, Pacio was knocked out, and Brooks celebrated what he believed to be a successful defense of the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title at ONE 166: Qatar . He was surprised to learn he had been disqualified, as throws to the head, neck, or spine are banned under the Global MMA Rules Set. Although heartbroken over the result, Brooks took to social media soon after the match to share that he wished nothing for the best for his opponent. “Joshua Pacio, wish nothing but the best for you brother, I hope you’re okay. I am sorry for letting down my family and the organization. I did not intentionally do anything. And new, congratulations,” Brooks wrote on social media. Thankfully, Pacio avoided any major injuries from the slam. The following morning, the two athletes showed the true meaning of martial arts by meeting for breakfast. Brooks joined the Lions Nation MMA team and was thrilled with Pacio’s prognosis. “My brother, I am so happy to see you and give you a big hug!! Glad to see you’re happy and healthy!! Congrats champ!! Had a good conversation and breakfast with @lionsnationmma all great men,” Brooks wrote on Instagram. Brooks, fans, and ONE were all concerned with Pacio’s status. With relief that the Filipino star will be fine, the future third bout is already being anticipated. A trilogy will almost certainly be booked once Pacio is cleared to return to action. The two strawweight kings will need to give a proper resolution to determine the true ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship. But seeing athletes come together after their heated encounter is refreshing, showing both men are true martial artists in every sense of the word.

Ask the average karate practitioner to name the main styles of Japan, and chances are he’ll rattle off shotokan, goju-ryu and wado-ryu with no trouble. But unless he’s really up on his art, there’s a good likelihood that he’ll stumble over the name of the fourth major style, snap his fi ngers and ask quizzically, “What’s the name of that other one, again?” That other style is shito-ryu, and any karate student’s puzzlement about it is somewhat understandable. That’s because shito-ryu is relatively unknown outside Japan, even though it’s perhaps the most interesting of all the Japanese Systems. Fumio Demura and his students work out on the grounds of Sojyi Temple in Japan. The monastery is often used as a background in the filming of ninja movies. Shito-ryu is really a combination of several styles. For instance, it adopts the quick, strong moves of shotokan and blends them with the slow, heavy breathing aspects of goju-ryu. Another noteworthy feature of shito-ryu is the emphasis that some of its instructors place on making their students proficient in kobudo (traditional weaponry), including the bo, sai, naginata and nunchaku. Probably the biggest reason shito-ryu is still relatively unknown is that until quite recently, few attempts were made to export the style. Certainly, its practitioners haven’t been nearly as aggressive in sending sensei to other countries as have the followers of shotokan. The results of this stay-at-home policy are apparent: Few martial artists know it abroad, and the other Japanese styles dominate the foreign field. In the United States, shotokan is the most widespread. In Europe, wado-ryu is very strong. Meanwhile, goju-ryu is well-known—in good measure because of the worldwide publicity given to two of its most prominent, and flamboyant, practitioners: the longhaired Gogen “The Cat” Yamaguchi and the barrel-chested Mas Oyama. In the United States, there’s only one shito-ryu instructor. That’s surprising in view of the fact that America has more karate players by far than any other country outside the Orient, and there’s such a profusion of styles taught here. (Estimates of the number of U.S. karatemen run as high as 50,000.) We were recently discussing this point in Black Belt’s offices with Fumio Demura, a muscular fifth dan who’s shito-ryu’s sole representative in the United States. Although little-known abroad, he’s one of the more recognized karatemen in Japan. He won the All-Japan Karate Championship in 1961 and serves as his style’s representative in Tokyo, where he operates five dojo. He’s also much in demand to give demonstrations with the bo, sai and other weapons because of his advanced skill. “I think the big reason why foreigners know so little about shito is that the style is most prominent in the Western area of Japan, a good distance away from Tokyo,” Demura said. “Foreigners who come to Japan tend to concentrate in Tokyo, where they are not exposed to the style. In Tokyo, it’s the shotokan and goju styles which are strong, and it’s these styles which visitors usually pick up.” Demura got to the United States almost by accident. Running true to shito-ryu form, he’d been content to stay in Japan and build up his style in the Tokyo area. But he was temporarily sidetracked by a persuasive American karate man who coaxed the reluctant Demura to cross the Pacific and introduce   shito-ryu into the United States. The American responsible for Demura’s odyssey to the New World is Dan Ivan, a jack-of-all-trades of the martial arts who operates several dojo in Southern California. Ivan holds a first-degree black belt in karate, kendo, judo and aikido. He learned the arts in Japan, having spent half a dozen years there. Ivan accompanied Demura to our offices and explained how he happened to run into the man who’s now head instructor at his schools. Four years after winning the All-Japan Karate Championship in 1961, Fumio Demura moved to California. “I had gone to Japan last year to look for another instructor for my dojo,” he said. “My black belt is in shotokan karate so naturally I was looking for a shotokan man. But everywhere I went, people kept talking about Demura. Finally, when I got to meet him, I was impressed right from the start. I was especially impressed by his fine attitude. I have met some karatemen who were excellent technicians but whose attitude left much to be desired. “But you take Fumio, now, he has a fine outlook. For instance, when a student who’s had some previous karate training comes to the dojo, Demura always asks them what they learned first in karate. Usually, they tell him that they learned stances or exercises or techniques. Then Fumio tells them that the first thing they learn in his dojo is good manners. I consider myself quite fortunate to have gotten Fumio to come to this country to teach in my dojo.” One of Demura’s first converts to shito-ryu was Ivan himself. “Fumio’s instructing me, and I hope to take my exam for black belt later this year,” Ivan said. *** Demura was asked about the differences between his system and the other Japanese styles. “Actually, all the Japanese and Okinawan systems are similar in many respects,” he said. “And surprisingly enough, I find that in the basics, the Chinese systems have much in common with ours. I never had a chance to study Chinese systems before I came to the United States, but this is what I’ve noticed in observing the practitioners of the Chinese arts here.”  But Demura pointed out that it’s in many of the details that the various karate systems differ. For instance, in some styles, the students fight from a short stance. In others, they fight from a more spread-out stance. “You can quite often tell a goju man by the way he stands—he will fight from a short stance,” Demura said. “The wado man has a different type of short stance. The shotokan man, on the other hand, will fight from a longer stance. The method of throwing punches might vary a little from system to system, also.”  The shito style is more flexible than the others as far as the fighting stance goes, Demura insisted. Shito-ryu people will fight from both long and short stances, and move back and forth between the two. Shito-ryu combines many of the hard, fast techniques of shotokan with the slow breathing of goju. These latter techniques, called sanchin, are muscle building methods based on dynamic tension. In this respect, shito-ryu clearly shows its Okinawan origins, where sanchin techniques have been highly developed. “My style comes from Okinawa, where there are two great schools,” Demura said. “One is called Higaonna, and the other is Itosu. Higaonna and his student, Chojun Miyagi, established the goju school. From Itosu, there is another style followed by many Okinawans. Itosu has nidan and sandan forms, and goju has punching and breathing forms. My style has both elements.” Demura stresses two things when instructing his students. One is a strict emphasis on the basics, which he believes are neglected in the United States. “Too many instructors don’t teach what karate is really all about,” he said. “They will just give instructions in punching or kicking or something else. But they don’t teach why a certain punch or kick is good for a certain part of the body.” This emphasis on developing all parts of the body physically is the second part of Demura’s mission. He’s powerfully developed himself, and he stresses the bodybuilding and health-giving aspects of karate practice. “You know, when I was in Japan, I once worked for a pharmaceutical firm, and as part of the job, I had to visit many hospitals,” he said. “I have always thought that hospitals and medicine are very helpful for the sick, of course, but I think that good karate exercise and bodybuilding are even more important and beneficial. “Karate is a really good form of exercise. And it can be done by old as well as young people. A lot of people complain that karate is too much hard work. But each person can vary and control the amount of work he puts in. As a result, even little children and women can take up the art beneficially. “There’s another thing about karate: You don’t need anyone else to be able to practice it. Football needs other people to help play it. Swimming needs water and a good climate. But in karate, you need nothing outside yourself.” Demura had some interesting things to say about American tournaments. For one thing, he pointed out that Americans compete to a far greater extent than do the Japanese. For instance, in Japan, they don’t run major tournaments in which white belts participate as well as black belts. In Japan, the karate students are expected to have learned their basics thoroughly and be of black-belt status before being allowed to go up against one another. Among other benefits, it saves a lot of wear and tear on the body. “There are a lot of accidents in American karate tournaments because the basics are not practiced enough,” Demura said. “The contestants don’t have a real grasp of the fundamentals. They practice for maybe six months, and then they go in. But for speed, good timing and the ability to stop kicks and punches, they need basics, basics, basics.” Demura was insistent on another thing, and that’s the need to provide good judging at tournaments. He agreed with Black Belt’s assessment that most tournament judging in the United States is below par. And he should know what he’s talking about, for he’s a top referee in his own country. “In the United States, you don’t even have a school for refereeing,” he said. “You don’t have to have a regular school, just an informal one where people can meet perhaps once a week to learn refereeing techniques. “Then, all the people who will be officiating should get together starting, say, six weeks before the tournament so they can familiarize themselves thoroughly with the rules and judging. They must check one another to see how one would call a half point and how another one might call a full point. Then they would have to standardize these things. “If the tournament is just going to be among people from the same school, then the refereeing is not quite as big a problem as when many different styles are competing. But in the United States, where contestants from so many different karate styles are competing, it is essential that these meetings be set up before the Tournament.” Fumio Demura is as renowned for his empty hand ability as for his kobudo weapons skills. Demura also had some encouraging words to say about karate in America. For and choose from can be a big help. But as he pointed out, all the tournaments in the world aren’t going to be that big a help unless the contestants have had a thorough grounding in fundamentals first. This is the area he believes needs the greatest development, and it’s what the man teaches.