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In the past, I’ve written about the power of marginal improvements in martial arts skill development. In a nutshell, there are two ways to go about constructing the physical training regimen you need to get better: by focusing on general physical preparedness (GPP) or specific physical preparedness (SPP). The GPP approach seeks to enhance your ability to adapt to a variety of physical stressors. The result can be an improved response to load bearing, increased adaptability to long-term exertion and quicker recovery during post-anaerobic bursts. This approach doesn’t assume specific end tasks (training for a specific sport), and this lack of a single focus is reflected in the makeup of a typical program, which might consist of exercises from many sports. GPP choices can include Olympic lifts, bodyweight exercises, basic gymnastics, sprints, rowing, rope climbing, sledgehammer work and tire flipping. Obviously, it’s a broad-based approach designed to boost overall fitness, and it can assist you in a variety of physical endeavors. In short, GPP gives little thought to the end result; it’s more concerned with "ifs" or "just in case" scenarios than certainties. THE SPP APPROACH The SPP approach begins with the end in mind. It assumes certainty because you know exactly what sport is being trained for and thus makes exercise selections based on contingencies encountered in the specific outcome. With the outcome known, you can construct a program that reflects what definitely will be and perhaps give a little thought to "maybes." A sample SPP program for boxing would include roadwork, heavy-bag training, focus-pad work, weight training, skipping rope and the like. You’ve probably noticed that there’s more similarity between GPP and SPP than one would think. Although once you enter the boxing ring there’s no lifting competition, you still train with weights. Although there’s no push-up contest, you still do push-ups. Although there’s no foot race, you still run. SPP may train with a known outcome in mind, but the broad-based (general) approach is still used. Beyond the borrowing of a few conditioning methods from other sports, there might be even more of a reason to combine GPP and SPP: it involves a crack in the logic behind SPP conditioning. The crack is certainty. Yes, sports have set rules and, to some degree, predictable outcomes, but assumptions beyond the limits imposed by the rules may be misplaced. As Mike Tyson famously said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." Don’t misunderstand me. The uncertainty in a specific sport isn’t a worry that you’ll suddenly be confronted with a downhill slalom in a tennis match. The certainty of the rules isn’t in question. What is in question are some assumptions about the boundaries of conditioning performance required for a particular sport. LET'S TAKE ONE ASPECT Let’s take one aspect of a boxing match—a punch—and hypothesize about what fuels it. Which approach contributes most to a successful blow? Good punching technique? SPP, undoubtedly. Good footwork to get you there? Again, SPP. Good timing on the punch? Another one for SPP. Good power? It could be the heavy-bag work (SPP), the push-ups (GPP) or the bench presses (GPP). Because power comes from the ground up, it also could be the roadwork (GPP), the rope work (GPP), the squats (GPP), the plyometric box work (GPP) or perhaps the core work you did (GPP). The punch was fired precisely under duress? SPP sparring work definitely helped, along with perhaps a bit of the resolve forged by tough GPP metabolic sessions. If the punch was fired late in the rounds after fatigue set in? This shows good adaptation to continuing workload—SPP for sure, but you also have to tip your hat to GPP. Was the punch executed when you were off-balance? If so, you might have to thank your GPP instability work that "woke up" and conditioned muscles seldom used in predictable balance or terrain conditions. PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED You can be certain about the sport, its rules and its technical approaches, but there’s less certainty about how a system as complex as the human body will adapt to the work. Plans do have a tendency to experience entropy on the fly, and when that happens, you have only two ways to cope: Hope your journey to 10,000 hours of mastery (SPP) has progressed enough to deal with the new variables, or Hope that your varied conditioning (GPP) can buy you a little time to cope with the uncertainty until order can be restored. The first is easier to control than the second. You can’t become a time traveler and magically be 3,000 hours farther into your 10,000-hour journey. However, you do have control over strategy No. 2. While you’re building your 10,000-hour bank of experience, you can invest in GPP conditioning insurance and gamble that it’ll see you through some of the rough spots where your hours haven’t taken you yet. In the final analysis, you should embrace both SPP and GPP. Commit to the mastery of your art while preparing for unpredictable but reasonable variables. SPP is your plan, and GPP is your backup for when you get punched in the face.

Editor's Note: The following piece originally appeared in the August 2012 issue of Black Belt. Enjoy! As much as Bruce Lee is a superstar around the globe, his memory is especially prominent in Asia. He was arguably the first Asian to have full star billing in an American movie. He didn’t portray a math genius or a nerd with glasses. Instead, his characters were physical and powerful, sexy and cool. And in many respects, that’s the way he’s still remembered in Asia. The following are vignettes from my travels there.

In April 2012, DREAM bantamweight champ Kenji Osawa posted a remarkable picture on his blog. He’d suffered a bad break below the knee in 2011 and had a bunch of metal put in to help the bone heal. In April, he finally had it all taken out. The picture was of the shin-length metal rod and the bolts that held it in place. I guess the point was to show what it takes to heal a bad injury. But looking at that pile of metal beside his limb made me think how grim an injury like that would have been before the advent of modern medicine. Before titanium rods, a splintered shinbone meant permanent disability. A hundred years ago, a guy with an injury like Osawa’s might have spent the rest of his life hobbling around on crutches—or bedridden. Doctors and professional bonesetters could offer some help, but the catastrophic injuries sometimes suffered in matches and fight training were a challenge that the medicine of 1912 couldn’t conquer. THINGS WOULD BE EVEN WORSE Things would be even worse if it was an internal injury. Imagine a guy who sustained a bunch of head hits and wound up with bleeding in the brain. A hundred years ago, neurology was in its infancy—so much so that psychologists considered the brain a mysterious “black box” and concerned themselves only with inputs and outputs. Neurologists back then would have had a hard time getting the basic diagnosis right. And even if they did, treating bleeding in the brain would have been problematic. X-ray imaging was little more than 15 years old. Drilling holes in a patient’s skull to relieve life-threatening pressure would have been extremely difficult to get right. Today, neurologists have a much clearer idea of how the brain works and how to diagnose injury. And neurosurgeons have MRI and other advanced radiography to help them confirm diagnoses like intracranial hematoma. If they have to drill holes, they have precision surgical instruments to do it with. This may seem far removed from the martial arts as most people practice them, but it’s not. Consider: When heavyweight champ Joe Lewis was at his peak, he beat challenger Ed Daniels with a second-round knockout. According to Sports Illustrated, Daniels “almost became the first U.S. kickboxing fatality.” Lewis’ punches caused bleeding in Daniels’ brain, which put him in a coma and necessitated emergency medical intervention. Luckily, he survived. Had the match taken place in 1912 instead of 1980, his chances would have been much lower. PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT Probably the most important difference between now and a century ago is the discovery and widespread use of antibiotics. Before that, common bacterial infections could be fatal. In fact, more soldiers died from infections than from combat wounds. But you didn’t have to be a soldier to be afflicted. Infections caused by bugs like Staphylococcus aureus, which are still common in contact sports, used to be fatal 80 percent of the time. To put that in perspective, peruse the list titled “Top 10 Staph Infections in MMA History” that’s been passed around the net for a year or so. It includes some of the biggest names in MMA, along with some stomach-turning photos of how bad infections can be. Although some of them had close calls, all the fighters on the list are alive and well. A hundred years ago, eight of them would have been dead because of that common bacteria. It’s also worth emphasizing that all this career-saving and sometimes life-saving surgery would be impossible without antibiotics. Surgery is dangerous under even the best circumstances, but without something to stave off infection, cutting into a person can be as much, if not more, dangerous than the problem it’s meant to solve. Imagine how impossible a career in fighting would be without the twin blessings of antibiotics and surgery. Imagine what would have happened to K-1 and karate champion Nicholas Pettas when he broke his shinbone so badly it was bent at a right angle. Or Cal Worsham, whose ribs were broken in the octagon and ended up damaging his heart. Imagine what would have happened to all the Ed Daniels of the martial arts. IT’S HARD TO OVERSTATE It’s hard to overstate how much modern medicine has changed our lives. From cradle to grave, we benefit from medicines, medical expertise, and diagnostic machines that were the stuff of science fiction a century ago. Our lives are longer and our general health is better than at any time in history. This allows us to lead more active lives and indulge in more risks than our ancestors ever could. Nowhere is this more evident than in the art and sport of fighting.

In the years following World War II, martial arts existed largely in whispers—passed from military servicemen returning from Japan, practiced quietly in small community centers, and demonstrated before audiences who had never seen a reverse punch or front kick. Few could have imagined that within a generation, karate schools would stand in nearly every major city across America. Photo Credit: Tom Openlander, published in November 1982 issue of Black Belt Magazine At the center of that transformation stood a quiet Japanese instructor named Masatoshi Nakayama. He wasn't the loudest voice in the dojo. He wasn't interested in celebrity. He wasn't building a brand. He was building a standard. When Nakayama first stepped into Gichin Funakoshi's dojo at Takushoku University in the early 1930s, karate was still evolving from its Okinawan roots into what would become a modern Japanese martial art. Funakoshi had introduced karate to mainland Japan, but there was no blueprint for teaching it to the world. Nakayama saw that future before most others did. He understood that if karate was going to survive beyond Japan, it couldn't rely on a handful of extraordinary teachers. It needed a system that any dedicated instructor could follow without losing the art's spirit. That idea would change martial arts forever. Following World War II, as Japan began rebuilding, Nakayama helped transform the newly formed Japan Karate Association into something no martial art had attempted before—a professional institution dedicated to developing instructors, refining curriculum, and maintaining technical excellence. Instead of asking students to simply imitate movement, he broke techniques apart. Why did the hips rotate this way? How did balance create power? What role did timing play in speed? Working alongside sports scientists, Nakayama blended centuries of martial tradition with modern biomechanics, helping practitioners understand not only how to perform a technique—but why it worked. For karate, it was revolutionary. As Shotokan instructors began leaving Japan for Europe, Africa, South America, and the United States, they carried more than kata and kumite. They carried Nakayama's vision. Names like Hidetaka Nishiyama, Teruyuki Okazaki, Takayuki Mikami, Keinosuke Enoeda, Taiji Kase, and Hirokazu Kanazawa became pioneers in countries where karate was still largely unknown. His books—including Dynamic Karate and the legendary Best Karate series—were reviewed, discussed, and recommended to an entire generation of practitioners hungry to deepen their understanding. For countless martial artists, Black Belt was their classroom beyond the dojo, and Nakayama was one of its greatest teachers. What made Nakayama remarkable wasn't simply his technical brilliance. It was his humility. He rarely spoke of changing the world. Instead, he spoke of perfecting a punch. Refining a stance. Practicing one more kata. Improving one student at a time. Yet through that relentless pursuit of excellence, he accomplished something few martial artists ever have. He transformed a traditional Japanese discipline into a truly global art. He taught the world how to practice karate, and in doing so, helped ensure that the spirit of Shotokan would live far beyond the walls of any single dojo. Masatoshi Nakayama understood that martial arts could only endure if knowledge was preserved and passed on to future generations. That same mission has guided Black Belt for more than six decades—documenting the legends, instructors, and innovators who shaped the martial arts world. With Black Belt+, you can explore the complete archive of Black Belt Magazine’s history, featuring thousands of pages of interviews, features, and stories from the martial arts icons who defined generations. Unlock the legacy. Join Black Belt+ today.

Many martial artists know Justin Ortiz and Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz from their years on the sport karate tournament circuit. Long before they were doing action for major productions, they were competitors who understood the countless hours of training, discipline, and perseverance it takes to excel. Today, they're making an impact in a different arena—Hollywood. The husband-and-wife team, founders of Action! Stunts, have earned an Emmy nomination for their work on Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, one of the most-watched live television events in the world. For martial artists, it's another reminder that the lessons learned in the dojo can open doors far beyond competition. What makes their story especially meaningful, however, isn't just the nomination itself. It's the opportunities they're creating for others. Through Action! Stunts, Justin and Jewelianna have dedicated themselves to helping martial artists break into the entertainment industry. Their students don't just learn choreography and camera awareness—they gain firsthand experience navigating the professional world of stunt work. As a result of the Super Bowl production, four martial artists who trained with Action! Stunts earned their SAG-AFTRA eligibility, an important milestone that allows performers to pursue larger opportunities in film and television. For many martial artists, the path after tournament competition isn't always clear. Some become instructors. Others open schools or continue competing. Justin and Jewelianna have shown there's another avenue—one where years spent refining timing, precision, athleticism, and performance become valuable assets in front of the camera. Their success didn't happen overnight. It was built on the same qualities that define great martial artists: consistency, adaptability, professionalism, and a willingness to keep learning. Those traits have helped them transition from successful competitors to respected stunt professionals working on high-profile productions. Left to right: Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz, the late Chuck Norris, and Justin Ortiz Perhaps that's the most inspiring part of their journey. As their own careers continue to grow, they're intentionally bringing other martial artists with them. Every new production becomes another chance to introduce talented practitioners to the film industry and help them gain the experience needed to build lasting careers. For anyone who has ever wondered where martial arts can take them beyond the dojo, Justin Ortiz and Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz are helping answer that question—one production at a time. Congratulations to Justin, Jewelianna, and the entire Action! Stunts family on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to seeing where their journey—and the careers they're helping launch—goes next. Stay tuned for their next event announcements—spots fill up quickly! Follow @martial.smart on Instagram for updates and be sure to sign up early.

The International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) has released its official June 2026 Sport Karate Rankings, highlighting many of the athletes and teams expected to shape the remainder of the season. The latest rankings show remarkable consistency at the top, with many defending world champions maintaining their positions while several rising competitors continue climbing toward the No. 1 spot. Among the biggest names in the adult divisions, Phillip Brumme remains the athlete to beat in Men's Open Weapons, while Esteban Tremblay continues to lead Men's Open Forms. On the women's side, Sara Campbell tops Open Weapons, Haley Glass-Mancillas holds the No. 1 position in Open Forms, and Amber Rutherford leads Women's Traditional Forms. Traditional divisions also remain highly competitive, with Jake Presley leading Men's Traditional Weapons and Mason Stowell sitting atop Men's Traditional Forms. Sparring divisions feature plenty of familiar faces as well. Enrique Letona heads the Men's Open Weight rankings, while Katarina Herman occupies the top spot in Women's Sparring. Team competition remains equally competitive, with the Murphy, Walker, Rivas, and Letona squad leading the Men's Team Sparring rankings and Team Paul Mitchell continuing its run atop the Women's Team Sparring division. Team events continue to showcase some of the strongest programs in sport karate. Team Freestyle enters the season as the defending Team Demonstration world champion, while Team Paul Mitchell continues to lead both Synchronized Weapons and Synchronized Open Forms. Team Infinity remains the defending champion in Synchronized Traditional Forms. This month's rankings also recognize the defending ISKA World Champions across each division, many of whom will look to successfully defend their titles later this season. As one of the sport's premier sanctioning bodies, the ISKA rankings offer one of the clearest snapshots of the current competitive landscape, recognizing the athletes who have consistently performed throughout the season while setting the stage for the next major events on the calendar. Current No. 1 Sport Karate Adult Competitors Men's Open Weapons — Phillip Brumme Women's Open Weapons — Sara Campbell Men's Open Forms — Esteban Tremblay Women's Open Forms — Haley Glass-Mancillas Men's Traditional Weapons — Jake Presley Women's Traditional Weapons — Haley Glass-Mancillas Men's Traditional Forms — Mason Stowell Women's Traditional Forms — Amber Rutherford Men's Open Weight Sparring — Enrique Letona Women's Sparring — Katarina Herman

For martial arts fans around the world, one of the genre's most iconic heroes is making his long-awaited return. The film will be available on Digital beginning July 14, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming options expected through major platforms. Fans can also watch the official trailer now for an early look at the action-packed return of one of martial arts cinema's most enduring legends. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend debuts on July 14, 2026, bringing legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man back to the screen in a new chapter starring Dennis To, who reprises the role that helped establish him as one of the franchise's most recognizable faces. Directed by Li Liming, the film follows Ip Man as he leaves the police force to establish his own martial arts school. When a powerful Western boxing gym begins acquiring local martial arts schools, Ip Man is forced to defend not only his students, but the traditions and values of Chinese martial arts themselves. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. Released by Well Go USA, widely regarded as the industry's premier distributor of martial arts and Asian action cinema in North America. For more than two decades, Well Go USA has introduced audiences to many of the genre's biggest titles, helping elevate martial arts films through theatrical, digital, Blu-ray, and streaming releases. Their catalog includes everything from modern action classics to internationally acclaimed martial arts epics, making them the gold standard for fans of the genre. While many moviegoers associate the Ip Man legacy with the blockbuster films starring Donnie Yen, Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend continues a parallel storyline featuring Dennis To's portrayal of the legendary Wing Chun master, delivering fast-paced action, authentic martial arts choreography, and a story centered on preserving tradition in the face of changing times. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. Black Belt Magazine will continue to follow the release of Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend with additional coverage, exclusive updates, and insights into the enduring legacy of the man whose influence shaped modern Wing Chun—and inspired generations of martial artists worldwide.

ESPN and Disney+ to Serve as Exclusive Home of All PFL Live Events in Brazil, Beginning with PFL Austin on July 18  Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a multi-year partnership with ESPN, expanding the league’s presence in one of the world’s most important and passionate MMA markets. Under the partnership, ESPN will serve as the exclusive home of PFL live events in Brazil, with coverage airing across its linear channels and streaming on Disney+ Premium. The agreement includes every PFL event, including PFL Global, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa, giving Brazilian fans year-round access to the organization’s global MMA calendar. The agreement also includes ancillary and archive programming, including pre- and post-fight shows, press conferences, official weigh-ins, feature programming, highlights, and library content. “Brazil is and has always been one of the most influential and passionate MMA markets in the world, and ESPN is the ideal partner to help PFL deepen its connection with fans across the country,” said John Martin, CEO of Professional Fighters League. “This multi-year partnership delivers all of PFL’s action to Brazilian fans across ESPN and Disney+, beginning with PFL Austin, a fight card that showcases world-class Brazilian talent competing across the PFL roster.” “The addition of PFL further strengthens our premium live sports portfolio and expands the world-class content available to fans across ESPN and Disney+. As one of the fastest-growing MMA organizations in the world, PFL brings elite athletes, compelling storylines, and a strong roster of Brazilian talent. We are excited to offer our audience year-round access to every PFL event, reinforcing our commitment to delivering the most comprehensive and compelling sports experience in the market,” said Carlus Maluf, Head of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Brazil. The partnership will launch with PFL Austin on Saturday, July 18, featuring Brazilian standout Rafael do Nascimento (12-3) in the co-main event. PFL’s roster also includes one of the greatest Brazilian fighters of all time, Cris Cyborg, who will make her final MMA appearance on August 22 at PFL Tampa against fellow Brazilian standout Ketlen Vieira. The league’s deep roster of Brazilian talent also features 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Champion Marcirley Alves and 2021 and 2025 PFL Light Heavyweight World Tournament Champion Antonio Carlos Jr., along with high-profile additions Viviane Araujo and Taila Santos. UPCOMING PFL SCHEDULE: Saturday, July 18 — PFL Austin Moody Center — Austin, Texas Saturday, July 25 — PFL Washington, D.C. CareFirst Arena — Washington, D.C. Friday, July 31 — PFL New York Presented by Arkham UBS Arena — Belmont Park, Long Island, New York Friday, August 7 — PFL Charlotte Bojangles Coliseum — Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, August 22 — PFL Tampa Presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Benchmark International Arena — Tampa, Florida

Every summer brings another wave of action movies promising bigger explosions, faster editing, and more computer-generated spectacle. As someone who has spent a lifetime in the martial arts, those aren't necessarily the things I'm looking for. What I want is movement that means something. That's exactly what I found in Blades of the Guardians, the new martial arts epic from legendary director and action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, now available from Well Go USA Entertainment. For anyone who has followed martial arts cinema over the past four decades, Yuen Woo-ping hardly needs an introduction. His fingerprints are on some of the greatest fight sequences ever put on film—from Drunken Master and Fist of Legend to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill, The Matrix, and The Grandmaster. Few people have done more to influence how the world sees martial arts on screen. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. With Blades of the Guardians, I feel like he's returning to what made his work so compelling in the first place. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. What struck me almost immediately is that this film trusts the audience to watch martial arts. The camera doesn't hide behind frantic cuts or visual effects. Instead, it allows you to appreciate the choreography, the timing, the distance, and the consequence of every exchange. As a martial artist, that's refreshing. You can actually follow what's happening, and because of that, every technique carries weight. The production's philosophy says everything: Real fighting. Real falls. Real riding. That's more than a marketing line. The cast trained extensively in weapons work, hand-to-hand combat, horseback riding, mounted archery, and stunt performance long before cameras rolled. That preparation shows on screen. The movements feel earned rather than manufactured, and there's a physical honesty to the action that's becoming increasingly rare in modern cinema. Another aspect I appreciated was the cast itself. Seeing legends like Jet Li, Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Kara Hui, and Max Zhang sharing the screen is already reason enough for martial arts fans to pay attention. But what makes the film even more interesting is how it introduces a younger generation of performers—many coming from martial arts, Chinese opera, dance, and competitive athletics—to carry that tradition forward. It genuinely feels like watching one generation pass the torch to the next. The story follows Dao Ma, an elite escort charged with transporting the empire's most wanted fugitive across dangerous territory. On paper, it sounds like a straightforward escort mission. In practice, it becomes something much richer. Every encounter expands the world of the jianghu—that timeless martial society built on honor, loyalty, rivalry, and survival. The action isn't there simply to entertain; it advances the story and reveals character. Photo Credit: Well Go USA Entertainment. I also have tremendous respect for the way this film was made. Much of Blades of the Guardians was filmed in the deserts of western China under brutally difficult conditions, with temperatures reportedly reaching nearly 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind, sand, uneven terrain, and horseback action weren't obstacles to overcome—they became part of the choreography itself. Watching those sequences, you can feel the environment working against the performers, and that gives the action a level of authenticity that's difficult to fake. As both a martial artist and someone who has spent decades producing martial arts television and film, I came away appreciating what this movie represents. It reminds us that martial arts cinema doesn't need to rely on endless digital effects to be exciting. Skill, timing, precision, discipline, and commitment remain the foundation of great action filmmaking. Those are the same principles we spend years trying to develop in the dojo, and they're on full display here. Black Belt continues to praise Well Go USA Entertainment, which continues to do something incredibly important for martial arts fans. While Hollywood studios increasingly move away from traditional martial arts films, Well Go has quietly become one of the industry's most consistent champions of Asian action cinema, bringing outstanding films to audiences throughout North America. Without distributors willing to invest in these releases, many of today's best martial arts films would never reach Western audiences. If you appreciate authentic choreography, practical stunt work, and the artistry that made Hong Kong action cinema legendary, Blades of the Guardians deserves a place on your watch list. Some movies entertain you for two hours. The best martial arts films remind you why you fell in love with martial arts in the first place. This is one of those films.

Editor's Note: This interview originally appeared in our August 2012 issue. To read the rest of the magazine, be sure to subscribe to Black Belt+ and gain access to our entire digital archive! Perhaps more than any other martial art on the planet, taekwondo is renowned for its kicks. Before I continue, let me insert this: If you think taekwondo’s kicks are primarily weak techniques designed only to score points in tournaments, you haven’t seen Hee-Il Cho in action. Although he’s practiced the art for nearly 60 years, he never jumped on the Olympic TKD bandwagon, which means his kicks hearken back to an era when they were pure self-defense. They pack power, they penetrate and they punish. Follow the advice he offers here, and yours will do the same. AX KICK Don’t: “Many people try to use only their leg for this kick,” Cho says. “They try to pick it up without putting their hips into the motion. They drop both their hands, which may be OK in a tournament where they don’t use a lot of punches, but if they do it on the street, they can get knocked out.” Do: “Lean your upper body slightly backward as you jerk your leg down after raising it,” he says. That will enable you to activate opposing muscles in your back. “It also will let you reach a few inches higher and farther out with the kick because you’ll be pushing your hip forward at the last minute. Your other hip will go backward at the same time.” Hit: The striking surface depends on how far away your opponent is, Cho says. “You can use the bottom of your foot to hit his face. You can use your heel—or your calf, if he’s really close—to hit his collarbone. The important thing is to not be locked in to one way of doing it and thinking you have to hit with a certain body part.” INSIDE-TO-OUTSIDE CRESCENT KICK Don’t: “People often try to initiate the circular motion of this kick from the very beginning, which means they end up using only their leg to generate speed and power,” Cho says. “Another problem is they think the head is the only target.” Do: To make this crescent kick work, treat it like an ax kick, Cho says. “Raise your leg first and then start swinging it along that curved path. Use your hips and waist for torque. Most of the time, your leg will be straight for the entire kick, but don’t think it has to be that way. There might be a slight bend while it’s moving upward, which can make it faster to snap it out and hit someone who’s close.” Hit: “Once again, you have choices,” he says. “You can use the edge of your foot or the outside bony part of your ankle. Up close, you can even hit with the outside of your lower leg. It’s best to aim for the head, but the kick also works if you hit the solar plexus, chest or groin, especially with the edge of the foot.” OUTSIDE-TO-INSIDE CRESCENT KICK Don’t: The most common problem Cho has seen is starting the circular motion as soon as the kicking leg leaves the ground. Do: “Raise your leg before initiating the swing,” he says. “Go up, across and then down—similar to the ax kick. That will make this crescent kick strong and fast.” Choose: Whether you use the outside-to-inside crescent kick or its inside-to-outside brother depends on your opponent’s stance and orientation. You’ll want to make the majority of your attacks to the front of his body. If you’re in a right lead and he’s in a left lead, that means an outside-to-inside crescent with your left leg or an inside-to-outside crescent with your right leg will work best. “Of course, he can see both kicks before they make contact, so it’s easy for him to block,” Cho says. “If you want to come in from his blind side, use an outside-to-inside crescent with your right leg.” Hit: No matter how you implement it, strike with the bottom of your foot or the inside anklebone. “If you hook it a little bit by bending your leg just before you make contact, you can use the side of your heel,” he adds. Bonus: That hooking, by the way, creates a technique that’s sometimes called the inner hook kick. “It’s a fast strike that uses the heel to hit the body or sweep the leg,” Cho says. “It’s often used as a lead-in for a side kick.” ROUNDHOUSE KICK Don’t: “If you fail to chamber your leg properly, it will look like you’re doing the roundhouse with a straight leg,” Cho says. “The problem is, you’ll be kicking in a mostly upward direction as opposed to across. Another problem is people often divide the kick into segments—they separate the pivot, the chamber, the leg extension and so on.” Do: “Bend your knee when you chamber the kick,” he says. “Make the lower portion of your leg parallel to the floor—you’ll need hip flexibility to do that. Make sure your foot travels roughly horizontally with one hip moving forward and the other backward. That will give you power and speed. All that power, by the way, comes from the pulling-pushing motion, which should be smooth and natural. As you improve, the chamber and the pivot will happen at the same time.” Hit: The traditional method entails striking with the ball of your foot for self-defense or breaking purposes, Cho says. “In that case, chamber your leg with your foot angled and toes pulled back. Nowadays, however, many competitors can hit just as hard with their instep—even though they’re not thinking ‘one-strike kill.’ They chamber with their foot and toes extended.” SIDE KICK Don’t: “The chamber is the most common problem,” Cho says. “The traditional way is to raise your foot and place it near the knee of your support leg. For the beginner, lifting the leg only to knee level may be easier to accomplish; however, this method may lead to raising the foot upward into your opponent’s elbow, which can injure your instep or toes. While an incorrect chamber may be initially easier, it is not as effective—it’s much like punching with your fist near your hip instead of near your shoulder.” Do: For the improved chamber, place your knee as close to your chest as possible and your foot high with your lower leg parallel to the ground, he says. “Then the kick becomes like standing up from a squat. Using those muscles allows you to generate the most power. Forget about that traditional chamber in which your foot first goes to your support knee; instead, go right into the improved chamber. Don’t be afraid to lean back while doing this.” Hit: It’s OK to use your heel or the edge of your foot, but most of the time, it’s the bottom of your foot that gets the job done, Cho says. “For breaking, though, it’s definitely the heel.” Bonus: “Using the improved chamber, you can execute a side kick into the body of an opponent who’s much closer,” he says. As the master always reminds his students, winning is all about being flexible—mentally and physically. Photos by Robert Reiff

Editor's Note: This interview originally appeared in our September 2012 issue. To read the rest of the magazine, be sure to subscribe to Black Belt+ and gain access to our entire digital archive! Martial arts training can lead to a variety of injuries to the cervical spine, including bone fracture and dislocation, ligament injury with instability, disk herniation, spinal-cord injury, pinched nerve, and strains. Three of the most common injuries seen in the dojo are as follows. Cervical Strain Also known as whiplash, this is an injury to the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) around the neck. Damage can involve a disk or the joint capsule between two disks. The result is usually pain followed by spasms that discourage even the slightest turn of the head. Although a strain can stop you from training, it doesn’t involve damage to the stability of the spine or spinal cord, so full recovery can be expected. The timing of that recovery can vary from as little as six weeks to as much as six months. For some, a strain can result in chronic pain. Generally, rest, medication, and rehabilitation are successful in treating this problem. Transient Quadriparesis In this condition, sometimes called spinal-cord concussion, the cervical spinal cord becomes contused and the person loses sensation in the arms and legs. Meanwhile, movement, or motor function, may be unaffected. Symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours, but sometimes it takes longer. It’s not clear whether long-term consequences follow this type of injury. In the dojo, this injury can result from a strike to the face or chin that causes the neck to snap backward. Another mechanism is axial neck compression, which can happen during a fall or tackle in which the person lands on top of the head. When transient quadriparesis happens, one experiences a variety of symptoms affecting two to four limbs. A common complaint is a burning sensation in the hands, as well as numbness or tingling. Motor symptoms (i.e., problems moving the arms and legs) can vary from none to mild to complete quadriplegia. Recognizing the severity of one’s inability to move is important because the greater the motor loss, the less likely the injury is transient. Medical evaluation is warranted to assess the severity of the injury. This usually involves a detailed clinical evaluation with advanced imaging such as a CT scan or MRI. Treatment includes rest and monitoring with sequential clinical examinations. Stinger Also known as a burner, this condition is an injury to the peripheral nerves. Usually, it follows a stretch or compressive injury to the nerve root or brachial plexus, which is a group of nerves under the collarbone. Training note: Neck and shoulder strength is important in preventing this. The classic symptom is the sudden onset of a piercing, burning pain in one arm. It can last from several seconds to several minutes. The sensory disturbance usually resolves quickly, while the weakness sometimes is more persistent. With a stinger, it’s uncommon for both arms to be affected; if that happens, spinal-cord injury should be suspected. With the first occurrence of a stinger, the symptoms resolve rather quickly. When there is a recurrence, each subsequent event can result in more distinct neurologic consequences, including persistent motor weakness. If this kind of injury is sustained, it’s essential to consult a doctor. If symptoms worsen over a few days or weakness persists for more than 10 to 14 days, additional testing and specialty consultation will be required. Treatment involves a detailed medical assessment, rest, and monitoring. A CT scan or MRI imaging may be helpful, particularly in patients with persistent symptoms. Injuries to the Cervical Spine Injuries to the cervical spine can be complex. Sometimes mild injuries become chronic problems, and underlying anatomical differences can put people at risk for spinal-cord damage. Being aware of this can help you train more safely.

In a landmark moment for martial arts history, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation officially designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day throughout the state of California. The new law makes Bruce Lee the first Chinese American in California history to receive an official statewide commemorative day, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to martial arts, film, philosophy, and cultural representation. Introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco, the legislation honors Lee's enduring impact on generations of martial artists, athletes, and filmmakers. May 17 was specifically selected because it marks the day in 1959 when an 18-year-old Bruce Lee returned to San Francisco from Hong Kong, beginning the journey that would eventually change martial arts forever. The first official Bruce Lee Day will be observed on May 17, 2027. For Black Belt Magazine, the recognition carries a particularly deep significance. Long before Hollywood fully understood Bruce Lee's importance, Black Belt helped tell his story. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Black Belt founder Mitoshi Uyehara and the magazine's editorial leadership recognized that Bruce Lee represented far more than a martial arts instructor or actor. Through interviews, technical articles, and coverage of his revolutionary ideas, Black Belt became one of the earliest mainstream martial arts publications to document Lee's philosophy, training methods, and vision for martial arts. The relationship between Bruce Lee and Black Belt extended beyond journalism. The magazine served as one of the few platforms where Lee could discuss Jeet Kune Do, challenge traditional thinking, and present martial arts as a vehicle for personal growth and self-expression. Black Belt editorial team helped promote many of Lee's teachings during a period when much of the martial arts establishment was resistant to his unconventional ideas. Those articles and photographs now stand as invaluable historical records of Bruce Lee during his most influential years. Bruce Lee appeared numerous times in the pages of Black Belt, sharing insights on training, combat philosophy, and the concept of "using no way as way," ideas that continue to inspire martial artists around the world. Today, more than fifty years after his passing, Lee's influence remains visible in virtually every martial arts discipline. From mixed martial arts and combat sports to action cinema and personal development, his teachings continue to resonate across generations. Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee and CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation, called the recognition a testament to her father's enduring legacy and his ability to bridge cultures and inspire people around the world. For Black Belt Magazine, the establishment of Bruce Lee Day represents more than a state proclamation. It is recognition of a man who forever changed martial arts and whose ideas continue to shape practitioners around the globe. As martial artists everywhere prepare to celebrate the first official Bruce Lee Day in 2027, the words Bruce Lee once shared in the pages of Black Belt remain as relevant as ever: "Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own." Few individuals have left a greater mark on martial arts history. And few honors are more fitting than a day dedicated to the man who taught the world to be like water.