The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to electrify Toronto, Canada, with its much-anticipated event, UFC 297, on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Amidst a star-studded lineup, the co-main event features a thrilling bantamweight title fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva. This matchup is not just a test of skill and endurance but also a pivotal moment in the careers of both fighters. Raquel Pennington, a seasoned contender in the bantamweight division, has been known for her gritty and relentless fighting style. Her journey through the ranks of UFC has been marked by notable victories and a few setbacks, each contributing to her growth as a fighter. Pennington’s striking accuracy and submission skills have been her strong suits, making her a formidable opponent in the octagon. On the other side of the octagon stands Mayra Bueno Silva, a rising star in the bantamweight division. Silva's rise in the UFC has been rapid, attributed to her dynamic fighting approach and impressive agility. Her ability to adapt to different fighting styles makes her a versatile competitor. Silva’s strengths lie in her striking prowess and her capability to execute swift transitions during ground fights. The clash between Pennington vs Bueno Silva at UFC 297 is more than just a battle for the bantamweight title. It’s a clash of experience versus momentum, with Pennington’s tested skills in the ring going head-to-head against Silva’s youthful energy and evolving techniques. The fight is expected to be a tactical showdown, with both fighters likely to bring their best to the octagon in Toronto. The strategic aspects of this bout cannot be overstated. Pennington's experience in high-pressure fights might give her an edge in handling the intensity of the moment. Meanwhile, Silva’s recent performances have shown that she can rise to the occasion and deliver under pressure. Fans can expect a mix of stand-up exchanges and ground tactics, as both fighters are well-rounded in their approach. UFC 297, headlined by the middleweight battle between Strickland and Du Plessis, promises to be an event filled with excitement and high-stakes matchups. However, the co-main event between Pennington and Silva is poised to steal the spotlight. It offers a perfect blend of technical skill, strategic planning, and the raw passion that defines the spirit of mixed martial arts. As Toronto prepares to host this spectacular event, UFC fans worldwide are gearing up to witness a night of intense battles and unforgettable moments. The Pennington vs. Silva fight, in particular, stands out as a testament to the evolving dynamics and ever-rising competition in the UFC’s bantamweight division.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2024 continues to showcase an incredible array of talent across various weight categories. From seasoned champions to emerging contenders, the landscape of UFC is ever-evolving, with athletes pushing the boundaries of martial arts. This article provides an insight into the current standings in each weight category, highlighting the reigning champions, key competitors, and the names to look out for in the coming year. Here are the 2024 UFC Athlete Standings Women’s Strawweight [ 2024 UFC Athlete Standings ] Zhang Weili (Champion):  A formidable force, Weili is known for her striking power and resilience. Yan Xiaonan & Tatiana Suarez (In The Mix):  Both athletes have showcased impressive skills, with Xiaonan known for her striking and Suarez for her grappling. Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas, Loopy Godinez (Names to Watch For in 2024):  These fighters are rapidly rising, each with unique strengths like Dern's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Ribas' all-around game. Women’s Flyweight Alexa Grasso (Champion):  Grasso has risen swiftly, impressing with her boxing skills. Valentina Shevchenko, Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot (In The Mix):  These athletes are top contenders, each with distinct fighting styles, from Shevchenko's versatile skill set to Blanchfield's grappling prowess. Maycee Barber, Rose Namajunas, Natalia Silva, Ariane Lipski, Tracy Cortez (Names to Watch For in 2024):  A mix of experienced and new talents, each bringing diverse skills to the table, like Namajunas' striking and grappling balance. Women’s Bantamweight Champion to be crowned:  This category is poised for a new champion, making it highly competitive. Julianna Peña, Mayra Bueno Silva, Raquel Pennington, Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana (In The Mix):  These athletes have been strong contenders, with Peña known for her grappling and Aldana for her boxing. Karol Rosa, Pannie Kianzad (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Emerging talents, both showing great potential with Rosa's striking and Kianzad's well-rounded skill set. Flyweight Alexandre Pantoja (Champion):  Pantoja is known for his aggressive fighting style and submission skills. Amir Albazi, Brandon Moreno, Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France (In The Mix):  A mix of fast-paced strikers and grappling experts, with Moreno known for his heart and determination. Brandon Royval, Matheus Nicolau, Muhammad Mokaev, Tagir Ulanbeknov, Tatsuro Taira (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Young and dynamic fighters, each with unique skills like Royval's submission ability and Mokaev's wrestling. Bantamweight Sean O’Malley (Champion):  O'Malley is known for his striking, range, and charismatic personality. Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen, Henry Cejudo (In The Mix):  A blend of experienced and tactical fighters, with Cejudo being a former Olympic wrestler. Petr Yan, Deiveson Figueiredo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Yadong Song (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Exceptional athletes, each with a strong background like Yan's boxing and Figueiredo's power. Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski (Champion):  Known for his incredible cardio and versatile striking. Ilia Topuria, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, Max Holloway (In The Mix):  Diverse fighters with skills ranging from Sterling's wrestling to Holloway's striking volume. Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez, Movsar Evloev (Names to Watch For in 2024):  These fighters are known for their tenacity and unique fighting styles, like Kattar's boxing and Ortega's jiu-jitsu. Lightweight Islam Makhachev (Champion):  A grappling specialist, known for his control and Sambo background. Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Dustin Poirier (In The Mix):  Highly skilled and diverse, with Oliveira's submission skills and Gaethje's striking. Benoît Saint Denis, Jalin Turner, Mateusz Gamrot (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Emerging fighters with a lot to prove, like Turner's reach advantage and Gamrot's well-roundedness. Welterweight Leon Edwards (Champion):  Edwards combines striking precision with tactical fighting. Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Gilbert Burns (In The Mix):  Strong contenders, with Muhammad known for his endurance and Burns for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Sean Brady, Ian Machado Garry, Jack Della Maddalena (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Up-and-comers with impressive skills, like Brady's grappling and Garry's striking. Middleweight Sean Strickland (Champion):  A well-rounded fighter, known for his striking and grappling. Dricus Du Plessis, Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier, Khamzat Chimaev (In The Mix):  A mix of power and technique, with Whittaker's striking and grappling balance. Paulo Costa, Brendan Allen (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Both are strong, aggressive fighters, with Costa known for his power. Light Heavyweight Alex Pereira (Champion):  Pereira is recognized for his striking prowess, particularly his powerful left hook. Jamahal Hill, Jiri Procházka, Magomed Ankalaev, Aleksandar Rakic (In The Mix):  Dynamic fighters, from Hill's knockout power to Procházka's unorthodox style. Johnny Walker, Khalil Rountree Jr. (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Exciting fighters with knockout power, especially Walker's dynamic striking. Heavyweight Jon Jones; Tom Aspinall (Interim Champion):  Jones is a legendary figure in MMA, known for his technique and strategy, while Aspinall shows promise with his agility and power. Stipe Miocic, Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, Jailton Almeida (In The Mix):  Seasoned and powerful, with Miocic's wrestling and boxing, and Gane's kickboxing background. Curtis Blaydes, Serghei Spivac, Derrick Lewis, Alex Pereira (Names to Watch For in 2024):  Heavy hitters, with Blaydes known for his wrestling and Lewis for his knockout power. The UFC in 2024 is brimming with extraordinary talent and potential. Each weight category is filled with skilled athletes who are ready to claim glory or defend their titles. As the year progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these standings evolve and which fighters rise to the top, proving their prowess in the octagon. Stay tuned for a year full of intense matchups, thrilling victories, and the emergence of future champions.

Takeru Segawa vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon will have to wait for another day. The Thai star withdrew from his ONE 165  Tokyo main event clash citing injury, but that doesn’t mean the main event takes a step backward. In his place, ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 will move into the role and put his gold on the line against the Japanese superstar in Tokyo, Japan, at the Ariake Arena on Sunday, January 28. ONE Chairman and CEO made the announcement on social media early on Friday. The new main event will set the stage for a massive year in the flyweight division. The winner will take the helm of the talent-rich division. A trove of incredible contenders will await whoever walks out of Tokyo with the 26 pounds of gold over their shoulder. The super-fight between Takeru and Rodtang still looms in the distance no matter the result. The same can be said for Superlek, who edged Rodtang in their Muay Thai clash last September. The triangle atop the card is set for a jaw-dropping 2024 schedule, but the remainder of the top-five contenders are all itching for their shots as well. Superlek vs. Takeru is everything fans could want and more. The best kickboxers on the planet will throw down on January 28 to decide who is the proper king to start the new year. ONE 165 Tokyo: Superlek vs. Takeru takes place live on Sunday, January 28, live from the Ariake Arena on Tokyo, Japan.

The five biggest action series coming in 2024 are, to no one’s surprise, remakes/rehashes or plan ole’ adaptations, which probably explains the mounting anticipation for each show. We're excited either way! Check 'em out! 1. Avatar: The Last Airbender Perhaps the most anticipated martial arts/action series in recent memory. Can Avatar: The Last Airbender live action series redeem the 2010  live action movie? Here’s the official synopsis: “Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope. But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.” Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres Feb. 22, 2024 on Netflix 2. Marvel Studios' Echo Being billed as “Marvel’s most intense series yet,” this show has the dark, weighted characters and sets that we’ve come to expect from DC comics. Based on the Marvel Comics character Maya Lopez who is a deaf athlete and martial artist, capable of perfectly copying another person's movements. As a  spin-off of the series   Hawkeye  ( 2021), the character Maya Lopez played by Alaqua Cox returns. All 5 episodes of Marvel Studios’ Echo arrive January 9 at 6PM PT, exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu. 3. Mr . and Mrs. Smith  Starring Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine  (PEN15), Mr. & Mrs. Smith  is an upcoming American spy comedy series created by Francesca Sloane and Glover . Yes, it is based on the 2005 film  starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. While the original had some quirky moments, it was not led by comedic actors. Though Jolie is known for her physical roles, it will be interesting to see how they apply stunts and fight sequences into the series with these action-genre novices.  Premieres on Amazon Prime on February 2, 2024.  4. Fallout  “Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time,  Fallout  is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them.” From the executive producers that created Westworld. Starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins and more.  Arriving April 12, 2024  on Prime Video. 5. The Brothers Sun Blood runs in the family... Which is a perfect slogan for the fact that Michelle Yeoh's character leads a family of gangsters. After the assassination of a formidable Taiwanese triad leader, the leader's oldest son Charles (played by Justin Chien), travels to Los Angeles to protect his mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and his innocent younger brother, Bruce (Sam Song Li). As Taipei's deadliest societies engage in a power struggle with a rising faction, Charles and Bruce find themselves at the center of a conflict for dominance. In the midst of these challenges, they must unravel the true essence of brotherhood and family before someone threatens their existence. Streaming now only on Netflix.

Bill Wallace, the three-time Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee, who goes by the nickname “Superfoot,” owns an arsenal of kicks that made him a legend in and out of the ring. His outgoing personality and ability to have fun whether teaching or fighting are part and parcel of his life philosophy — even if he’s kicking an opponent in the head! Best Advice from Bill Wallace Just have a good time. “The best advice I ever got was just to have fun,” Wallace said. “If you are going to do it, whatever the ‘it’ is, enjoy it because if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t care.“ For example, I love to train and practice my kicks. I don’t believe I’ve ever thrown a perfect kick. I’ve thrown some pretty good ones, but I don’t think any of them were perfect. I tell people, ‘Practice makes permanent; it doesn’t make perfect.’ ”No matter how much you practice, something eventually will go awry, so you should learn to laugh at yourself, he explained. “Once, I was fighting a guy and tried to kick him in the head, but I landed on my butt. [All you can do is] just grin and get up and do it better the next time.” Wallace reached deeper into his martial memory and came up with another example: “In 1990, I hit Joe Lewis with a counter hook kick. I thought, Oh, damn! I’ve killed him with a perfect heel kick! Lewis merely backed up and said, ‘Ouch.’ I just shook my head and smiled. Like I said, you gotta have fun.” Worst Advice from Bill Wallace Don’t mind the pain. Wallace said the worst advice he ever received was to ignore pain. Now he knows how ill-advised that is. “If something starts to hurt, there is something physically wrong,” he explained. “The guy who said, ‘No pain, no gain,’ is dead because he said that a long time ago before we got smart about how to train safely.“ Working through the pain is very stupid. Let an injury heal because with rest, it will heal a lot faster. Muscles, ligaments and tendons are soft tissues and will give — but only to a certain degree. When you go too far, they’ll snap.”

by Andrew Bryan It’s begun to die off now but in the hey day of K-1, there was plenty of discussion over which fighting style was better, Thai Style Muay Thai, or Dutch Style Muay Thai. This was a source of debate for years before the term Dutch Muay Thai gradually begun to die out and became replaced with Dutch Kickboxing. Today we’re going to answer the question, what actually was Dutch Muay Thai, and did it even exist? And why do we not really hear the term anymore. Where did the idea come from? In the 90s through to the early 2010s, kickboxing was at the height of its popularity, while still certainly a niche sport – K-1 was huge in Japan and fighters from all around the world would travel to Tokyo to test their skills. While there were successful fighters from all across the globe, including stand outs from Croatia and Brazil, the three best nations were undoubtedly Japan, Thailand and Holland. Thailand’s fighters were as you would expect, made up entirely of Muay Thai fighters, the great Buakaw being the most famous and successful. In fact outside of Jean Claude Van Damme movies, it was really K-1 that made Muay Thai famous as a style across the globe. Despite this K-1 rules kickboxing had it’s roots in Muay Thai, with the sport originating from Kyokushin Karate pioneers like Kenji Kurosaki and the cross-style fights they had in Thailand. Japan’s style was commonly just referred to as Japanese kickboxing, which you could best describe as a mix of Kyokushin karate, and Muay Thai when it came to knees and kicks, and fast combination based boxing. Fighters like Masato and Yoshihiro Sato were two of many great examples. Finally Holland’s style somehow became a little mythical. ‘The Dutch Style’. It became so infamous that a google search for ‘dutch kicboxing’ will no doubt lead you to many forum threads of people outside Holland asking where they can find a dutch kickboxing gym. The answer always being the same ‘you go to Holland’. The truth was Dutch Kickboxing wasn’t so much a style in of itself as much as it was a general trend in the training philosophies of Dutch gyms and dojos. In Muay Thai, low kicks didn’t score, in kickboxing they did – and so dutch fighters would simply use the simplest and quickest techniques, that being punches and low kicks and strongly emphasised them in their training.   So where did Dutch Kickboxing originate? In Japan. Kenji Kurosaki, as mentioned earlier, took part in cross style fights between Muay Thai and Kyokushin Karate and this lead to him eventually founding ‘The Mejiro Gym’ named after the Mejiro District in Tokyo. Toshio Fujiawara - Copyright Kyokushin World Union The ‘Mejiro’ Style of kickboxing was based around punches and low kicks, and fighters like Toshio Fujiawara, who I have covered before, would go onto become very successful in Muay Thai and later kickboxing. Jon Bluming with Alistair Overeem. Copyright – Alistair Overeem Jon Bluming, a dutch Kyokushin black belt and friend of Kenji Kurosaki would send his students to train Japan. Jan Plas, one of his students would found a second Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam, from which fellow coaches like Lucien Carbin and Johan Vos would train, alongside great fighters like Rob Kaman and Andy Souwer. Thom Harrinck, another student of Jon Bluming in Kyokushin would found his own kickboxing gym, Chakuriki. Kyokushin practitioner Cor Hemmers would do the same, founding the original Golden Glory Gym, now known as kickboxing. So in short, one gym in Japan and one particularly influential dutch Kyokushin expert, would create a ripple effect that saw the founding of multiple kickboxing gyms in Holland.   So why is was it called ‘Dutch Muay Thai’? This is where it gets trickier, as time goes on the term becomes rarer and rarer. This is a good thing as it means there’s a clearer understanding of what dutch kickboxing actually is – but it does make it harder to find clear information. The misconception seems to stem from Ramon Dekkers time fighting under full muay thai rules in Thailand. Dekkers was far from a dominant fighter in Thailand, he would usually lose, but was very well respected for how fierce a fighter he was. As dutch kickboxing has some roots in Muay Thai, and Thailand was the best place to find fights in the 90s – dutch fighters would simply practise with elbows, do their best with the clinch and head out to Thailand to fight. While fighters like Ramon Dekkers and Gilbert Ballantine weren’t exactly muay thai fighters, they were able to hold their own under the ruleset. This is where combat sports becomes murky, as every combat sport is technically a separate thing from it’s martial art. Fighting is fighting, and when Tyrone Spong and Nieky Holzken dominate professional boxers, we consider them boxers even though the majority of their combat sports experience and training comes from kickboxing. The same is true in this case, Ramon Dekkers  was  a Muay Thai fighter. What he wasn’t  was Thai Boxer, or a Muay Thai stylist. He was a kickboxer. This sort of nuance gets lost easy however, and for years dutch kickboxing was being referred to say ‘Dutch Muay Thai’ despite being a separate, yet related style. The real question is to what degree do we consider dutch kickboxing to be a style that even exists rather than simply off shoots of the Mejiro style of Japanese kickboxing. Coaches like Lucien Carbin have worked tirelessly to create a well rounded style that covers all the major techniques of Muay Thai – while also innovating to create a style separate from Mejiro. We also see Duane Ludwig’s ‘Bang Muay Thai’ based upon the teachings of Bas Rutten, who was himself a Cor Hemmers guy. Yet despite being rooted in dutch kickboxing, it purports itself as Muay Thai – because it was born in the time where the two were misconstrued as being one and the same. At the end of the day it could be said that none of this really matters – but it remains interesting, as martial arts moves further and further away from the rigid styles of the past, and evolves into a more fluid, meta-based situation.

The universally positive response to JCVD has given Jean-Claude Van Damme a career boost. While fans have long championed the man and his movies, only now do the mainstream media seem willing to acknowledge his appeal. In this Black Belt exclusive, the comeback kid talks about his latest films and what he has planned for the future. Black Belt: Were you surprised by how well JCVD has been received?Jeane-Claude Van Damme: It's been refreshing and inspiring to see [that] the film is getting such great feedback and that people have taken it to heart. (laughing) It's funny as for a long time I didn't think we would make the movie. The first time the project was discussed was after I'd been interviewed for a documentary a few years ago. The director had come up with an idea for a movie about me being caught up in the middle of something, but it never went any further. The project came up a few more times, and then I met this young guy named Mabrouk El Mechri, and he'd expressed his interest in doing such a project to show people a different Jean-Claude Van Damme. He told me that he thought I was a good actor and that he wanted to do something very different. Mabrouk is a very charismatic, very intelligent guy—he really sold me on the idea of the film, and then I didn't hear from him for some time. I didn't know that Mabrouk was going through a hard time. When I spoke to him again, I told him how disappointed I was that he'd made this big speech and sounded like a man of his word and then nothing had happened. He apologized and asked me to give him 15 days to put something together, a rough screenplay to show me. I said he should come and see me when he had something real to show me. It was maybe 10 days later [when] he traveled by train to Belgium and came to my house. He sat down in front of me like a little kid and proceeded to tell me the whole film, not just a rough outline but pretty much the entire film with all the dialogue, situations and characters. I knew then that Mabrouk was the right man for the job. I have never had such a positive experience making a movie. Every day when I came on the set, he would be happy and enthusiastic and welcoming. One day, I was having problems with a scene—something kept going wrong, and I was having to repeat the same things again and again—and I was getting frustrated. Mabrouk just came over and put his arm around me and told me not to worry, that we should stop shooting for the day and come back tomorrow. He wasn't upset or worried. He felt that if we weren't going to get it right, we shouldn't be killing ourselves to keep doing it; we should step back and try again the next day. And we did. He was able to rework the schedule and shoot what was needed. His attitude helped me give the film everything I could. He was the writer and director, but it was a collaborative way of filmmaking. He's a genuinely talented director. When I first saw the film, I was disturbed. It wasn't exactly what I thought we'd been doing; I hadn't realized how raw it was. I wasn't sure how people were going to react to it. I wondered if the fans of my earlier films—who want to see me kick ass—might not accept me like this. But it struck a chord with a lot of people. The response has been very good, and I've gotten a lot of positive feedback about my acting. Black Belt: For your most recent project, The Eagle Path, you served as producer, writer, lead actor and director. What can you tell us about the film? Jeane-Claude Van Damme: I just finished the editing. It's a project I've been wanting to do for several years. I've been rolling the idea around for a long time, and I just kept coming back to it. You saw the first cut—maybe you should tell me what you thought of the film. (OK, here goes. The Eagle Path, formerly known as Full Love, tells the story of a disillusioned, dysfunctional former soldier named Frenchy (Van Damme), who is working as a taxi driver in an unnamed Southeast Asian country. His life is turned upside down when he meets Sofia (Claudia Bassols), a beautiful woman working as a “companion" in an exclusive club. Frenchy sets out to save her from the life she's living, from her vicious boss Soli (Adam Karst) and from herself. During production, I visited the set in Thailand and was impressed with the way Van Damme was shooting the movie and working with the actors. After watching the first cut, I liked what I'd seen. It's not a conventional Van Damme movie; it's a dark journey that at times seems reminiscent of the work of Johnnie To or Pierre Melville in terms of character development and the way things play out. It has an interesting feel to it, and Van Damme gives another “raw" performance that shows that JCVD wasn't a one-off in terms of how far he can take things as a dramatic performer.) I put my own money into The Eagle Path— it's a very personal project for a number of reasons, not just because [of that] or because my son Kristopher and my daughter Bianca are in the movie. It's a story I wanted to tell for a long time. When I'd talked about making the film before, people told me they liked the idea but then suggested changing so many elements that it would no longer have been the movie I wanted to make. After JCVD, I knew I wanted to do something that was a little different, and I thought it was time to do this project. So I decided to put up the money myself and shoot the movie I wanted to make. I used a lot of new actors, and I gave them the chance to improvise, to breathe life into their characters. We had a cast that was all working together for the same goal. It's a hard film to talk about without giving too much away, and I am interested to see how people respond to the project and the performances. Black Belt: There have been lots of rumors about sequels. In addition to Universal Soldier: Regeneration, your third Universal Soldier movie, which came out in 2009, there's talk that you're considering making follow-ups to Timecop and Double Impact. The one that's really got people interested, though, is a possible Bloodsport sequel. Jeane-Claude Van Damme: Bloodsport holds a special place in my heart. It was my first real movie and really introduced me to the world. It was ahead of its time in a lot of areas—it not only helped give the martial arts genre a boost but also foretold certain things like the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the idea of pitting different styles against each other. I want to make a movie that fully respects the ideas and spirit of the original. It will have all the martial arts action people want to see, but the story and drama will be handled in a more mature way this time. I want it to have an epic feel; I want it to be The Godfather of martial arts movies (laughing)—something people will look at as a milestone, something that embraces the genre and respects the martial arts. I have a lot of ideas that I'd like to explore. I'm older now and can't play the young idealistic hero this time. I want to play a character that's my age, somebody who has experienced the highs and lows of life. He's not this fresh-faced young fighter anymore; he's almost a bum, he's out of control when it comes to his life. I'd like to explore that idea and the relationships he has with the people around him—maybe he's not been the best father or husband, maybe he's neglected his children, and as they've grown up, it's gotten worse. As his son became an adult and started to stand up for the rest of the family, maybe things turned violent. [Maybe] he's taken things out on his son without even realizing it. It's the kind of thing that can destroy a family, turn father against son, especially as maybe the father is so far gone he doesn't even know what he's been doing. I want to see what would make someone follow that path and what could possibly turn him around and make him become somebody again. But I'm not sure if the studios like that idea. They [say]: “You can't play a hero like that. How can the hero of the movie abuse drugs, abuse himself and neglect his family? That's just unacceptable." I ask them why not, and they say it's against the rules, but I believe that if we can show something real, show someone having to overcome real problems, it makes the character and the story that much more real. There are real athletes and people who have overcome incredible difficulties in their lives, people who had success and opportunity given to them and wasted it. They lost it maybe because they took drugs, maybe because they were with the wrong people, and sometimes they manage to make it back. That's what I want to explore. I don't think that just because it's a martial arts film it has to be a very simple story, that we should only concentrate on the action. I want all the elements to be there: the story, the drama, the characters and, of course, the martial arts action. If I can make a movie that delivers in all those areas, that would be a martial arts movie worth making. The title I have for the project is The Pit Bull. It can describe the way the character thinks and behaves and the way he fights—he's beaten and battered but keeps going. I am gathering the right people around me to work on this film. It's very important that I have people who have a real passion for what they're doing, a real love for film. I don't want people who think of this as just another job. I want people who will give me 100 percent, who want the same thing as me, [which is] to make a great movie. I want this to be a full-blooded martial arts film, but in addition to the action, we will have a story. There will be real drama, real characters that people can identify with. Some people might think there are some semi-autobiographical references in the film, and maybe they are right. If you can put real elements into a character, real experience, you can make the characters and situations more real for the film. I really want to make movies that work on a number of levels—not just action, but action and drama combined. I want this film to stay true to the spirit of films like Bloodsport, but with heart and substance to back up the action. I've been through some ups and downs in life, through good times and bad times, and now I can bring real life experience into a project like this. I really believe that The Pit Bull will be the movie that people have been wanting to see me do for a long time. (This article originally appeared in the June issue of Black Belt. Mike Leeder is a Hong Kong-based writer, producer and casting director. His credits include Jet Li's Fearless, Jackie Chan's Rush Hour 3, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Yuen Woo-ping's True Legend.)

“Jiu-jitsu is a philosophy that is expressed physically. It’s kind of the development of the mental in physical capacities working in unison to move efficiently and flowingly in a giving situation with a resisting opponent.” — Ryan Hall Learning Jiu-Jitsu One of the hardest things I have encountered is understanding the process my brain must undergo to learn. For years, I made up excuses to justify my shortcomings. However, after a long period of self-reflection, I understood that no matter how amazing my coaches or teammates are, I will not grow and progress until I find the best protocol to aid my learning skills. “We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.” — Carol Dweck Jiu-Jitsu Takes Time While a small number of physically gifted individuals are more adept at attaining greatness with minimal effort, most of us require endless hours of practice to achieve a deep understanding of any subject and become efficient at applying said subject. Jiu-jitsu is not an exception to this rule. It requires long periods of studying positional advantages, submission entries, transitions and strategies to become proficient in this martial art. However, there are a few “tricks” to speed up the learning process. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin Hands-on Approach to Jiu-Jitsu Learning jiu-jitsu requires a hands-on approach. While from purple belt on, you will find yourself doing a great deal of learning away from the mats, as a white belt and blue belt, you will see the need for involvement. A kinesthetic learning approach works wonders here. By applying the techniques and having them applied on us, we begin to understand the move on a more molecular level. Understanding the need for control of peripheral limbs or oscillatory joints becomes more obvious when we apply it than when we simply observe the move. In fact, I have found that most moves require controls and grips that are almost invisible to the untrained eye but primordial to the success of the move. At this stage, it is also crucial to begin to familiarise ourselves with the anatomy of the human body, our own body mechanics and our strongest assets. Body’s Language With Jiu-Jitsu Rolls As white and blue belts, it is also necessary to prioritize our “rolls” and work toward understanding our body’s language. It is easy to get lured into rolling only with higher belts. At those levels, it is hard to decline a higher belt. But if we dedicate our entire sparring time to rolling with higher belts, we become defensive in nature, and we rob ourselves of the chance to practice our attacks. 60/40 BJJ Roll Rule In my opinion, at white belt and blue belt, you should roll 60 percent of the time with folks who are your level or below and the other 40 percent with people who are higher ranked than you and/or bigger/stronger players. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein Finding Your Jiu-Jitsu Voice I am not going to lie: I did with jiu-jitsu as I did with my job when I started. I copied and pasted when doing many of my assignments. At first, it was out of fear that I would mess up. I would find a memo previously written by one of our associates, and I would simply adapt it to fit the task at hand. I did the same with jiu-jitsu. For the longest time, I simply copied and pasted moves and sequences I had memorized from watching my coaches. And as much as I respect my coaches and think the world of their games, that was not a sustainable approach. It took a serious injury to get me to change my approach and find my own voice. Copy and Paste Jiu-Jitsu After a bad knee injury, I could no longer copy and paste. I began to analyze the game. I began to prioritize what was needed to perform a successful move and then apply those principles mixed with my own twist. I no longer felt pressure to perform the move in the linear way I had memorized it; instead, I began exploring new paths. It was at this moment that my passion for jiu-jitsu was magnified. Prioritize learning the strategical, physiological and psychological aspects of jiu-jitsu, and let your imagination and inspiration fill in the gaps. Find your voice and use it loudly. “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit” — Banksy Learn to Rest With BJJ It’s easy to become obsessed with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I am a perfect example of it. I went from a two-times-a-week hobbyist to a nine-times-a-week obsessive practitioner. And while there are many professional athletes who train at that rate for years, the reality is different for those of us who have full-time jobs, a family and social obligations to fulfill. Learn to rest when necessary. Make sure to give your body the breaks it needs and time to heal. Listen to your body and your aches. Pay attention to the signals of overtraining: lack of sleep, increased resting heart rate, excessive soreness, irritability, etc. “The sweet spot: that productive, uncomfortable terrain located just beyond our current abilities, where our reach exceeds our grasp. Deep practice is not simply about struggling; it’s about seeking a particular struggle, which involves a cycle of distinct actions.” — Daniel Coyle Neuroplasticity for Jiu-Jitsu Neuroplasticity is defined by Britannica.com as the capacity of neurons and neural networks in the brain to change their connections and behavior in response to new information, sensory stimulation, development, damage or dysfunction. Myelin sheaths insulate the neural fibers and the neural circuitry. The more we practice a skill, the more myelin increases, thus creating a more defined neural pathway that helps us perform at higher levels. But beware! If you are practicing inaccurate techniques and movements, that’s the way you will recall it. Wrapping myelin does not reinforce only our good skills. It reinforces whatever we do the most. “Becoming is better than being.” — Carol Dweck Enjoy the Jiu-Jitsu Journey Do not be driven solely by results. Learn to enjoy the process until the process becomes the reward. If you can embrace the suck, the suck eventually becomes the inducement. This is what allows us to switch to a growth mindset. Trick yourself into believing that you love the process — and even the ass beatings — and watch your dopamine baseline rise with every practice. Dive Into Jiu-Jitsu I could write a book on tricks that will aid your learning disposition, but it all starts with a willingness to attentively listen, check your ego at the door, become an active participant, look past the surface knowledge and dive right into the muddy waters.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is coming off a truly historic 2023, which was highlighted by numerous big-name signings and the groundbreaking acquisition of Bellator MMA.  Now, the United States-based mixed martial arts (MMA) league is looking ahead to 2024, which is shaping up to be even bigger than the previous year. With the addition of Bellator, the PFL has formed a new global MMA powerhouse, and could definitely change the landscape of the sport.  The coming year could also be a breakout year for a number of the PFL’s fighters, opening the door for them to become household names, or even legitimate PFL stars.  Let’s take a look at who can make the jump in the PFL in 2024:  Cedric Doumbe Cedric Doumbe’s PFL debut was nothing short of spectacular. The French kickboxing superstar made his PFL debut in the main event of PFL Europe: Paris, and made an immediate statement, knocking out fellow highly-touted French debutant Jordan Zebo in just nine seconds. Doumbe, who’s undefeated in five professional MMA bouts so far, will likely make the jump to the PFL’s global roster, where he’ll be competing for a million-dollar purse and a chance at a PFL Championship. If his debut is any indication of how his career will go, it’s highly likely that the PFL has another hard-hitting star in their hands with “Le Meilleur”. Dakota Ditcheva England’s Dakota Ditcheva has been competing under the PFL banner for a while now, but it was during the inaugural season of PFL Europe that the stunning striker really began to make a name for herself. Another former kickboxer-turned-MMA fighter, “Dangerous” Dakota blasted through PFL Europe’s women’s flyweight division en route to becoming the league’s first-ever PFL Women’s Flyweight Champion. This year, the 8-0 Ditcheva could transition into the global million-dollar tournament and showcase her skills on the global stage.  Impa Kasanganay For all intents and purposes, Impa Kasanganay is already a star in the making – at least. The former UFC standout arrived in the PFL last season and immediately put on impressive outings in the PFL Challenger Series, which he was able to carry over to the 2023 PFL Season. “Tshilobo” defeated the likes of Cory Hendricks, Tim Caron, Marthin Hamlet, and Josh Silveira on his way to becoming the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion. In 2024, Kasanganay should be the odds-on favorite to retain the title and join an elite list of two-time PFL titleholders.  Abdullah Al-Qahtani With the PFL making a strong push in the Middle East in 2024, all eyes will be on Saudi’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani. The featherweight standout turned in an impressive maiden campaign in the PFL in 2023, with standout wins over Lamar Brown and David Zelner. In 2024, Al-Qahtani could be the face of the PFL’s off-shoot league in the Middle East, or he could chase gold and glory in the 2024 PFL Regular Season. Either way, “The Reaper” is primed for stardom in 2024. Biaggio Ali Walsh Arguably the most recognisable name on this list, the PFL has done an excellent job of building up Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Ali Walsh joined the PFL on an amateur deal back in 2022, and he has been impressive since, scoring five consecutive wins by way of knockout. His most recent win came at the 2023 PFL World Championship, which could likely be his springboard into the professional ranks. If Ali Walsh decides to take the leap, he’ll likely be a regular on the 2024 PFL Regular Season’s featured bouts. If he continues his impressive run, it’s likely that he’ll be a big name even before he tries his luck in the million-dollar PFL tournament.

For our cover story throwback, we are featuring the "1974 Yearbook" of Black Belt Magazine that featured the Kung Fu craze hitting the world. With every street corner stand and movie theater featuring Kung Fu movies, it was hard to deny its massive growing presence in American culture. The black cover was a misprint and replaced later with a different cover. Therefore, this is known as the “Lost Cover." The cover featured major players of the time including: Lower right - Ahna Capri Middle - Jimmy Wang Yu Center - Bruce Lee Upper middle - Jim Kelly Top - John Saxon Based on this original poster: Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format.

Some martial artists might decide to skip this Karate Way column because they figure they already know what a Kiai is. It’s the shout you make when you execute a technique, right? Yes, that’s true. But it’s a little more than that.   by Dave Lowry   Photo by Robert Reiff Two Japanese characters make up the word: Ki means “energy,” and ai means “to unify.” The concept appears often in the traditional martial arts of Japan and in different ways. In the broadest context, it refers to ways in which an opponent is manipulated through means other than physical contact. That can include the use of vocalizations. There are very sophisticated psychological ramifications of kiai, however, and they extend far beyond just shouting. A stare. A way of posturing. The “attitude” one exhibits in the face of conflict. All these can be expressions of kiais. Shimada Toranosuke (1810-1864) was still in his teens when his swordsmanship made him famous on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Using a bamboo shinai, he won several contests. He eventually traveled to Edo (now Tokyo) and launched another series of challenges. Although he lost some, he began winning. A lot. His fame grew, as did his self-confidence, which, given his youth, probably fermented into arrogance. Shimada challenged Odani Seiichiro, a small, nebbish-looking fellow who happened to be the 13th headmaster of the jikishinkage ryu. Shimada and Odani faced off; the former was convinced it would be a short match. To his surprise, he found himself slowly moving backward. Shimada did not will it; it just happened. Odani was stepping forward, his sword out but not looking particularly threatening. Shimada, however, said the experience was like facing a moving wall of kiai. Before he realized it, he’d backed up the length of the hall. Odani relaxed, retreated to the center of the room and once again assumed the look of a chubby panda. Shimada followed, and they resumed their match. And once again, even as he struggled mentally, Shimada later recalled, it was as if a solid cloud was advancing on him. He was powerless. He found, in desperation and confusion, that his arms and legs wouldn’t work. He actually lost consciousness.  Afterward, Shimada begged to be accepted as a student of Odani’s ryu. He excelled and later founded his own branch. (Those who are interested in learning more about Shimada should watch the drama The Sword of Doom. Toshiro Mifune’s character is based on him.) Accounts of this sort make kiai sound like magic — or perhaps a kind of hypnosis or method of mind control. Lest you dismiss it as so much nonsense, take a look at, for example, videos of systema experts. Don’t concentrate on their techniques. Instead, look for the way they move and stand as they speak. They exploit posture, facial expressions and physical size. All work not as a substitute for talent but as a way of establishing control. We like to think of magic as something embraced by primitive, unsophisticated people who are intimidated by any threat of a power that’s not seen but is somehow communicated. All humans, though, are susceptible to suggestion, to almost unconscious clues we pick up from the behaviors, expressions and movements of others. This is where the realm of kiai exists in serious martial arts. Just in terms of the vocalization of kiai, the subject is still far more involved than many know — especially those who shriek like a banshee who’s just stepped on a Lego as they do their kata “performances.” In classical ryu, specific vocalizations are taught. Some sounds tighten the muscles in the back that are used for thrusting; others engage the abdominals that enhance striking. The sounds aren’t spontaneous squawks or roars. They have a deliberate meaning. A vocalized kiai might be used to confuse or distract an opponent, just as loud noises of all sorts will do. But it also can disrupt concentration and impose one’s will to exploit weakness in an opponent. The key here is to remember the actual meaning of the word: to unify or harmonize one’s energy with that of another person. In this sense, kiai is about infiltrating the mind of an opponent, then controlling it. Again, this might sound esoteric, but the reality is that in a deadly confrontation, it takes only a fraction of a second of inattention or distraction — think of the way a pickpocket works, subtly bumping into a victim to momentarily break his or her attention — to take the advantage. There is no need for a spell or a power that incapacitates long term. All that’s necessary is the briefest disruption. It’s no accident that Shimada was defeated by a master of the jikishinkage ryu. That school concentrated on kiai as a fundamental part of its curriculum. It exists today, and the training is still emphasized. This ryu defines kiai as a combination of respiration with and without vocalizations, and attitude. To teach the former, students begin with a furibo, a huge, fearsomely heavy club that’s swung in solo exercises to teach muscular and respiratory connections. Later on, the curriculum of jikishinkage ryu takes the student through a succession of four kata sets, each with a different form of kiai. They’re named after the seasons, which have a number of esoteric meanings along with practical physical lessons. The scrolls of ancient ryu have numerous references to the notion of kiai as a means for dominating an enemy. Kiai no ri is an expression used to describe methods for employing one’s energy to affect another person in a combative sense. Another term is kihaku, which today is often heard in kendo dojo in reference to a “strong spirit.” In older parlance, however, it meant an ability to control circumstances by projecting energy through posture and breathing. Kiai is one of the many aspects of budo that outwardly seem simple. Look deeper, though, and you’ll find that it’s far from simple. ​​ 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. This article originally appeared in a 2022 edition of Black Belt Magazine

ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo will see a familiar face standing across from him at ONE 165  in Tokyo, Japan . ONE Championship announced  a rematch for the gold with Tommy Langaker for its January 28 event. The sensational mat classic will co-main event the event inside Ariake Arena. The two hit the mat at ONE Fight Night 11 last June. Ruotolo took home the gold, but Langaker showed his skills early in the match. Since then, the Norwegian has been focused on getting his second crack at the American star. Since dropping his first title bid, Langaker has gone 14-1 in competition, including winning the IBJJF No Gi European and World Championships. Ruotolo, on the other hand, has not competed since that night. Instead, The American has been focusing on his transition into mixed martial arts while building a gym in Costa Rica with his brother Tye. While he is still keeping his skills sharp in training, Langaker has been in active competition. The rematch will bring tactics to the forefront of the discussion. Both men got to experience the other’s game and will now have to make adjustments for the rematch. Both athletes are aggressive on the canvas, which means the rematch is guaranteed to provide excitement for grappling fans around the world on one of the biggest cards of the year. After a razor-close first encounter, the rematch has all the makings for one of the year’s most intense grappling affairs. ONE 165 will get 2024 started with some of the most incredible martial arts action on Sunday, January 28.