BKFC-56 is LIVE this Saturday, December 2 from the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT and will be broadcast on Pay-Per-View. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC ) hosted its Final Press Conference for BKFC-56 , the promotion’s biggest ever event , today at Bucked Up Headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT ahead of Saturday’s must-see showcase event at Maverik Center in Salt Lake City. The ‘Open to the Public’ Ceremonial Weigh-In will take place on Friday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m. MT at SKY SLC, 149 Pierpont Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 and will be streamed live on the BKFC App and BKFC YouTube page. "This is absolutely the biggest fight of my career. Eddie has experience with BKFC; I think you learn a lot from your first one. I want a (expletive) battle, dude. I'm sorry, boss, what I've gotta do to your Philly boy, man.I've still got some weight to cut. I think I'm going to blow up after I weigh in. I don't know how much Eddie is going to blow up because he was looking pretty fat last time. I don't know how much weight he's gonna put on after weighing in at 175.You're here for a paycheck, which is crazy to me, I can't even think like that … I’m going to beat the (expletive) out of you so bad, man". "I always thought the (King of Violence) title belonged to me, and I don't need a belt to prove it. I've had it, I'm defending it against Mike Perry, and it's going to be a successful title defense. I love this fight, man. I was a 155lber, but these days I walk around at 200. I can't make 155 anymore. I wanted to make it 175 to suck some water out of Mike's head, so when I hit it, it just falls over." "I'm looking forward to Saturday night and putting on a show." "This is everything. The past is the past. One day I'll look back and reflect on the past, but this is the opponent in front of me, this is the task at hand, and I plan on taking care of this task. (If Conor McGregor wants to fight me with BKFC) he’s gotta get off the blow first. He's gotta get off the steroids. He's got a long, long track ahead of him. He's fought some fights, but now he's gotta fight some real deals, the guy's he's been avoiding. That's a longshot. It's not something I really think about. He can get it on the street, for sure. His mom knows. I'm born and bred for this. I'm going to do big, big business here in bare knuckle." David Feldman, Founder/President of BKFC quoted "We've got six fights on this card that could be a main event on any other card we've ever done. The biggest event in BKFC history is happening right here in Salt Lake City. I'd like to thank our great partners, because without them, this stuff doesn't happen. And thank you to the fans. You guys made us the fastest growing sport on planet Earth. Thank you very much. I'm super excited about this event.” "We figured, let's have some fun with this thing and create the King of Violence Championship, because we've got two very violent people right here; Mike Perry and Eddie Alvarez. They've got amazing accolades, they've never turned down a fight, and they've beat almost everyone they've fought, so we made it the King of Violence Championship. Who's the most violent, is it Mike Perry or Eddie Alvarez? We're going to find out on Saturday night." "We have some really, really exciting announcements that we're going to make next week. We have some new marquee states that are going to be opened up. We're working on this network deal, and hoping to be able to announce that by Dec. 15. We have some really, really exciting news for BKFC in 2024." "We've got some great partnerships. I say partnerships because they help us make these fights happen, and we help give them notoriety and help their brand grow. It always has to be win-win or it doesn't work at all, and it's always win-win." "Ben Rothwell came down really, really sick this morning, so he's not going to be able to compete. We tried to get a last-minute replacement for Todd Duffee, but we just couldn't do it, so we're going to push that fight to February. I'm sorry to the fans for that, but we still have a stacked card, an unbelievable main event, and a whole lot to be excited about here in Salt Lake City." Fighters turned up the heat at the BKFC 56 Final Press Conference Headlining BKFC-56 is the highly anticipated return of ‘The Face of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship , ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, (3-0), battling long-time arch-rival , Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez , (1-0), in the middleweight division. Co-featured at BKFC-56, Women’s Flyweight World Champion Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea , (7-1), will defend her title in a highly anticipated rematch against Australian arch-rival, #3 Ranked Contender ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings , (3-2). BKFC Featherweight World Champion Kai ‘Hefty Bag’ Stewart, (4-0), will also defend his title against Fast Rising Star, #2 Ranked Challenger Howard Davis , (5-1-1). In an outstanding heavyweight rematch, former BKFC Heavyweight World Champion Arnold ‘Bomaye’ Adams, (7-2), battles Great Britain’s powerhouse Mick Terrill, (6-1), Former UFC Star Jeremy Stephens make his BKFC debut against lightweight veteran Jimmie Rivera , (1-0-1). Due to illness the Ben Rothwell vs. Todd Duffee heavyweight battle will be rescheduled.

BKFC-56 Results: ‘PLATINUM’ Mike Perry Wins BKFC ‘KING OF VIOLENCE' Title Christine Ferea and Kai Stewart victorious in BKFC World Title Defenses Mick Terrill wins BKFC Heavyweight World Title Salt Lake City, UT (December 2, 2023): In front of a sold-out Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday night and a massive international viewing audience, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) presented BKFC-56 , their biggest and best event in the company’s history. Fighting in the main event, international combat sports superstar, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry , (4-0), defeated Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez , (1-0), earning the inaugural BKFC King of Violence Title . Also victorious in sensational world title defenses, BKFC Flyweight World Champion Christine Ferea , (8-1), defeated Bec Rawlings , (3-3) and Kai Stewart (5-0), outpointed Howard Davis , (5-2-1), both wins coming by unanimous decision. Great Britain’s Powerhouse, Mick Terrill , (9-1), won the BKFC Heavyweight World Title by knocking out Two-Time BKFC Heavyweight World Champion Arnold Adams , (7-3). Stated David Feldman , President and Founder of BKFC, “The sold-out attendance tonight was over 8,200, a record for our company. The free prelims were watched by over four million viewers. In the 90 plus countries BKFC-56 was broadcast in, we had over 18 million live views globally. The pay-per-view is trending at three times higher than BKFC-41.” “Our Performances of the Night were Kai Stewart and Esteban Rodriguez and the Knockout of the Night goes to Mick Terrill. The fans here are fantastic and we can’t wait to come back here for another great event.” Here are the BFC 56 Results. Fighting in the main event for the BKFC King of Violence Title, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry improved to 4-0 with a stoppage after the second round of Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez , (1-1). Opening the clash both fighters attacked aggressively, landing hard-hitting counters and combinations. In the second round Perry took control landing multiple power shots to Alvarez’s head. Alvarez would turn the tables to end the stanza landing a barrage of punches. Following the second round, Alvarez’s corner stopped the action due to severe damage he suffered to his left eye with Perry being declared the winner by technical knockout. In the co-main event, BKFC Women’s Flyweight World Champion Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea , (8-1), defended her title in a rematch against top challenger Bec Rawlings , (3-3). Following an even first round, Ferea would land huge combinations opening a cut under Rawlings’ right eye. The third and fourth rounds saw Ferea dominate, aggressively landing with both hands. Closing the fight strongly in the final round, the defending champion was declared the winner by unanimous decision. Scores were 50-45 on all three judge’s scorecards. “She’s tougher than anyone I’ve ever faced,” said Ferea. “Cris Cyborg is the one I’ve always looked up to but I’ll mop her up in BKFC.” BKFC Featherweight World Champion Kai Stewart , (5-0), won a unanimous decision over top rated challenger Howard Davis , (5-2-1). The southpaw Stewart worked his game plan to perfection throughout with punches from numerous angles catching the game Davis. Controlling the action and the pace, Stewart landed 117 total punches to Davis’ 78. Judge’s scores in Stewart’s favor were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. UK Heavyweight Powerhouse Mick Terrill , (9-1) stopped Two-Time BKFC Heavyweight World Champion Arnold Adams , (7-3) in the fourth round with the victory earning him the previously vacant BKFC Heavyweight World Title. Following an even first round, Terrill would take over in the second stanza landing multiple counter shots. The third round saw the valiant Adams mount a successful rally, however in the fourth round he was dropped hard twice to the canvas as the fight was called to a halt at :47 of the round. Terrill is the first BKFC champion from the United Kingdom. In a highly anticipated lightweight clash, former UFC Star, Jeremy Stephens , (1-0), successfully debuted in BKFC with a third-round stoppage of Jimmie Rivera , (1-1-1). The taller and longer Stephens was able to walk forward throughout the first two rounds and land numerous clean shots. With multiple cuts opened on Rivera’s face, the fight was stopped by the ringside physician at the end of the third round. Stephens out-landed Rivera throughout the fight, 59-43. In heavyweight action, Ben Moa of Ogden, UT pieced up Great Falls, MT’s Bridger Bercier over the course of three rounds, causing several lacerations en route to winning by doctor’s stoppage in the third round. Time of the technical knockout was :51. Moa, a former member of the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets of the National Football League, is now 1-0 in the squared circle; Bercier fell to 0-1. Holland, MI’s Erick Lozano improved to 2-2 with a third-round knockout over debuting Salt Lake City fighter Mike Jones in the light-heavyweight division. Lozano floored Jones twice, paving the way to the stoppage 51 seconds into the third frame. Esteban Rodriguez of Grand Rapids, MI returned to the win column in style with a second-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Keegan Vandermeer of Denver in their cruiserweight showdown. Rodriguez utilized relentless pressure and volume to drop Vandermeer in the second round. Time of the stoppage is 1:06 in round two. With the win, Rodriguez improved to 3-1, while Vandermeer’s record dropped to 2-1. West Haven, UT’s Trevor Bradshaw, (1-0), dropped hometown Salt Lake City fighter Troy Dennison twice in the opening round of their welterweight contest. Dennison picked himself up off the canvas once, but couldn’t continue after his second knockdown. Bradshaw wins by knockout at 1:55 in round 1. Dennison fell to 0-1. In the first sanctioned bare-knuckle fighting bout in Utah history, Danny Hilton of Prescott Valley, AR landed at will on Clearfield, UT's LJ Schulz throughout their battle of debuting lightweights. Severe swelling around Schulz’s eye forced the ringside doctor to call a stop to the fight at the end of the first round, declaring Hilton the winner via TKO.

Who are the greatest male martial arts movie stars? With martial arts films finding critical success in the last year, we are looking to our all-time favorite male martial art movie stars. Some of these men are living masters and former world champions in martial arts, while others just play the part. Regardless of their background, these kick-ass icons have created some of the most legendary moments in martial arts cinema. 1. Bruce Lee Bruce Lee is undoubtedly the most iconic male martial arts actor of all time. He brought a new level of intensity and authenticity to on-screen fighting that had never been seen before. Enter the Dragon, The Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury, need we say more?! 2. Jackie Chan Jackie Chan is a legend in his own right, known for his incredible acrobatic skills and use of improvised weapons. He has starred in countless martial arts films over the years, becoming a household name in the process. Getting started in Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon he went on to star in Young Master , Rumble in the Bronx , the Rush Hour franchise and how could we forget, Kung Fu Panda ! 3. Jet Li Jet Li is a Chinese martial artist and actor who has starred in numerous martial arts films. He is known for his incredible speed and agility, as well as his impressive range of fighting styles. Jet Li has left his mark in blockbusters like Once Upon a Time in China, The One, The Expendables, Romeo Must Die , and The Forbidden Kingdom. 4. Donnie Yen Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor and martial artist who has appeared in many popular martial arts films. He is known for his lightning-fast kicks and his ability to blend different fighting styles seamlessly. Yen is known for movies like Raging Fire, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, IP Man franchise, Mulan , and Iron Monkey . 5. Tony Jaa Tony Jaa is a Thai martial artist and actor who is known for his incredible athleticism and acrobatic skills. He is best known for his role in the 2003 movie Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior , which showcased his extraordinary athletic ability and combat skills. Jaa started his martial arts training at a young age, studying Muay Thai, Kung Fu, and Taekwondo. He rose to prominence as a stuntman in Thai cinema before transitioning to leading roles in action movies. In addition to Ong-Bak , Jaa has starred in several other martial arts movies, including Tom-Yum-Goong, The Protector, and Furious 7. His dynamic fight scenes and acrobatic stunts have earned him a loyal following among martial arts movie fans. 6. Scott Adkins Scott Adkins is a British actor and martial artist who has appeared in many martial arts films over the years. He is known for his impressive physicality and his ability to perform his own stunts. While not a household name, his skill and recent credits alone rank him among the best living martial artists in cinema. He is trained in Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Acrobatic Gymnastics. He can be seen in Undisputed 3: Redemption, IP Man 4: The Finale, and Avengement. 7. Wesley Snipes Snipes began his martial arts training at a young age, studying Shotokan Karate and Hapkido. He later went on to train in several other martial arts disciplines, including Capoeira, Kali, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. One of Snipes' most famous roles was as the vampire hunter Blade in the Blade trilogy. In these films, Snipes was able to combine his martial arts skills with impressive swordplay to create an unforgettable action hero. He also starred in the martial arts movie Undisputed , where he played a boxer who finds himself in prison and must use his skills to survive. Snipes' proficiency in martial arts has not only made him a sought-after actor in action movies, but also a respected martial artist in his own right. 8. Michael Jai White Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous martial arts films over the years. He is known for his impressive physicality and his ability to perform a wide range of martial arts styles. Fan favorite films of his include, Blood and Bone, Undisputed II: Last Man Standing, Falcon Rising, Universal Soldier: The Return, and the Never Back Down franchise. These actors have all left their mark on the world of martial arts cinema, and their performances continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the globe. That’s our list. Did your favorite make the cut? Check out some of their most legendary movies on Black Belt+ Black Belt+ biggest martial arts digital platform in history. The platform includes thousands of remastered instructional videos, martial arts movies, documentaries, and, of course, digital issues and articles from the iconic Black Belt Magazine . The new app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. Or download and subscribe directly from Black Belt at plus.blackbeltmag.com .

Non-practitioners often assume that rank in karate and other martial arts is a standardized affair, controlled perhaps by an official body located somewhere in japan. Those who train, of course, know that there’s no such thing and that a sixth-degree black belt in one dojo might not even be considered a first dan in another school. That said, many budo organizations have worked to standardize testing among their members. If you belong to a dojo affiliated with a national or international group, chances are you have a test with specific requirements for each rank. This allows for a lot of order and predictability. You can go to any dojo affiliated with that organization and be fairly sure of the quality of the ranked students and they can be sure of yours. Probably most practitioners would think this a positive. It is, in some ways. However, give some consideration to an alternative perspective on grading and standardization. Classical Japanese martial arts, also known as koryu, developed somewhat in isolation from one another. Keeping the essence of your ryu secret was a considerable advantage in an age of warfare. During the later feudal period, after Japan’s long civil war ended, there was some interchange among ryu. Members of one ryu, having gained enough skill — and received permission from their teacher— might have joined another ryu. In terms, though, of how the ryu were structured, each tended to follow its own protocol for rank. There was no standardization or need for such. And by rank‚ note that the koryu system was and is entirely different from that of modern budo forms like karate. There was no need to give someone a rank, certificate or belt to signify skill. If you were alive, that was proof of your talent. The only need for certification was to establish who had the right to teach and transmit the ryu. That’s because a ryu was considered property. (They still are.) To address this, the headmaster of the ryu issued a menkyo. Literally, it means “license.” This is the word most often associated with written proof of one’s authority to possess and transmit the ryu, but other terms were also used. As a ryu established itself, there was a need for members to be licensed to teach certain aspects of the art. So documents were written, like menkyo, to give the owner permission to do so. In some cases, these might have been loosely bound, like a book. In most cases, they were written on scrolls imprinted with the seal of the headmaster. These were also called mokuroku (catalog) and might be simply a list of all kata the recipient could teach. Or they might be called menjo (certificates). Yurushi is the term used in some ryu; it means “permission.” A few ryu issued a series of these licenses. A lower menkyo would give the owner the right to teach perhaps the first part of the ryu’s curriculum. As he became more skilled, a second license would be issued for him to teach the second part. Some ryu gave out no licenses at all except to the one person who had been designated to take the position of the next headmaster. “Ranks are meaningless,” some karateka insist. “They’re just dangled out there to keep students interested.” This may be true; obvious symbols of rank have an appeal, particularly for people who are reward-oriented. It’s too harsh and generalizing, though, to dismiss rank systems as simple marketing devices. Colored-belt ranks — this is a big reason they were created — make it easier in a big dojo or organization for instructors and seniors to see the approximate skill level of practitioners they might not personally know. However, what if your teacher, the leader of your budo organization, did personally know all the students? What if all practitioners of your art knew one another and trained together regularly? Would there still be a need or a desire for a standardized form of rank? While it’s impossible to read the future, I do wonder if the martial arts might see in this century an evolution toward smaller groups, toward less homogenization spread over entire regions and countries. Today, many practitioners might think of Japan and its budo organizations as a kind of central authority. Few of those practitioners, though, have been there or trained with the main instructors. Their sense of belonging to an art or a dojo lies with the person who actually teaches, in the building where they go regularly. There was a time when few non-Japanese had the level of skill and experience to teach independently. As that has changed, more and more teachers are at a place where they need to take responsibility for their students. The idea that a seventh-dan teacher with four decades of experience instructing in his own dojo needs to bring in someone else to do grading is becoming increasingly odd. And pointless. How about if that teacher established the standards? He or she might decide to issue menkyo-type licenses instead of belt ranks. Maybe the teacher would decide to revamp the qualifications. Instead of students saying, “My rank is certified through the International Whatever Karate Association,” they would say, “My rank is certified by my teacher.” If a student looks bad or even mediocre, it reflects directly not on some organization but on that teacher. Organizational rank systems have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s worth considering. 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.

Q&A with “The man you may never see on the Cover of Black Belt Magazine ” George Chung far right Chung is no stranger to martial arts. He is a Tae Kwon Do Master, a former five-time World Karate Champion, and two-time Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee. As an instructor, he owned and operated a martial arts school chain and taught over 20,000 students. He spent 14 years as a coaching specialist for the San Francisco 49ers, earning a Super Bowl ring for the 1994 season. From teaching to a successful media career, he promoted the first ever professional televised boxing match in the People's Republic of China and went on to produce the first MMA league in India with the Super Fight League. Throughout his career, Chung has pioneered multicultural sports and entertainment on a global level. Today wears the hat of CEO of JungoTV, the online streaming network seen around the world and serves as publisher for Black Belt Magazine . We sat down with George to get his thoughts and vision for Black Belt Magazine What was your motivation to acquire Black Belt Magazine? As a lifelong martial artist, Black Belt Magazine has been an integral part of my life and a treasured part of the martial arts community. Growing up I never dreamed of owning or running the magazine, only to contribute to the martial arts as a teacher, coach, and performer. The recent turn of events that led to the purchase was the opportunity presented to us by Century Martial Arts, the former owner. My company has had a long and successful relationship managing much of their digital content over the past few years, so it was a natural transition for us to take on the responsibilities of the entire magazine and its digital future. What can we expect under new leadership? As a digital media company, we will lean into our expertise of global digital distribution, this means content will reach our viewers faster and wider. From an editorial perspective it's our vision to diversify the coverage of the magazine and bring back the original mission of being the number one authority on self-defense. What this means is an e mphasis on traditional arts, tactical, and combative training along with features of the top martial arts champions, masters and influencers who are disrupting and growing the martial arts industry. We also want to introduce new talent from around the world and expose them to the martial arts community. Black Belt Magazine will be for everyone who loves martial arts and appreciates the modern training to the legacy of its past. Our future may be digital but we definitely will continue to distribute across all mediums including television, web, streaming, social, and soon print-on-demand. As a martial artist what insights will you bring in the editorial look and coverage? Although I've spent my lifetime in martial arts, I consider myself a student of the arts and always am curious and fascinated to learn and explore all aspects of martial arts. This perspective and point of view allows me to have a very open mind and heart when it comes to different martial arts and different martial artists. There is no agenda that affects the editorial direction of the magazine. With so many styles and so many amazing martial artists the coverage and editorial is literally endless and that's what is so exciting. "I consider myself a student of the arts and always am curious and fascinated to learn and explore all aspects of martial arts" You mentioned print on demand does that mean the magazine will no longer be a quarterly printed issue? It's no secret that there's been a steady decline of readership for printed magazines around the world, not just Black Belt but all magazines. With the adoption of digital content availability and voracious consumption via streaming and social platforms, Black Belt is no different with its evolution as a digital property. That being said, we will be offering print on demand issues of past issues. For new printed magazines and will focus on the print issues as collector style editions with every magazine being a masterpiece, thoughtful, meaningful and filled with original insights as our readers deserve. You have been in the martial arts a long time, reflect on your experience, what do you see as the most positive changes now and forward. I'm going on nearly 50 years being in the martial arts, and I feel very grateful that my journey has availed the opportunity to meet some of the greatest martial artists of our lifetime. This is the one time that name dropping makes me so proud. I am so fortunate to have personally met the greatest legends that have passed like Ed Parker, Leo Fong, Remy Presas, Jhoon Rhee, Fumio Demura and living legends like Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, Benny the Jet Urquidez and contemporary stars like Michael Jai White. Training with the greatest masters like Ernie Reyes, Remy Presas, Anthony Chan, and Hee Il Cho. And competing side by side and in the peer group with some of the greatest champions of our lifetime, like John Chung, Cynthia Rothrock, Keith Vitali, Linda Denley, and Steve “Nasty” Anderson and many more. This gives me an interesting perspective. The new generation of talent has brought martial arts to a level that it is now enjoyed, appreciated and respected on a worldwide level especially through films and television. From tournament Karate with the amazing advancements of CMX to Tricking, all the way up to professional MMA, the interest in fighting is at a level we never imagined! Today we are so proud to feature new talent to spark a new generation of masters. Do you see the martial arts industry growing from a practitioner level? Coming from a background where I once ran martial arts schools, I can also appreciate the explosive growth and mainstream appeal of martial arts schools across so many arts including a renaissance of traditional training as well as tactical training for pure self-defense purposes. There has never been a better time to learn martial arts. As a reader what's your favorite Black Belt Magazine issue(s) I actually have a few and they go from generations. Of course the original 1967 Bruce Lee cover–we call the “green cover with Kato and Bruce” before he was 'Bruce Lee' as we know him. Then in 1968, Thomas La Puppet was the first black man to be featured on the cover at a time of the Civil Rights movements in the United States. I love the 1974 movie poster yearbook and the 1976 Chong Lee Dynamic Kicks still one of my all-time favorites. Others that stand out are Remy Presas yellow cover in 81; 93 yearbook with Seagal, Norris, VanDame, and Bruce Lee; Jim Kelly 2014 black and white cover. Most recently, the 2019 Carlos Machado and 2021 Cris Cyborg (purple cover) are highlights for me. Every magazine edition is special. Every issue is a masterpiece. I consider Black Belt both art and history. Growing up was being on the cover of Black Belt Magazine a dream? So here is where the story gets really interesting: I have actually never been on the cover of Black Belt Magazine. I have been on Karate Illustrated and Fighting Stars sister publications, but never Black Belt . Now as the publisher could put myself on the cover, yes but it's an honor to have this position and I will not take advantage of it. The tenets of martial arts are simple and yet pure respect, honor and discipline . This is the code of Black Belt Magazine and I am proud to lead an amazing team to pave a new era!

We honor those who began history and taught and inspired us to believe that anything is possible. They are the women and men that Black Belt Magazine recognized with its induction into the hall of fame.

By Michael Finn Training in a real martial art requires and builds perseverance and fighting spirit. You enjoy the benefits not only on the mat but also in daily life — which is why the arts remain so popular centuries or even millennia after they were developed for combat. I know this because i’ve spent the past 60 years following the martial path. Writer and Photo Credit: Michael Finn I began my journey in 1955 with the London Judo Society, then delved into aikido, kendo and karate. I joined the British police and subsequently served as a troubleshooter in a bad part of London, which resulted in my rolling in more gutters than most people. It was a learning curve that separated dojo training from the real thing. In 1967 my victory at the National Police Judo Championship inspired me to visit Japan to further my training. Being short on cash, I was forced to go there via a six-week crossing of Siberia during the Cold War. That was just the beginning of the adventure. It continued because this period in history marked the tail end of an era that was quite unlike what we see in martial arts today. For that reason, it’s worth looking back to gain valuable insight into where we came from. In the 1960s in Japan, spending time in a dojo destroyed one’s ego rather than encouraging it. This was intentional. The purpose was to foster learning through humility. Part of that process was to require complete devotion from all students. During one aikido practice session I participated in at Waseda University in Tokyo, I recall the instructor turning to his sempai and saying‚ “I don’t think that student is sincere. Train with him and break his arm and let’s see.” Not long afterward, I heard what sounded like a tree branch breaking. For the next several months, the student attended class but could only watch because his arm was in plaster. When the cast came off and he could train again, he was accepted into the dojo. During the years I spent in Japan, students still occasionally died in the dojo, often the result of discipline meted out after they missed too many lessons. Each lesson presented us with this daunting possibility, and it made us realize that what we were doing had to be taken seriously. Other methods of training reinforced that notion. I recall a special course taught by Sumiyuki Kotani, a 10th-degree judo black belt. The topic was strangulation and resuscitation. When the time came to practice what we’d been shown, we pretended to choke each other out. That was when Kotani proceeded to grab a student and render him unconscious — and then bring him around. “If you don’t do it for real, you won’t know if it works‚” he admonished us. For the next half-hour, we did exactly as he had done, choking each other out and then initiating the resuscitation. I was fortunate to train under some of Japan’s greatest masters. The lessons were not just about how you developed techniques; they were about how the techniques developed you. As the student developed, the application of the techniques became more powerful. I implemented that very lesson on personal development when I represented Britain at the first world kendo championship in Osaka. I didn’t win, but I had learned enough of the martial way to know that one did not make excuses and blame others for one’s own shortfall. You had to evaluate your weaknesses, analyze your tactics and then train for the next time. I also was fortunate to become a student of Takaji Shimizu, the last grandmaster of shindo muso-ryu jodo. A unique teacher, he favored the old isshin denshin manner of instruction, which refers to the direct transmission of knowledge. This is a major difference between East and West. In the West, a teacher imparts knowledge to the student. In the East according to isshin denshin‚ the student takes knowledge from the teacher. The first concept is mainly left-brain learning, while the second is right-brain. It’s more involved than that, of course, but this short description will be enough to resonate with some students. During my stay, I came into contact with the likes of Masaaki Hatsumi, Risuke Otake and other Japanese legends. American martial arts researcher Donn F. Draeger was an excellent mentor and later a good friend. Once Draeger and I trained at Otake’s stud farm in Narita. The “dojo” was nothing more than a canvas spread out in front of the stable. In a moment of downtime, Draeger told me that during a training session he had attended there, Otake cut the underside of his foot badly. His treatment entailed walking into the stable, pulling a red-hot iron out of the fire, cauterizing the wound and returning to the class as if nothing had happened. Clearly, training in those days was very different from training today. I consider myself lucky to have learned each technique from its source, and I have maintained my skill set as it was taught to me. The martial arts I see nowadays are the result of years of technical changes, and that has rendered some things very different from the way they were. I’m not saying one way is right and the other wrong; they are just different after so many years. The public image of the martial arts is also different. These days, it’s often the case that if you don’t have an attitude and you don’t claim you can kill a person with the death touch, in the eyes of many, you don’t do martial arts. This points to an underlying difference between training then and now. All the masters I studied under believed that the purpose of martial arts training was to develop the individual and that only then will the techniques be viable for said individual. “Martial arts training is about creating a socially mature person who plays a useful role in society” was an oft-heard sentiment. Another one was driven home in a conversation with Kotani. When I asked him about the usefulness of judo in self-defense, Kotani simply said‚ “Yes‚ I suppose you could use it for that — I never really thought about it.” Michael Finn has been inducted into three halls of fame for his contributions to the development of martial arts in the United Kingdom. He’s written 10 books and numerous magazine articles.

Courtesy of fska.com Shotokan Karate stands out among other karate styles due to its distinct characteristics in terms of techniques, principles, and philosophy. Developed by Gichin Funakoshi in the early 20th century, Shotokan has become one of the most widely practiced styles globally. First and foremost, Shotokan is known for its emphasis on powerful and linear movements. Techniques involve deep, strong stances and straight, extended punches and kicks. This focus on direct, efficient motion sets it apart from styles that may incorporate more circular or flowing movements. Kata, a series of predetermined movements simulating combat against multiple opponents, is a cornerstone of Shotokan training. These katas are meticulously choreographed and serve as a means to practice techniques, stances, and transitions. Shotokan practitioners often place great importance on perfecting these katas, viewing them as a repository of knowledge and a way to develop muscle memory. Another distinctive feature is the emphasis on kumite, or sparring. Shotokan practitioners engage in controlled, structured sparring sessions that allow them to apply their techniques in a dynamic, realistic context. This differs from some other karate styles that may prioritize different forms of sparring or self-defense techniques. Philosophically, Shotokan places importance on the concept of "karate-do," where the practice of karate is seen as a means of personal development beyond just physical skills. Funakoshi's principles of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit are integral to the Shotokan philosophy. In summary, Shotokan Karate distinguishes itself through its emphasis on powerful, linear techniques, structured katas, and the incorporation of kumite in training. Its philosophy of karate-do further sets it apart as a holistic approach to personal development through martial arts.

by George Chung, Publisher Over the past few days, the MMA world has been filled with news and stories of the consolidation of the MMA industry, with the recent announcement of the PFL buying Bellator. We have been following the recent developments and focusing on the key players as any media company would. In keeping with Black Belt Magazine ’s pursuit of authentic coverage of martial arts, I thought it would be more appropriate to feature a story that talks about Bellator’s president Scott Coker through the lens of martial arts. For the thousands of people who know Scott, most may only know him as a promoter, but I would like to celebrate his career as an accomplished martial artist. Scott Coker saw the future and led the world to it. He moved martial arts combat from high school gyms to packed arenas and stadiums, went from cable networks to network television, and launched the careers of so many people we now refer to as legends in MMA. He did it all with humility and respect, tenets he learned as a lifelong student of the martial arts. Scott was a key player in the early days of the ISKA in the 1980s, moved to K1 in the 90s, and reimagined a sport called MMA with Strikeforce, the first legally sanctioned MMA promotion in California. He disrupted the industry by featuring women as main events, thereby creating legends like Rhonda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Gina Carano, and Miehsa Tate. This practice is now considered common because of Scott. In an interview, he was once quoted as saying, “I grew up as a martial artist, and I'm still a martial artist at heart.” This was evident in his career as Scott related to fighters and trainers on levels so deep that only a person who grew up in the arts could understand. The perspective of this story is unique because I had the privilege of witnessing his growth as a promoter from a backstage vantage point, as a close personal friend, and yes, a fan of Scott for almost 50 years. The story is about humility and vision and a chance for me as a friend and publisher of Black Belt Magazine , to celebrate my friend and share his story from a personal vantage. To begin, let's start with the end. On Friday night, Bellator promoted its last event of 2023. Scott sat ringside and quietly presented championship belts and then graciously moved out of the cage allowing the champions to have the limelight and the spotlight, a practice he's been known for for years. Making it about the fighters and never about himself. In an egocentric social media-obsessed world, Scott has always demonstrated the opposite characteristics he has consistently portrayed throughout his entire life. I want to go back to the beginning way before we knew Scott as the promoter, the businessman, and an MMA pioneer. Although it is known that he has a martial arts background, what is often rarely discussed is the actual skill level Scott possessed. How do I know? I trained next to him as a teenager through our early stages, earning our Black Belts at our hometown dojo West Coast Tae Kwon Do in San Jose, California. Scott was always a standout as the most talented, energetic, and skillful martial artist in the class. That's saying a lot considering we trained under the tutelage of Ernie Reyes, Sr. We looked up to our martial artist heroes who demonstrated the skills and character that we as young men wanted to emulate. Movie star Bruce Lee had the biggest impact on Scott but he was also inspired by Chong Lee, author of Dynamic Kicks, and of course our teachers Ernie Reyes Sr, Tony Thompson, Roland Naku, and Hieu Dang. Nothing ever got past us as students. We were micro-focused on every nuance and absorbed every word our martial arts teachers shared with us because our only goal was to become great martial artists. Oh, how simple times were back then. Scott had a chance to display his skills as one of the first members of the legendary West Coast Demo Team and toured the country for several years as a member of that famed performance squad. I always believed and said that had Scott just desired to compete in martial arts, he would have also been a world champion because he truly had the talent and the skills. But that was not the path he chose. At one point, Scott dabbled as a stuntman. In fact, you can find footage of him on YouTube fighting Jet Credit: West Coast World Martial Arts Association. Li or in the Last Dragon with Ernie Reyes Jr. Even then Scott did not aspire to be a star, only to be part of something that showcased the martial arts. What destiny really had in store for him was to become one of the most prolific martial arts promoters in history. As early as his teenage years, Scott was already involved in the promotion of professional combative sports with West Coast Martial Arts promoting a kickboxing company that fed programming to the PKA. Scott understood even in those early years that a real promoter has one job and that's to put “butts in the seats”, and to do so, he showcased the most amazing martial arts talent at that time on the West Coast. As he grew his organization, his kickboxing programs began to draw national attention on ESPN. Throughout the 1980s, kickboxing was the rage and Scott became a central figure in the ISKA, the kickboxing sanctioning body that grew the sport on cable TV. Now let's pause for a second before we go into the chronological history of his promotional career. It's important to mention that all this time Scott was also a martial arts instructor and an amazing one at that. In fact, his legacy as a teacher still remains today with one of his most prized students being the legendary MMA coach Javier Mendez. Javier refers to Scott as Kwang Jang Nim, Korean terminology for master and is now the owner of the famed AKA in San Jose, California and trainer to legendary Khabib Nurgamedov. In the 90s, Scott partnered with the Japanese promotion company K1. He later became President of K1 USA and went on to promote some of the most memorable fights at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Scott again provided a platform to showcase some of the greatest kickboxers of our generation including Maurice Smith, Ray Sefo and Ernesto Hoost. It was during those promotional years that Scott understood the importance of presenting his product to a full house and was able to monetize his promotions into a successful business, all the while creating an atmosphere, environment and ecosystem that would continually support fighters and their growth. In the early 2000s, as MMA began to gain mainstream popularity, Scott created Strike Force MMA. On March 10, 2006, he held the first sanctioned mixed martial arts event in San Jose, California with a record 18,265 in attendance, an attendance record that stood for many years. It was during the Strike Force days he forged relationships with major sponsors that stayed with him for decades and television relationships including Showtime and CBS. Strikeforce champions included a legendary list of who's who of fighters like Frank Shamrock, Cung Le, Nick Diaz, Josh Thompson, Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields, Alistair Overeem, and so many more. The organization grew in dominance and competed with the UFC. In 2011, Strikeforce was purchased by the UFC and Coker entered a new phase as a UFC employee where he stayed until his contract ran out. This could have been the end of the story as it would have been easy for Scott to walk away, but that's when in 2014 Bellator came knocking. Scott then started the next leg of his journey, continuing his vision of promoting the best MMA fights around the world. Courtesy of Bellator Most of us already know Bellator’s story. Over the last 9 years under Scott Coker’s guidance, Bellator went to promote 180 shows, achieved international growth, and included sell-out shows in the USA, Europe and Asia with epic co-promotions in Japan with RIZIN. All the while, Scott never forgot what his role was as a promoter, putting butts in the seats and giving the people a great show. Courtesy of Bellator So let's get back to Friday night as I sat in my office in Hollywood watching the Bellator 301 show on television. I was texting Scott and complimenting him on the great fights. True to form, Scott replied just like a fan sharing his excitement in the fights, analyzing the battles, and truly enjoying the sport from a martial artist perspective. We don't know Scott's next move professionally but here's what we do know and what I care about. Wherever he goes and whatever he does, Scott will continue to carry with him the heart of a martial artist, remembering the same principles he learned as a lifelong participant of the martial arts, which are respect, humility, and discipline. These are traits we all aspire to live by and it's great to know we can still look to role models who do. We don't know Scott's next move professionally but here's what we do know. Wherever he goes and whatever he does Scott will continue to carry with him the heart of a martial artist, remembering the same principles he learned as a teenager which are respect, humility, and discipline. We all aspire to live by these traits and it's great to know we can still look to role models who do. George Chung Publisher

Michael Jai White is one of the biggest stars of martial arts movies today. Much like Scott Adkins he was born a little too late, and would have been a mega-star in the 80s like Jean Claude Van Damme, but he has still carved out a nice career for himself. A muscle bound behemoth with surprising speed and agility, who isn’t above calling his various karate styles ‘kung fu’ if it fits the joke of his movies. Michael Jai White has been perhaps the biggest martial arts star the West has produced since, the aforementioned Jean Claude Van Damme. He also has 8 black belts. So today we’re going to look at Michael Jai White and the martial arts he has trained over the years. Firstly, it should be said that while he holds 8 black belts, he holds them largely in styles of karate, meaning that his ability to earn these ranks, will come from cross-over skills and knowledge of kata – as despite what some enthusiasts would like you to believe – most karate styles are fundamentally the same, differing usually based on the kata or an on-paper philosophy for approaching a fight, that the practitioner is likely not to follow. It’s very unlikely that a Shotokan black belt, will show a Kyokushin black belt a technique or idea they are not already familiar with, or vice versa. While there are many karate styles on paper, in practice you are really choosing between a style that trains for point based sparring competition, or a style that trains for knockdown based competition. 1. Kyokushin This is the primary style of Michael Jai White. Originally a student of Shigeru Oyama, White has used Kyokushin as the home base by which the rest of his skills spawn from. Kyokushin is the most famous example of the knockdown approach to karate. Founded by Mas Oyama, the style is built around a mixture of the kata and techniques of Shotokan and Goju-Ryu, with the latters approach to tough physical conditioning. The competitions are contested bare knuckle with fights disallowing punches to the head, but allowing for gruelling bare knuckle body shots, with the way to win being through knocking your opponent down or out. 2. Taekwondo (both ITF and WTF) It’s time to get controversial. Taekwondo is a style of karate that developed in Korea. The style is born specifically from Shotokan karate, and focused further on the kicking techniques that already existed in the style, and begun to build upon it by adding more turns to the kicks. As kicks score high in TKD competition, this forced more distance closing spinning kicks such as 720 degree round kicks. Michael Jai White has a black belt in both ITF and WTF styles, which compete under different rules and scoring systems. The common conception is that ITF is more traditional and more like an actual fight (though semi contact) whereas WTF is the Olympic style that you usually see today. WTF Taekwondo has become controversial in recent years when compared to what’s commonly referred to the ‘power era’. While spinning kicks are taught in Kyokushin, it’s reasonable to believe that some of the more acrobatic and elaborate kicks that we see in Michael Jai White movies come from his time training in both of these styles of Taekwondo. 3. Tang Soo Do I expect some people were annoyed by my referring to Taekwondo as Karate, especially seeing as many believe that Taekwondo actually originated from Taekkyon. In actuality this is probably not true, as Taekkyon as it exists today appears to be more a recreation of an old style, than something with direct lineage to the old days. Tang Soo Do, is a slightly older art, that also originated in Japanese occupied Korea based upon Shotokan, and can be seen as something of a middle ground between Taekwondo and Karate. A father of a close friend of mine held a black belt in Tang Soo Do and described it as being very similar but with more balance between punches and kicks – and truthfully I couldn’t put it much better. The question becomes ‘whats in a name?’ As Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do have far more visual similarity with point based styles of karate like Shotokan, than Kyokushin does, yet for some reason we don’t refer to them as what they are, off shoots of karate. 4. Goju Ryu Unlike a lot of other styles on this list, Japanese Goju and Okinawan Goju actually are quite different. Michael Jai White holds a black belt under Eddie Morales in Japanese Goju Ryu. An approach to the art that shares more in common with Shotokan, opting for more linear stances and point based sparring, as opposed to the original Okinawan Goju which favours more square stances and hard sparring more in line with what we see in Kyokushin. Another great example of Okinawan Goju would be the UFC’s Gunnar Nelson who uses the point based footwork and timing of the style to duck in on takedowns where he can use his prodigy level BJJ to win a fight. 5. Kobudo One Okinawan art Michael Jai White did train in is Kobudo. Unlike all the other systems being used (save for Tang Soo Do which dabbles in it) Kobudo is focussed around weapons and armed combat. The weapons trained in Kobudo include bo staffs, sai’s, sickles, knuckledusters, tonfa and nuchucks which despite being a Japanese weapon, were popularised by Bruce Lee. Kobudo can perhaps best be described as an umbrella term for quite a few different weapons schools – but for an actor wanting to do action movies is absolutely invaluable. Allowing Michael Jai White to comfortable use any sort of object he may have to hand and turn it into some sort of improvised weapon for a fight scene. 6. Shotokan It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Michael Jai White holds a black belt in the most common style of karate. It’s hard to overstate the influence of Shotokan over martial arts as a whole, especially given its influence on Kyokushin, which is along with Muay Thai the reason we have kickboxing today. Shotokan is based around linear fencing like movements and focuses slightly more on hand techniques than kicking techniques. It makes for a very solid, reliable style for any purpose so long as you make sure to practise Shotokan under full contact, continuous sparring as opposed to purely point sparring. Other famous examples of Shotokan would be the likes of Lyoto Machida and his family who are widely credited with proving that Karate could work in mixed martial arts in an age where it was thought to be ineffective. 7. The Superfoot System Currently the 8th and most recent style that Michael Jai White had earned a black belt in, the Superfoot System is a kickboxing system developed by Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, based on the style he developed in his days as a PKA kickboxer. Bill Wallace’s System can best be described as ‘punches and lead leg’ as Bill Wallace’s knee injuries from judo prevented him from reliably kicking with his right leg. Instead he developed a game based around using the side kick, round kick and hook kick off his lead leg, with the chamber position acting as a soft-feint to prevent the opponent from knowing which strike was coming. These are the 8 styles Michael Jai White currently holds a black belt in. Perhaps in a few years there will be another article cataloguing the next 8 this martial arts enthusiast learns.

As the anticipation builds for BKFC 56, the official weigh-in has set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable night of bare-knuckle fighting. Witness the intensity and focus of the fighters as they tipped the scales, marking the final countdown to a night filled with adrenaline-pumping action. Stay tuned as we bring you closer to the heart of BKFC 56, where every punch counts and legends are made. Main Card ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry,174lb. vs. Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez, 175.7lb. BKFC King of Violence Title Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea (C), 124.6 vs. ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings, 124 BKFC Women’s Flyweight World Championship Kai ‘Hefty Bag’ Stewart (C), 144.8 vs. Howard ‘HD’ Davis, 142.3 BKFC Featherweight World Championship Arnold ‘Bomaye’ Adams, 268.9 vs. Mick Terrill, 269.6 Vacant BKFC Heavyweight World Championship Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens, 155.9 vs. Jimmie ‘El Terror’ Rivera, 154.9 Ben Moa, 235.4 vs. Bridger Bercier, 208 Mike Jones, 185.6 vs. Erick Lozano, 187.4 Prelims Keegan Vandermeer, 204.4 vs. Esteban Rodriguez, 204.4 Trevor Bradshaw, 160.9 vs. Troy Dennison, 157.6 LJ Schulz, 155.9 vs. Danny Hilton, 155

Events are scheduled on Dec 5, 8, and 15 in Bahrain, Dec 7 in Brazil and the IMMAF Asian Amateur Championships scheduled between Dec 10 - 16, 2023 December 2023 promises to be an electrifying month for mixed martial arts fans as BRAVE Combat Federation gears up for a series of action-packed events, concluding the year with a grand display of combat sports excellence. Here are the BRAVE CF December 2023 showdowns - The BRAVE International Combat Week is set to host four high-octane events, each showcasing a diverse array of fighters and styles from around the globe along with BRAVE CF 78, scheduled to be held in Brazil. BRAVE CF 77: Bahrain Showdown Kicking off the month, BRAVE CF 77 is slated for December 5th at Khalifa Sports City in Bahrain. The highlight of the evening is the Lightweight championship battle between Kubanychbek Abdisalam Uulu and Lucas Martins. Not to be overshadowed, the Welterweight championship co-main event features Marcin Bandel squaring off against Kamal Magomedov. Alongside these title bouts, three additional fights are set to keep the adrenaline pumping. BRAVE CF 78: Brazilian Fury Continuing the momentum, BRAVE CF 78 on December 7th brings the action to Fortaleza, Brazil, in collaboration with Victorious MMA. This event is headlined by a Welterweight clash between Joilton Lutterbach and Luan Santiago. The co-main event adds to the thrill with a Flyweight bout featuring Edilceu Alves and Marciano Ferreira. Five professional MMA bouts in total will captivate the audience along with a 6 bout prelims card. BRAVE CF 79: The Bahrain Encore Bahrain once again becomes the center stage on December 8th with BRAVE CF 79. The Middleweight main event pits Tahar Hadbi against Ismail Naurdiev, while the Heavyweight co-main event showcases Pavel Dailidko versus Janos Csukas. The card is packed with seven bouts, offering a diverse mix of fighting styles and international talent. BRAVE CF 80: The Grand Finale The grand finale, BRAVE CF 80, is set for December 15th at Khalifa Sports City. This event is headlined by a Bantamweight title fight where Nkosi Ndebele challenges reigning champion Jose Torres. In the Middleweight co-main event, Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi faces Nenad Avramović. Featuring a special clash between Arab Legends and UK & Ireland fighters, the event includes nine bouts in total, with three early prelims fights adding to the excitement. IMMAF Asian Amateur Championships The premier amateur tournament in the continent of Asia will take place for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain - the stars of tomorrow will gather between December 10 - December 16 and will be representing their nations in a tournament format for each weight-class, male and female. Amateur fighters from all corners of the continent will have the opportunity to gain experience in a global combat sports festival, as well as measure their skill sets to their future rivals in the professional ranks, as BRAVE CF continues to uphold its commitment to the development of the sport from a grassroots level, and paving a true pathway from amateur to professional. Each event in BRAVE CF's December lineup is more than just a series of fights; they are a celebration of the sport's global appeal and the diverse talent it attracts. From Bahrain's vibrant arenas to Brazil's passionate crowds, these events encapsulate the spirit of MMA and promise to end 2023 with a bang.