Innholdsfortegnelse for October - November 2017 i Black Belt Magazine

Like many of you, I love riding bikes. I started on a road bike 40 years ago and switched to a mountain bike nearly 20 years ago. Back in my early days in the sport, it was us against them, with us being anyone who pedals around on two wheels and them being anyone who drives around on four. When mountain biking split off from regular biking and got big, it was us (mountain bikers) against them (road bikers). On the trails, it became mountain bikers vs. dirt-bike riders, quad riders and four wheelers. Here in California, things splintered even more, with equestrians taking sides against wheel users and trail runners hating on all who are bigger, faster and noisier. Now, with the growing popularity of battery-powered mountain bikes, traditional…

Jim Williams: When I managed the Chuck Norris karate studio on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, my good friend Howard was our studio’s head instructor. In the afternoons when day classes were over, the great Joe Lewis would come in to spar, and we would all go at it for two hours. What a time it was back in 1973! AP Smith: I trained under Howard Jackson. A wonderful man, friend and instructor, Mr. Jackson was a true champion! Anthony G Price Sr.: One of my heroes, one of the all-time greats. Picked his brain many times. Rest in peace. You are missed, sir. Tang soo!…

During much of the nearly six decades that In Hyuk Suh has guided and grown the World Kuk Sool Association, he’s focused on preparing his four sons to one day take the reins and ensure that knowledge of his comprehensive art is passed to the next generation. His oldest is Sung Jin Suh, the master featured in this article. The son holds a ninth-degree black belt in kuk sool. Now in his mid-50s, Sung Jin Suh has trained in kuk sool most of his life. He’s in great demand on the seminar circuit because of his knowledge and skill. His workaholic schedule has resulted in his students respectfully referring to him as “The Machine.” When he teaches, Suh makes it a point to frequently mention how students must be capable…

Tao of Jeet Kune Do [by Bruce Lee] The classic is published by Black Belt Books, but that’s not why it’s first on the list. It’s first because it contains so much good stuff — we’re talking technical material, training advice, philosophical points and even what you might call spiritual guidance — that it begs to be read by practitioners of all arts. Once you do that, chances are you’ll find yourself returning to it regularly for answers to questions that pop up. Word to the wise: Go for the New Expanded Edition because it has numerous improvements Shannon Lee wanted to incorporate. And consider getting the e-book. The search function enables you to key in words like “rear hook” and instantly find everything Lee wrote about it. RELATED! Bruce Lee’s…

Listening to Maj. Gen. Tom Mullikin describe one of his more arduous journeys to the summit of one of the highest mountains is like reading about the late British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who led an Antarctic expedition in 1914 and was stranded there with his men until 1916. From his Mullikin Martial Arts studio, located in a complex that also houses his law practice and his nonprofit Global Eco Adventures in Camden, South Carolina, the 56-year-old instructor recalls a few of his summits as being harsh environments plagued by unimaginable cold and unforgiving winds. He remembers his feet cracking and bleeding while he and his men were burdened with extreme loads. At times, he struggled to maintain consciousness at the high altitudes, which bring lowered air pressures. The fortitude…

Chad Tower: Sure, why not? My goal is to age as well as possible and be functional as long as possible. If switching arts is what is needed, then so be it. Ethan Naylor: If I couldn’t practice tang soo do, my alternative art would either be yang-style or wu-style tai chi chuan or ki gong internal martial arts, along with getting the body back in shape using chi or ki. Aloysius Stopheles: I was deeply in love with aikido and really good at it. But I had a chronic wrist injury prior to aikido, and if you are familiar with aikido, you know that wrist locks are a large part of the practice. That was in 1995. I have been doing tai chi since. I love tai chi, but…

Matt Stockeland: My martial arts background is my work resume. I have studied martial arts for over 25 years, in the Army and in professional security. Now I run my own security company and karate school, and I teach at a taekwondo school. This is my resume. Natasha Murdoch Bridgen: My son is a 15-year-old ?irst-degree black belt, Canadian bronze medalist in three divisions and off to his ?irst world championship this summer. Oh, and he is testing for his second degree this fall (?ingers crossed). He’s in his 10th year in martial arts and at the age where he doesn’t like to talk about the sport to anyone outside the sport — doesn’t want to seem “braggy.” I’ve told him to put his karate experience on his resume and…

That was 13 years ago, but I’m sure similar incidents have happened since. I feel comfortable saying that because Thon’s death wasn’t the first I’d heard of. Two years earlier in Thailand, a young kickboxer named Chatchai Phaisithong died after collapsing in the ring. A quick survey revealed that at least two other deaths have occurred since 1996. IN DIVERSE CULTURES from the slums of America to the hill-tribe villages of Thailand, poor boys often see sports — and, more specifically, combat sports — as a means of climbing out of poverty. The myth is wrapped in bright packaging and fed to them in the form of success stories, which are the rule rather than the exception on the silver screen. The truth is, however, that very few fighters ever…

In Hyuk Suh coined the name kuk sool in 1958 to describe the traditional Korean fighting skills he’d learned and then aggregated into a single system. He founded its official governing body three years later. Kuk sool quickly spread across South Korea, then jumped oceans and started gaining a foothold in numerous countries around the world. It now boasts more than 1 million active students. Next year, kuk sool practitioners everywhere will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their art’s founding. A major celebration will take place in October 2018 at the World Kuk Sool Won Tournament in Houston. As the anniversary approaches, details will be posted at kuksoolwon.com.…

Body Opponent Bag You can use it for most hand strikes, some kicks, even some techniques with training weapons — whatever will benefit from making contact with a humanoid target. There’s no better way to learn precision than with BOB. RELATED! A suit composed of pads that cover most of the body is great for making contact, provided you have a training partner and the cash. It will enable you to finetune your precision with the added excitement of a live target. Heavy Bag This is a time-tested way to teach your body how to hit hard. Your workouts will strengthen your wrists and toughen your shins. The traditional version of the heavy bag hangs from the ceiling, and that’s great if you have a suitable area. Otherwise, look for…

The Native American tribes that inhabit the Coso Mountain Range of eastern California have a history that goes back millennia as evidenced by the rock art that’s spread throughout the area, some estimated to be at least 10,000 years old. An important part of that history has always been the indigenous warrior tradition. “The Coso Mountains were a training ground where tribes would come together to share their medicine,” said Raymond Garcia, who was raised in the region and is part Shoshone. “I grew up being told about how Shoshone warriors would protect healers when they’d come into the mountains. Hearing stories of how ?ierce they were in hand-to-hand combat was inspiring.” But with the marginalization of American Indian culture over the years, such inspiration has been more and more…

The day after Independence Day, representatives from Black Belt packed their bags and hit the road for Las Vegas to prepare for the 2017 Martial Arts SuperShow, held this year at the MGM Grand Hotel. There, we joined more than 2,000 martial arts enthusiasts who made the trip for the same reasons we did: to go hands-on with soon-to-be-released products, to pick up new skills in seminars, to discover innovative ways to grow the martial arts biz and to just have some fun with like-minded individuals in good old Sin City. Describing everything that caught our eye in the MGM’s convention center would require more space than we have here — which is why we wrote up a handful of the more interesting products we spied in this issue’s Essential…

Make no mistake about it: Fighting to protect yourself includes attacking the attacker. This is as true in combat sports as it is in ?ighting. When attacking opponents meet nothing but blocks and evasive movement, they won’t be compelled to stop attacking. Why should they be? They’re at no risk of being knocked out or hurt, so instead of stopping their attack and stepping back, they press forward, sensing that the end is near. And they’re usually not wrong. If you think about it, self-defense is actually a better term for all the things you do or should do before the manifestation of violence. It’s doing all the things that are necessary to achieve the highest likelihood of avoiding the ?ight. SELF-DEFENSE IS carrying a legal weapon at all times.…

A martial art is a thinking person’s selfdefense tool. We all know that. In part, it’s why we wield our natural weap- ons like a scalpel, not like a machete. We’re taught that precision is an essential component of mastery, that our goal in a fight is not merely to blast a kick into our opponent’s leg as hard as humanly possible and then hope for the best. Rather, it’s to aim for a specific spot on that leg using a specific part of the foot to make contact. That’s the definition of efficiency with respect to energy expenditure, technique choice and target selection. In the case of the Korean art of kuk sool, that quest for efficiency inspired founder In Hyuk Suh, who was Black Belt’s 1984 Man of the…

According to the FBI, approximately 200 home invasions take place every hour in the United States, and one out of every five homes will experience a break-in or home invasion. Additionally, 38 percent of violent assaults and 60 percent of rapes occur during a home invasion. These are harrowing statistics, but they don’t tell the whole story with respect to how most home invasions unfold. After an intruder bursts into your house, chances are he’ll immediately restrain you — and your family members, if they’re home — with tape. Do an internet search for “duct-taped during home invasion,” and you’ll find numerous news stories in which this has happened. The headlines should serve as a wake-up call: “77-year-old duct-taped during home invasion,” “Family of 5 bound with duct tape during…

SPORT COMPETITION FIGHTER UNIFORM Made for competition, these lightweight polyester uniforms feature vibrant sublimation-print designs to project a unique look. They’re ideal for high-level sport-karate practitioners, whether they compete on a team or as an individual. Note that this is the official uniform of Team Paul Mitchell Karate. CENTURYMARTIALARTS.COM RESISTANCE TUBES, SAND BELLS, SAND KETTLE BELLS More and more people are recognizing that fitness is an essential component of the martial arts and of a healthy life. Century makes it easier than ever to stay fit with its line of workout gear that includes Resistance Tubes, Sand Bells and Sand Kettle Bells. The variety means you can keep your routines fresh while still getting results. CENTURYMARTIALARTS.COM PIGAONE FOOT SUPPORT This minimalist footwear sets out to accomplish two missions while making…

• “If a student fails to achieve power in his techniques, he cannot be considered advanced,” taekwondo instructor Jun Chong says in the cover story. “If this continues, I tell such students to go back and train with the lower belts. They hate this, so they train harder.” • Who remembers flipbooks? Before we had VHS, fans of films would buy, when available, books filled with photos from the movies, sequentially positioned to retell all or part of the story. You can get a two-volume set featuring Bruce Lee’s nunchaku scene and “eight consecutive kicks” scene for just $2.50. • Remy Presas predicts, “Modern arnis will become the martial art of the world.” • Stephen K. Hayes becomes the first American to receive the title shidoshi, or “teacher of warrior…