Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2019 i Black Belt Magazine

There are those who believe that all sports are derivatives of the arts of war. Whether or not they’re right, I don’t know. What I do know is that physical pursuits readily identifiable as combat-related have long been popular with the public, and several are integral components of the modern Olympics. They include the weapon-based sports of archery, shooting and fencing, and the empty-hand sports of wrestling, boxing and judo. For the longest time, martial artists had no choice but to be satisfied with those when watching the Games. Then the pendulum started to swing. In 1988 taekwondo became a demonstration sport, with its status rising to official sport in 2000. And that was fine because there was clear separation between the various Olympic combat events: One was a grappling…

A group of martial artists made it their mission to A KICK Parkinson’s disease — literally. On September 3, 2018, the Viola Karate Dojo assembled more than 100 students to make a bold statement in record-setting heat by kicking 1 mile nonstop on a racetrack in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The students raised more than $10,000 to help fund research at the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases. In all, over the past three years, PIND events have raised in excess of $1 million through appropriations, grants and sponsors. All of it goes for experimental tests designed to find a cure for Parkinson’s. The KICK concept was developed by Bill Viola Jr., founder of Kumite Classic Entertainment, and Sean Logan, former Monroeville mayor and Pennsylvania state senator. Logan was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s…

Alaska Juneau Karate Academy8800 Glacier Hwy. #106Juneau, AK 99801(907) 723-7314sensei@juneaukarate.com Arizona DePalmaʼs TEAM USA Martial Arts3107 S. Lindsay Rd. Suite 104Gilbert, AZ 85295(480) 892-3949depalmas.sg@gmail.com 78 N. Cooper Rd. Suite 104Gilbert, AZ 85233(480) 892-3949depalmas.g@gmail.com 2727 E. McKellips Rd. 104-105Mesa, AZ 85213(480) 892-3949depalmas.mesa@gmail.com 11485 N. 136th St. Suite 106Scottsdale, AZ 85259(480) 892-3949mrc@depalmaskarate.com 4720 E. Queen Creek Rd. Suite 103Gilbert, AZ 85297(480) 892-3949depalmas.pr@gmail.com 21365 S. Ellsworth Rd. Suite 108Queen Creek, AZ 85142(480) 892-3949Depalmasqc@gmail.com 13681 N. Litchfield Rd. Suite 134Surprise, AZ 85379(480) 892-3949Depalmas.surprise@gmail.com 67 S. Higley Rd. Suite 101Gilbert, AZ 85296(480) 892-3949Depalmas.H@gmail.com 6616 E. 2nd St. Suite D & EPrescott Valley, AZ 86314(480) 892-3949Depalmas.pv@gmail.com California American Martial Arts Academy6360 Pacific Ave. Suite 1Stockton, CA 95207(209) 952-4000stocktonkarate@aol.com California MAQ Pack Martial Arts16965 Monterey RoadMorgan Hill, CA 95037(408) 779-4797mr.maqpack@gmail.com Colorado Community Karate and Fitness5631 North Academy…

WHEN LEO RETURNED HOME, his father asked how his first day had gone. “Great!” the boy replied. “Everybody likes me. They even sang to me.” His father asked, “What did they sing?” Leo said, “Ching-chong Chinaman.” His face red with anger, his father said, “They don’t like you. Don’t you know they are making fun of your racial heritage?” The next day at recess, a teacher organized a softball game and told Leo to play first base. One kid hit the ball and ran to first. He looked at Leo and said, “Chink!” Without hesitation, Leo punched him in the nose, knocking him to the ground. The teacher grabbed Leo, spanked him and sent him to the office. An administrator made him stand in the hall for two days, which…

Gambling that all who have stepped outside the dictates of civilized conduct intend to do you bodily harm will keep you primed and prepared, and most likely it’s the correct action. Over the course of many years of teaching survival-based strategies and tactics, I’ve heard such exchanges more than a few times. The but-what-if question is usually posed by a well-meaning person who hasn’t quite grasped the seriousness of physical violence. These are people whose own humanity, whose sense of civility, is so strong that they’re caught vacillating between fight-or-flight decisions. It’s a shame these good qualities can stand in the way of grasping just how dire a threat can be. THE BUT-WHAT-IF questions are usually followed by objections based on unfounded trust and an incorrect grasp of probability. The…

Vol. 17, No. 10, $1.50 • A recent arrival from Japan, Tak Kubota, 32, is developing a reputation for his “rowdy and tough” Los Angeles karate workouts. He refers to them simply as “Tokyo style.” • “The first time he [Kubota] started sparring with us or had us spar with others, there was no stopping,” student Ben Otake says. “You’d punch it out. You’d knock a guy down. Drag him on the ground. A guy’d be on the floor, and you’re still trying to kick him and everything else.” • A suave and shirtless “Superfoot” is featured in an ad from Century Martial Arts. The garment Bill Wallace is sporting is called Contact, and it’s made of satin. • When the editor of the mag receives yet another letter asking…

“Ninja operated inside family clans. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters spent a lifetime mastering the knowledge, techniques and philosophy of ninjutsu. They struggled, fought and sometimes died together to complete the mission.” When Enterprise Pictures begins production on Ninja, a historical action-drama about a family of shadow warriors fighting to survive during Japan’s bloody civil war, it will be under the guidance of Black Belt Hall of Famer Stephen K. Hayes. An acknowledged authority on ninjutsu — including the togakure-ryu style, in which he holds a 10th-degree black belt — Hayes spent many years in Japan studying the history and techniques of the system. “I’m thrilled that an-shu Hayes has agreed to come on board Ninja as our historical and technical consultant,” said Matt Robillard, president and founder of Enterprise…

On a Photo We Posted BLACK BELT: You know you want one! #KarateKid #CobraKai Jordan Donnelly Nathan: Defeat doesn’t exist in this dojo, does it? Sylvain Ratinaud: Jordan Donnelly No, sensei! Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy. Colin Matchett Tommy: “Get him a body bag!” Frank Gannon: Sweep the leg. On a Link to the BBM Website BLACK BELT: From Bill Wallace — “Are Your Favorite Martial Arts Moves Overrated When Used as Self-Defense Techniques?” Mike Buzz: 99% of martial arts moves are indeed overrated! Self-defense is not synonymous with martial arts, though. Simplicity is best when it comes to self-defense, not over-exaggerated and complex techniques. Motor skills come into play when high-stress situations (like self-defense) occur on the human body. Eric Carr: To me, martial arts and self-defense are…

Instead of facing an opponent while physically tense and adrenaline-pumped, this book teaches how to use the subtle power of nonresistance to break an opponent. Featuring detailed, step-by-step photo sequences that juxtapose relaxed-tension techniques with those used in a street fight or competition, this guide to using nonresistant force illustrates and defines the concepts used in traditional kung fu and details the similarities and differences of modern nonresistance combat. With specific grappling, hitting, and kicking attacks and a practical explanation of chi, the methods demonstrate how to use an opponent’s own movements against them, while weight and conditioning exercises and meditation further develop these subtle skills. Available at blackbeltmag.com/store…

Martial artists, combatives practitioners and combat-sports fans have been known to engage in similar activities: wondering who would kick whose ass and assigning street cred to anyone they deem to be a badass without even knowing the approach to fighting advocated by said badass. Consider: A martial artist who’s clearly a badass is four-time UFC middleweight champion Frank Shamrock. Years ago, however, when he was asked what he’d do if confronted by an assailant with a knife, Shamrock answered, “I’d run like hell.” I remember thinking, He totally gets it. I bet his answer would have surprised most of those fantasy martial artists, though. HERE’S THE THING: You know who the most dangerous man in the world is? He’s not a famous cage fighter. He’s a guy you’ve never heard…

“To kick with speed, power and accuracy, you need to be able to move your body effortlessly and instantaneously through a full range of motion. Because that requires an extraordinary degree of flexibility, daily stretching is crucial. To achieve maximum power, you must kick with your whole body, which means you must also stretch your whole body.” “In a real fight, you may have opportunities to use not just your fists and feet to strike, but also your knees, elbows, back, stomach and head. Without a flexible body and mind, you will lose those opportunities.” “In a fight, you should use whatever position is most effective. For example, you might opt to kick low instead of high. If you kick high in practice, you will know that your body is…

Titled Jujitsu: Toward One Technique, this text by George Kirby is the culmination of a lifetime in the Japanese martial art. Among the topics the 10th dan covers are the importance of repetitive practice in training your brain, strategies and tactics for developing your sixth sense, and empty-hand techniques you can use in an attack. The 138-page book is filled with instructional photos and includes a glossary. To order, go to blackbeltmag.com/store. MORE JUJITSU BOOKS FROM THE MASTER George Kirby wrote his first martial arts manual three and a half decades ago. Since then, he’s penned many additional titles, as well as numerous articles for Black Belt magazine. His books include the following: • Jujitsu: Basic Techniques of the Gentle Art (1983) • Jujitsu: Intermediate Techniques of the Gentle Art (1985)…

THE STUDENT isn’t listening — or isn’t hearing what you’re saying. If he expects to make any progress in the art, however, he must adjust his attitude. If, on the other hand, you’ve made five or six corrections and the student doesn’t implement any of them in the next class, the fault is yours. You need to examine your attitude and behavior and institute some changes. OVERALL, one of the most significant challenges in the dojo — and one that’s often overlooked and underappreciated — is the matter of effective teaching. In too many martial arts schools, there exists the notion that technical competence is all that’s necessary to teach. Why this notion has become accepted is a mystery. Consider: How many great or even very talented boxers work as…

In a recent interview, the editor of this magazine posed the question that serves as the title of this Black Belt Times piece, along with a couple of follow-ups, to Damon Gilbert, an eighth degree in kajukenbo and a law-enforcement officer for more than 20 years. His response proved insightful. “In the olden days, martial artists would say it’s going to be over in three seconds — two strikes, right? — so they thought they didn’t need to be in shape. But nowadays, more people know that ‘fatigue makes cowards of us all.’ I truly believe that. Most fights are a battle of attrition, a battle of who can continue to impose their will. “Cardio is one of the most important elements in a fight because no matter how good…

• After carefully evaluating ssirum, Korea’s traditional form of wrestling, UNESCO has determined that it is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. • On November 30, 2018, the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations was recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Its provisional status will continue for up to three years, according to an IOC letter posted on WAKO.org. • The same day, it was reported by Russia Today that the IOC had temporarily recognized sambo. • In a battle of MMA pioneers that took place in Southern California under the auspices of Golden Boy Promotions, Tito Ortiz defeated Chuck Liddell with a round-one knockout. • Another Chuck — Norris — met with the prime minister of Hungary to observe that nation’s anti-terrorism troops in training. • Black Belt’s Japanese Swordsmanship…

SAIGO lived and thrived in the tumultuous era of Japan’s early modernization. Jigoro Kano’s Kodokan was emerging as an influential force in budo. This was a period when many martial arts schools were trying to adjust to the post-feudal changes that were shaking all of Japan. The aristocratic samurai were gone. Budo dojo — particularly those that dealt with swordsmanship and jujitsu — struggled to attract students. Competition was fierce and lively. Kano’s judo, the “new kid,” was a target for many established jujitsu dojo. The challenges and competitions that came his way provided fodder for numerous fictional treatments, including Sanshiro Sugata, a famous movie based loosely on the life of Saigo. SAIGO WAS NOT a physically dominating person. He was small, wiry and exceptionally strong by all accounts. His…

SURE ENOUGH, my sarong showed the same three hues. “The three colors are called tridatu,” Komang said. “Red, black and white are the symbols for happiness, health and harmony.” Another interpretation, he explained, is that red is for Brahma, the creator of the world and the patron god of Cambodian bokator; black is for Vishnu, the caretaker of the world; and white is for Shiva, the destroyer of the world. KOMANG PAINTED his face and arms — and mine — with all three colors. Then he gave me a traditional mask and told me to paint it according to my personality. We colored our faces and bodies, then went through the moves and the shouts: “Bakti,” respect. “Om swastiastu,” get ready. “Siaga,” fighting stance. “Kuda kuda,” horse stance. “Cak cak…

When I began training in 1973, martial arts were defined as Asian-influenced, empty-hand, non-ballistic-weapon-using ways of fighting. Today, “martial arts” is an umbrella term for describing the fighting systems of any country on Earth, and because of the arts’ natural progression, some styles integrate guns in lieu of swords as their standard weapons. This is the universe that Fightworld investigates as it examines the combat arts of five countries. Hosted by Frank Grillo, an avid fight enthusiast and star of Beyond Skyline and Wolf Warrior 2, this Netflix series genuinely connects with the people who engage in these physical pursuits, as well as the cultures in which they live. While working out with the featured fighters, Grillo is quick to admit his combat shortcomings, and at times he looks like…

If there’s such a thing as karate DNA, the Funakoshi family must have it in spades. Kyle Funakoshi, the subject of this article, has been featured in Black Belt numerous times and appeared on the cover of our January 2010 issue. His brother Kevin Funakoshi is a master based in Texas. Their father Kenneth Funakoshi, who debuted in the magazine’s February 1965 issue when he was a first degree and then worked his way onto the cover in June 1992, is the originator of the Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association. And then there’s Gichin Funakoshi, a distant cousin and the founder of the art. Since this interview was conducted, Kyle, 45, has become the proud father of twins who likely will enjoy that same genetic predilection for kicking and punching. ON…

BODHIDHARMA, WHOM THE Chinese call Tamo, did not build Shaolin Temple. It was already there when he arrived in the late fifth century or early sixth century. Nevertheless, the temple is now regarded as a national treasure by the Chinese and a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. What this means is the primary mission of any Shaolin monk is taking care of his fellow monks and disciples and maintaining the buildings that make up the temple. To do that, he needs a certain amount of fitness and strength, as well as above-average humility. He sweeps, cleans, repairs things that are broken and does other forms of manual labor. Physical exercise is a necessary part of his daily regimen, as are activities that develop the mind so he can…