Black Belt Magazine August/September 2019

A side from the fundamental philosophical argument that every human being is unique and, therefore, cannot be duplicated, there are at least three reasons why there will never be another Bruce Lee. When Lee skyrocketed to fame in the late 1960s and early ’70s, film was the vehicle that carried him. Back then, hit movies, if you recall, would stay in theaters for a very long time. I remember the first Star Wars episode, released in 1977, playing in our local mall for more than one year straight! Much of Lee’s initial popularity, both in Asia and in the West, stemmed from his work in classic movies that stayed in theaters far longer than films do in 2019, when some are on the marquee for just a few days. In…

On July 20, 1973, Bruce Lee, founder of jeet kune do, passed away in Hong Kong. He’ll always be remembered for his movies, which continue to captivate audiences around the world. Perhaps that’s why he was named one of the top 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Lee’s legacy lives on, and his art of JKD is practiced daily in countless countries. One of his many devoted followers is Dr. Z, a practitioner of the martial arts and the medical arts, as well as a filmmaker. He has a fascinating background and is planning an equally fascinating future. Could you discuss your relationship to Bruce Lee and jeet kune do? Martial arts is a way of life for me. Therefore, I think, breathe and practice it every day. I…

The Woolsey Fire caused widespread damage in the Conejo Valley area of Southern California, nearly destroying the Israeli Martial Arts Academy in Westlake Village. That prompted its staff and students to show their gratitude after the flames were extinguished. “We hosted a karate sparring fundraiser called Fighting for Our Heroes,” said Ethan Snyder, office manager at the school, which is owned by Hezi Sheli. (See the August/September 2018 issue of Black Belt.) “The [youths] ages 10 to 15 sparred continuously for 50 rounds of one minute each. The adults sparred continuously for 90 rounds of one minute each. With the community’s help, we raised over $2,900 for the firefighters.” After the 2018 Borderline shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, and the Woolsey Fire, the martial artists felt the energy and spirit…

Black Belt: In the old days, people used to say that if you’re confident, no one will mess with you. Based on your experience as a martial artist and a police officer, is that still the case in the 21st century? Damon Gilbert: Statistically, you’re probably less likely to be a victim, but sometimes it doesn’t work because the attacker has a mental illness or because he has so much hatred for what you stand for that he doesn’t care if you look him in the eye and are very confident. It all depends on the subject and his motive. But it is very important for women’s self-defense programs and anti-bullying programs to teach people to look confident and stand their ground. Potential attackers do not want to be identified.…

A sia-based ONE Championship announced a partnership with the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts, the independent governing body for the sport of MMA. Based in Amsterdam, GAMMA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2018. It’s composed of MMA thought leaders and pioneers across five continents. GAMMA is headed by Alexander Engelhardt, and its membership encompasses national federations in 60-plus countries. The group’s objective is to obtain international recognition for MMA as an Olympic sport. As part of the partnership, ONE Championship will support GAMMA’s efforts to obtain Olympic recognition for MMA. In addition, ONE will work with GAMMA to develop and promote best practices in the health and safety fields, anti-doping regulations and competition rules for amateur MMA. “ONE Championship is thrilled to announce a multiyear partnership with GAMMA,…

How do you deal with a situation in which the guy hasn’t attacked you yet but you know he will? “He is attacking you first. He just hasn’t gotten his hands on you yet. You feel you’re in imminent danger, and that’s the definition of selfdefense. You’re allowed to defend your life if you feel the guy is about to lay his hands on you. You have the right and obligation to defend yourself pre-emptively. You don’t have to wait until he hits first.”…