Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2021 i Black Belt Magazine

ON A QUESTION AND A LINK BLACK BELT: We just posted “12 Most Influential Martial Arts TV Series in America.” Can you name at least half of them before reading the full story? Delroy Morgan: This is what I have before I read it. Kung Fu, Green Hornet, Ninja Turtles, Hong Kong Phooey, Buck Rogers maybe, at least that’s why I watched it, Texas Ranger (Chuck Norris), Water Margin, Monkey, the one with Sammo as a policeman, and the ninja one with Van Cleef. Now let’s read the article Kenny Murphy: Green Hornet, Kung Fu, Walker Texas Ranger, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, UFC Juan Melendez: Kung Fu (obviously), The Green Hornet, Highlander the Series? Martial Law? Walker Texas Ranger? Into the Badlands? Stefan Stoica: Highlander; Martial Law; Walker, Texas Ranger; Kung…

East and West may never meet. At Shanghai University of Sport, Dr. Dai Guo Bing, dean of the Wushu Department, explained to me the differences between the Chinese arts and Western arts like boxing, wrestling and fencing. He said the commonalities between those three Western styles are identical to their differences from the Chinese styles. One, the Western styles’ main purpose is to fight/compete. Two, they don’t have a performance component. Three, they cannot be practiced alone. It would be strange in the West to meet someone who claimed to be a boxer, wrestler or fencer but had never competed. In China, however, you can dedicate yourself to practicing wushu, taolu or tai chi for a lifetime without ever fighting. When called on to perform, practitioners of wushu, taolu and…

Because I’m somewhat familiar with the Black Belt demographic, I can safely say there’s a good chance you’re a lot like me. You probably grew up in the martial arts, and when The Karate Kid came out in 1984, you loved every minute of it. You likely watched The Karate Kid Part II when it was released in 1986 and fantasized about jetting to Okinawa to learn karate (and perhaps to fall in love with a local lad or lass). You might have been somewhat less enthusiastic about The Karate Kid Part III (1989, with Terry Silver: “A man can’t stand, he can’t fight!”) and The Next Karate Kid (1994, with Hilary Swank assuming the role of the student in need of Mr. Miyagi’s morality), but still you watched —…

I started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1994. Egan Inoue, the first non-Brazilian to win a BJJ world championship, awarded me a black belt in 2006. It’s been a rigorous, humbling and empowering journey. I love sport jiu-jitsu, and I train in it nearly every day. But my original motivation to learn martial arts came when I was a shy 9-year-old walking home at dusk after baseball practice. I took a shortcut across a field when a large young man, probably in his late teens, approached. Without the confidence or training needed to say no to this intimidating figure, I followed his commands and ended up in his sordid lair. When he finally released me, I was forever changed, damaged mentally and spiritually. And even though that incident still runs…

Thomas “LaPuppet” Carroll, a student of African-American karate pioneer George Cofield and a noted tournament fighter on the East Coast, initially gained national prominence in 1968 when he became the first Black martial artist to make the cover of Black Belt (August issue). “It was a very big deal to us at the time,” said Chaka Zulu, a fellow New York martial artist and friend of LaPuppet’s. “The only time you ever saw an African-American in Black Belt back then, he was being beaten up by a white guy. The only position we could have in the martial arts world was as an uke.” Ron Van Clief, who would appear on the cover of Black Belt in August 1999, agreed that African-American representation in the magazine, then the only significant…

The state of New Jersey recently issued an executive order allowing the resumption of indoor sports that have been classified as medium and high risk because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes martial arts like judo, karate and taekwondo, all of which can once again be practiced as long as certain precautions are followed. Indoor contact sports had been allowed since late July but with only limited, noncontact drilling permitted. Under the new orders, normal contact practice is allowed. However, attendance is limited to 25 percent of a room’s capacity or 25 people, whichever yields the lower number. — Mark Jacobs RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR “COBRA KAI” SEASON 3 Netflix has made it known that the third season of the hit series Cobra Kai will begin January 8, 2021. The…

From a standing position with your feet slightly apart and your fists in front of your thighs, you pivot 90 degrees to your left and execute what’s usually called a left downward block. Do you understand it? Many karateka not only would say they do but also would regard the question as vaguely insulting. It’s a basic technique, after all. Black belts have done it thousands of times. Of course they understand it. So tell me this: From the beginning position of the kata, which part of your body moves first? Do you look first to your left? If so and if you’ve perceived a threat, looking at it before moving is going to put you behind in your response, isn’t it? You’re looking to your front, and a guy…

Recall the words of Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” d.” I agree with that quote, but when it comes to martial arts, I think it’s only part of the picture. Here’s an example of what I mean: We all know that in addition to having a prepared mind, our quest for self-defense readiness should include having good health. That’s achieved by moderating our food intake, choosing meals that are more wise than not, and getting in a good level of physical activity that strengthens the myriad physical processes that make up our bodies. These choices go a long way toward making our day less grumbling and, in hard times, making us more capable. So let’s expand on Pasteur’s wisdom: Skills and drills favor the individual whose mind has…

1 Celebrate the most influential book in the martial arts with this limited edition of Tao of Jeet Kune Do. It has a hard protective case that bears a red-and-gold embossed foil JKD insignia. The hardback book cover has a black vinyl texture inlaid with the original photo of Bruce Lee. The pages are gold-trimmed with a silk ribbon bookmark. Explore the philosophy behind Lee’s art with digitally enhanced hand-drawn illustrations by the “Little Dragon.” In addition to updated translations, it includes new contributions from Lee’s best-known followers: Chris Kent, Jerry Poteet, Diana Lee Inosanto, Tim Tackett, Richard Bustillo and Yori Nakamura. MAKE: BLACK BELT PUBLICATIONS MODEL: TAO OF JEET KUNE DO: EXPANDED LIMITED EDITION MSRP: $98.99 URL: shop.blackbeltmag.com 2 Looking for a reusable water bottle because you’re concerned about the…

Photo by Al'n Duong Once upon a time in Seattle — when Seahawks soared, Huskies roamed and the “Little Dragon’s” spirit sowed the city with martial integrity — three baby Tigers named Hing, Jim and Danny were born. Under the watchful eye of a fatherly sifu, they became kung fu brothers. As the sifu contemplated whether the Tigers were worthy to learn his healing knowledge and kung fu values, a wedge was driven between them, and they split. As their lives plummeted, so did their martial arts skills, livelihoods and relationships. Thirty years later, an evil force swoops down on Seattle and, for reasons unknown, uses its death claw to kill the beloved sifu. Unfortunately, the out-of-shape and over-the-hill threesome have more issues than Time magazine. They must unite, dispense…

BEING ONE OF THE TOP MARTIAL ARTISTS IN THE WORLD SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ANY PRACTITIONER OF KUNG FU, KARATE OR TAEKWONDO. YET THAT ALONE ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH TO BRING SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS AND TOURNAMENT VENUES. In the early 2000s, Marco Johnson was one of the best tournament competitors out there. The son of Black Belt Hall of Famer Willie “The Bam” Johnson, Marco had won everything in sight as a junior. He was undefeated in empty-hand forms for two years. He earned a rare “triple crown” after being ranked in weapons, forms and fighting the same year. He was named best all-around competitor by the North American Sport Karate Association. Marco seemed poised to take over the tournament world. Yet just a few…

In Japanese, sabaki means “to work with energy efficiently.” It’s a state of being that expresses strength coupled with ease and grace. My father Joko Ninomiya, the founder and grandmaster of enshin karate, created the Sabaki Challenge, a tournament designed to highlight this intelligent system of working with an opponent’s force, which often involves taking advantage of circles and leverage. Sabaki is not a martial art per se; rather, it’s a traditional idea that’s open to evolution and reinterpretation — and that just might precipitate a revolution in the fighting arts. In this article, I will present four concepts and several related techniques that illustrate this special quality of sabaki. I chose these four because during the pandemic, my father decided to incorporate newaza (ground techniques) into the enshin curriculum.…

It’s a martial arts gem that’s not yet well-known. It’s an international organization that’s trying to bridge the gap between styles, techniques and countries. In addition to striving to do all this, it’s a group that’s emphasizing the positive values the martial arts teach. The institution is the International Centre of Martial Arts. Based in Chungju, South Korea, it’s organized under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. One of the most prestigious bodies in the world, UNESCO aims to promote peace and security through international cooperation, and supporting the martial arts is now part of that mission. The International Centre of Martial Arts is a joint effort “under UNESCO and also the Korean government,” said Changhee Han, program specialist for the ICM International Cooperation Team.…