Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2022 i Black Belt Magazine

To say that we’re living in interesting times would be a monumental understatement in 2022. As a fan of sci-fi, I often envision some version of myself living in the future and looking back on the now. I’m not sure — maybe I do this to apply the filter of a long-term perspective to the roller-coaster ride of events we’re experiencing. When I do that, I often start wondering what people from the future will think about us in general and about the martial arts in particular. Then, to put a positive spin on things, I think about, were we able to upload our minds into a computer and stay conscious indefinitely, what we might say about being early 21st-century martial artists. Here are some of the noteworthy things we…

ON WISDOM BLACK BELT: “THE PRACTICE OF A MARTIAL ART SHOULD BE A PRACTICE OF LOVE — FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BODY, AND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.”—DAN INOSANTO Sensei Bas: Exactly this! Thank you! ON CHINESE STYLES BLACK BELT: HAVE YOU PRACTICED CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS SUCH AS WING CHUN, TAI CHI OR KUNG FU? Ryan T. Loy: I practice Wing Chun and later added Tai Chi. These styles were good alternatives as prior injuries and physical limitations made it difficult to study other arts. kris whip: I had some private Chi Sao lessons in my late teens, and also took some Tai Chi lessons for about 6 months, but I was the youngest student in the class by about 50 years and…

Against all odds, those women managed to succeed in the male-dominated world of pro wrestling. They raised families while blazing a trail for female athletes long before many of the breakthroughs of the civil rights and feminist movements occurred. The formula that was used — “sex, muscles and diamonds” — changed the image of combat sports. Promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, world champion Mildred Burke, sold glamour and action. The women entered the ring dressed like Hollywood starlets, doing battle in satin bathing suits and tight leotards while performing some of the industry’s most difficult moves and introducing new ones, which became their signature. Johnson’s flying dropkick and other aerial maneuvers made the women more exciting to watch than the men. Wolfe became the first promoter to welcome Black…

As I noted in my previous column, when you can’t avoid or escape a volatile situation through threat recognition via situational awareness, the fence is the basis from which to proactively control, de-escalate and, if that fails, physically respond. So what is the fence? The term was coined by renowned British self-defense instructor Geoff Thompson in the 1990s to denote an innocuous protective posture that serves as the tactical platform from which to proactively defend yourself. It’s essentially a disguised fighting stance in which you stand with your feet slightly staggered and shoulder-width apart and your rear foot angled slightly out with its big toe aligned with the arch of your lead foot. Your hands are also staggered, with your lead hand (usually your nondominant one) in front, fingers naturally…

AWARD WINNER MAN OF THE YEAR GEORGE CHUNG “We have a quick pace, a lot of action and demonstrations, and there is no redundancy.… No one has time to get bored. We want to educate and entertain.” George Chung spoke those words in 1984 when a Black Belt writer asked him about the cable-television series he and Cynthia Rothrock had hosted for four years, but one could imagine that he spoke them yesterday about JungoTV, the streaming-video network he co-founded. JungoTV — specifically, the Black Belt Magazine Channel it hosts — is all about education and entertainment. The education takes the form of instructional footage from the best of the best, both past and current champions, and masters. The entertainment manifests as coverage of the most prestigious tournaments, along with…

Many martial artists regard armbars and other joint locks as techniques that are meant only for use on the ground. They think that way because they’re unfamiliar with hapkido, which contains numerous joint locks designed to be executed while standing. In an altercation involving the Korean art, the opponent often feels the effects of a joint lock and then hits the ground while the practitioner remains on his or her feet. OK, I’ll admit that my interest in hapkido was sparked by Bong Soo Han’s kicks in Billy Jack — especially the one he delivered right after Tom Laughlin said, “I’m going to take this right foot, and I’m gonna whop you on that side of your face — and you wanna know something? There’s not a damned thing you’re…

VOL. 19, NO. 5, $1.95 • Have you heard of pyo chang sul bop? According to hwa rang do doctrine, it’s the art of throwing stones for self-defense, developed by Buddhist monks in ancient Korea. • Broome County honors a Vestal, New York–based master of washinryu karate with the establishment of Hidy Ochiai Day. • Regarding the rise of “martial arts as entertainment” on television, the editor of Black Belt writes, “We are uncomfortably amused by this circus-like presentation of the martial arts, and we will continue to wince whenever we happen to see it.” • Burglars raid the stash of Japanese swords owned by an 84-year-old Hollywood-based collector and make off with $200,000 worth of blades. A month later, they strike again, this time grabbing 140 swords and five…

Harinder Singh, who was featured on the cover of the February/March 2020 issue of Black Belt, has partnered with the magazine to launch The Black Belt Podcast. “We are going to bridge the gaps between sport, tradition and reality,” Singh said. “I sit down with world-class practitioners to discuss their lifestyles to teach you about their mindset, training and fighting methods so that we all can grow from their wisdom. “I get to [talk] with Olympic gold medalists, Special Forces operators, world champions, Hollywood heroes and martial arts legends. I want to know how they think, how they deal with fear, how they train, how they teach and how they use the profound martial arts lessons to find success in their lives.” Season 1 guests include Michael Jai White, Jocko…

Two Japanese characters make up the word: Ki means “energy,” and ai means “to unify.” The concept appears often in the traditional martial arts of Japan and in different ways. In the broadest context, it refers to ways in which an opponent is manipulated through means other than physical contact. That can include the use of vocalizations. There are very sophisticated psychological ramifications of kiai, however, and they extend far beyond just shouting. A stare. A way of posturing. The “attitude” one exhibits in the face of conflict. All these can be expressions of kiais. Shimada Toranosuke (1810-1864) was still in his teens when his swordsmanship made him famous on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Using a bamboo shinai, he won several contests. He eventually traveled to Edo (now…

On one hand, there he was, stepping into the octagon at age 51 — to this day, the oldest man ever to fight in the UFC — a renowned karate expert and martial arts film star who bravely put his reputation on the line against men half his age. On the other hand, watching him struggle on the mat under a much younger Royce Gracie still generates a profound sense of What were you thinking? “I did it because I wanted to do it and I thought it was a beautiful event,” Van Clief said. “There was no safety equipment, time limits or weight divisions. It was pure. I don’t feel bad about losing to Royce. I was 51 and he was 27, and I hung in there for four…

Sister Street Fighter: This cult classic from 1974 stars Etsuko Shihomi — a real-life practitioner of karate, kenjutsu and Shorinji kempo who occasionally went by the Americanized name Sue Shihomi. It co-stars Sonny Chiba, who is billed as Shin’ichi Chiba. Chinese Hercules: Made in 1973, this feature from the Hong Kong Kai Fa Film Company stars Michael Wai-Man Chan, Fan Chiang, Yeh Fang and the great Bolo Yeung (Enter the Dragon, Bloodsport). Death Machines: It stars Ronald L. Marchini, the real-life martial artist who made a name for himself on the tournament circuit in the late 1960s and early ’70s and who co-wrote (with Leo Fong) Power Training in Kung-Fu and Karate for Ohara Publications (now Black Belt Publishing). Among the other titles you can watch are Black Samurai (1976)…

Would you buy running shoes designed by a guy with a beer belly hanging over his belt? Probably not. Would you buy a saddle for your horse from a saddlemaker who’s never ridden? I know I wouldn’t. Would you buy a $100 Saturday night special for your duty weapon? I doubt it. It’s the same with tactical knives. There are several things to look at in this regard. Your knife may break or need service at some point. Will the maker of your knife guarantee the product and honor that guarantee? You’d be surprised how many won’t. Do the company and its designers actually know what a tactical environment is? Remember that something painted black doesn’t mean it’s tactical; it’s just black. Engineers and 19-year-old graphic designers tend to design…

More than four decades ago, Linda Denley made history when she became the first Black woman inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. It was 1980, and she was named Competitor of the Year because she ruled the point-karate world. The fighting philosophy that carried her there was straightforward. “I just want to win all the time,” she said about her attitude then and now. “Losing is embarrassing to me.” That mindset drove her to keep on winning, and her record earned her a place in numerous martial arts and sports-related halls of fame. Over the ensuing years, Denley morphed into a skilled instructor, and she’s still going strong. This is her origin story. GIRLS AREN’T SUPPOSED TO HIT BOYS In 1972 Denley walked into a karate studio simply…

Arizona Sixkiller’s House of Kenpo Karate 1570 E Northern Ave., Suite B Kingman, AZ 86409 (928) 607-0021 sixkillerjr.jess@yahoo.com California Blain Cort’s Total Self-Defense 2955 McMurry Drive Anderson, CA 96007 blaincort@gmail.com Golden Tiger Karate 9501 Flushing Quail Bakersfeild, CA 93312 (661) 345-4371 goldentigerkarate@yahoo.com Kuk Sool Won-Rohnert Park Martial Arts 311 Professional Center Drive Rohert Park, CA 94928 (707) 494-1151 Kuksoolwonrp@yahoo.com Red Dragon Championship Martial Arts 1603 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 263-4212 reddragonpb@live.com Budokai (Budokaikan Association) 4616 Park Granada #72 Calabasas, CA 91302 (747) 444-7940 senseialex@budokai.net Connecticut New England Rendokan 1845 Silas Deane Highway Rocky Hill, CT 06067 (860) 628-1022 Info@ner1.net Florida All American Martial Arts & Krav Maga Academy 4255 US Highway 1 South, Suite 4 St. Augustine, FL 32086 (904) 797-2262 lessons@staugustinetaekwondo.com Georgia Kombative Academy of Traditional…

Later, I asked a professor about shou bo, and he said, “It’s like san da, but you’re wearing a jacket.” Shou bo literally means “hand fight.” The definition, combined with the two descriptions, evoked images of the hockey brawls I knew so well. Further investigation revealed that in shou bo, you’re not allowed to pull the jacket over the guy’s head and hit him with your knee, but it still sounded like a great martial art. I found out that Yuan graduated from the Wushu Institute in 1963. For the past few years, he’s lived in France, where he founded the French Shou Bo Association as a way to popularize shuai chiao abroad. In shuai chiao, wrestlers wear a heavy jacket with a belt. Practitioners can hold the jacket or…

Like-minded readers no doubt have made the jump to visions of martial demos conducted in sanitized, predictable environments with freeze-framed partners behaving exactly the way the demonstrating master desires. In such conditions, our martial surgeries can do wondrous things. We can execute pinpoint strikes with spinning hook kicks, expertly slash and cut with knife techniques aimed at static targets, and even find that specific nerve bundle that will render the attacker’s knees like jelly. To be candid, some martial endeavors seem to exist exclusively in that realm of stop-motion Ray Harryhausen choreography. Unfortunately, martial exertions in this frozen realm diverge even more from reality when one acknowledges that on the street, the patient not only will move but also will try to draw blood from you. (Note that students of…

Ever since the first punch was thrown, fighters have dropped their guard — and quickly discovered why this is a problem. An improper guard leads to poor punches and even worse defense. The Onguard Training Belt keeps your elbows positioned in front of your body so you can build the muscle memory needed to throw a proper punch, maintain a solid defense and retain full motion in your hips. The device’s unique training blocks are made of sturdy, high-density EVA foam for durability. The blocks resist moisture and are easy to clean. The belt itself is made of neoprene for breathability and fits snugly around the waist of almost any adult or child. The hinges allow for a variety of exercises. Recommended: building the biceps, perfecting the pecs and toning…

You probably also know that for many who train at your dojo, earning rank is important. For that reason, you need a good rank-advancement program. Many people fail in this area, and that can be a key reason for low retention rates and even the collapse of the school. Why is it so important internally? Your school’s rank program provides goals for your students. Those goals then supply the motivation they need to work hard and achieve success. Further-more, hend the testing fees deliver a substantial income stream to your operating budget. It’s a win-win. Your belt-rank system should be easy to understand. If you can explain it to a 4-year-old, you’re on the right track. At my school, we’ve found that it helps to create a graphic of the…