CATEGORIES

THE MAKING OF A MONSTER

Centuries ago, it was an idyllic earthen path. Today, it's the most dangerous road for cyclists in America.

Qatar's World Cup Cruelty

Qatar’s bid to boost its global standing by hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup is hardly unprecedented.

STREET CRED

TOP 7 STYLES THAT WILL SUPERCHARGE YOUR SELF-DEFENSE QUOTIENT!

HOW HE BEAT BULLYING AND BECAME A WRESTLING AND MMA CHAMPION and How He's Giving Back!

Justin Wren began making a name for himself in our world when he embarked on his MMA career in 2006. He went on to build a respectable record of 13-2 in the UFC, Bellator and other orgs. But he really started to shine when he dedicated his life to helping the Pygmies in Africa improve their lot in life by building water wells and eventually a school and a hospital. Now the 35-year-old Wren, whose ring name is "The Big Pygmy," is taking aim at a problem that's plagued society forever: bullying.

BENEFITS OF LONG-TERM STUDENT CONTRACTS, PART 2

In the August/September 2022 issue of Black Belt, Floyd Burk began his examination of the value of student contracts for martial arts schools. Here, he concludes his interview with Marcia D. Watters, Esq., who operates Mr. Jimmy's White Tiger Martial Arts in Hagerstown, Maryland, with her husband Jimmy Smith.

THE LAST RESORT OF PROACTIVE SELF-DEFENSE, PART 3

Returning once again to the scenario I described in the June/ July 2022 issue: You've done everything possible to de-escalate the volatile confrontation, all to no avail. It's crystal clear that the aggressor is about to attack at any moment. After doing everything you can to de-escalate the situation, you make the decision to get physical.

FIGHTING WITH ROPES AND SASHES

THE WORD "THUG" CAN BE FOUND IN ANY DICTIONARY OF MODERN ENGLISH, BUT FEW PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT ACTUALLY ORIGINATED IN ANCIENT INDIA. THERE, MEMBERS OF CRIMINAL GANGS BORE THAT NAME, AND THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE KNOWN AS THUGGEE IN THE LOCAL DIALECT.

NEW FRONTIERS

WITH THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WOMEN ARE LEVERAGING NEW POWER, AUTONOMY AND IDENTITY IN THE MARTIAL ARTS. WITH THOSE, THEY'RE CREATING MORE PLATFORMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES THAN EVER EXISTED EVEN A GENERATION AGO. TODAY'S WOMEN ARE EXPLORING NEW TERRITORIES AND BREAKING THROUGH OLD GLASS CEILINGS TO DEFINE THEIR OWN REALITIES. LISTED BELOW ARE A FEW EXAMPLES.

PUT UP YOUR DUKES

SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT YOUR MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS WITH BOXING? HERE ARE THE PROS AND CONS!

THE MANJI SAI

HOW TO HANDLE THE LESSER-KNOWN COUSIN OF THE UBIQUITOUS SAI

HOW BRUCE LEE INSPIRED THE EVOLUTION OF COMBAT SPORTS

IN A NEW EPISODE OF THE COMBAT SHOW ON THE FREE BLACK BELT MAGAZINE CHANNEL ON JUNGO PLUS, GEORGE CHUNG INTERVIEWS SCOTT COKER, FOUNDER OF STRIKEFORCE AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF BELLATOR MMA. COKER HAS BEEN A MARTIAL ARTIST FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. THAT, COUPLED WITH INSIDER ACCESS AT HIS FIGHT SHOWS, HAS GIVEN HIM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMBAT SPORTS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, HERE ARE A FEW OF THE CHANNEL'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD (KARATE) BLOCK

IT'S NOT EASY BEING THE SON OF A FAMOUS SPORTS FATHER. FOR EVERY PEYTON AND ELI MANNING, THE SONS OF NFL QUARTERBACK ARCHIE MANNING WHO FOUND MASSIVE SUCCESS IN THE SAME SPORT AS THEIR DAD, THERE'S A JEFFREY OR MARCUS JORDAN, THE SONS OF BASKETBALL LEGEND MICHAEL JORDAN WHO DID NOT. RICHARD AVERY PLOWDEN IS DECIDEDLY IN THE FORMER CATEGORY.

A THOUGHT FROM "SENSEI LOWRY"

IN JAPANESE, TITLES GO AFTER ONE'S NAME. IN ENGLISH, IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE. SO MR. SUZUKI WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN JAPANESE AS SUZUKI-SAN, AND PROFESSOR SMITH WOULD BE SMITH SENSEI.

HIDETAKA NISHIYAMA

STUDENT OF GICHIN FUNAKOSHI EXPLAINS KARATE'S REAL GOAL - NOT TO BASK IN THE GLORY OF ACHIEVEMENT BUT TO PUSH FORWARD TO THE LIMIT OF YOUR CAPABILITY! -

Timing is Everything

Whether you're a beginner or an aspiring pro, you can slow down strength movements to fast-track your gains. Make every second count with our tempo-training primer.

Pilates Vs. Yoga: Which Is Better for Cross-Training?

Both Yoga and Pilates offer a mind-body practice and a low-impact way to cross-train.

How to Train Your Gut Before Race Day

You train for speed, endurance, and strength before toeing the starting line at a race, gradually building up your distance and pace to make sure you're ready to take on the miles.

Run Safe and Smart With Your Kids and Pets

Whether you're a parent of children or pets, it can be tough to find the time to take care of yourself when you're used to juggling plenty of responsibilities for others.

How to Calm Your Nerves Before a Big Race

As runners, we have a way of imposing negative pressure on ourselves when we go into a race of any distance, especially one like a marathon.

How to Start Trail Running

Trail running doesn't have to be intimidating. A trail-ultra marathoner has made the ultimate guide to taking your runs off the pavement and onto trails.

Keira D'Amato is Chasing Happiness

The American marathon record holder once aimed for success at the expense of joy. Now she's focusing on fun-and running faster than ever.

The Apache Runners and Their Quest to Save a Holy Mountain

When the Vatican wanted to build an observatory on sacred land, tribal members protested by tapping into an ancient tradition: They started to run.

Adventure Begins Where the Pavement Ends

Tips for transitioning from street to adventure riding

BACK TO SIMPLE ADVENTURES MOTORCYCLE CAMPING

The hotels we stayed at during this last decade of moto travel weren't the constant highlights of our trips. Sure, some were situated around jaw-dropping landscapes. And yeah, getting out of the riding gear to grab a beer felt good. But nothing much was burned into our memories.

FRIED, Over-Easy, or Scrambler'd

Taking a Ride on Our Project Royal Enfield INT650

inView Wireless Helmet Brake and Turn Signal System

Like most riders, I want to be seen on the road. Many motorcyclists invest in driving lights to not only help them see at night but to be more visible to other drivers, even during daylight hours.

Mosko Moto Reckless 80L Revolver

Lightweight, versatile, durable: these are all desirable traits in soft panniers, and the Mosko Moto Reckless 80L Revolver almost nails this formula.

CHASING WATERFALLS IN THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS

Deep in the heart of Brazil, a thousand miles from the nearest beach, lies Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a motorcyclist's paradise in the highlands with a supernatural character steeped in local legend. I picked up a Royal Enfield Himalayan in the city of Brasilia, 150 miles south of the park, and set off in search of the Chapada's secrets.

U.S. ROAD TRIP to RTW Adventure

I'd just quit my job to travel the world. It was surreal-I had waited many years to make this move, yet here I finally was, without a clue where I was even going to start...

REV'IT! Livingstone Women's Jacket

A coat design originally crafted for weatherproofing in the days before synthetics has come back into fashion, spreading far beyond its U.K. roots.