October/November 2022 Black Belt Highlights

JUSTIN WREN
You probably know him as an MMA champ. You also might know him for his work helping the Pygmies in Africa build water wells. You probably had no idea that he was bullied as a child. This is the story of how he prevailed.

PUT UP YOUR DUKES
Should you supplement your martial arts skills with boxing? It’s not an easy question — which is why we put it to Steve DeMasco, a Black Belt Hall of Famer who boxed for three years before switching to the Asian arts.

3 REAL BLACK BELTS WHO APPEARED IN “THE KARATE KID”
Meet William Christopher Ford, “Dennis” in The Karate Kid Part III; Daryll Vidal, the “Unnamed Karate Semifinalist” in The Karate Kid; and Ron Thomas, “Bobby” in the first film. One has already resurfaced in Cobra Kai. Will the other two?

KOBUDO 101: THE MANJI SAI
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to grip and wield the lesser-known cousin of the ubiquitous sai. Once you master the mechanics, you’ll be crafting your own routines and furthering your understanding of all weapons.

BLACK BELT CLASSIC: HIDETAKA NISHIYAMA
Travel back in time to when this student of the founder of shotokan was head instructor of the Japan Karate Association in Tokyo. Hidetaka Nishiyama offers timeless advice on karate’s real goal of pushing the limits of your capabilities.

STREET CRED
A British bouncer reveals the top 7 styles that will supercharge your self-defense quotient. He points out what you should adopt and avoid when you cross-train. In case you’re wondering, the styles are boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, mixed martial arts, muay Thai, self-defense and wrestling.