Why now and why the return?
The decision to return to print for Black Belt Magazine was made after careful consideration and consultation with prominent martial artists and industry leaders from both the business world and the martial arts world.
As someone who has always focused on moving forward, I questioned how to revitalize a medium that some view as outdated. The answer became clear: by creating content that is important, evergreen and perpetually relevant.
Our overarching goal is to expand the publication's reach in the digital realm. However, we also heard the desire for a tangible physical copy—something readers can collect, feel, and own. This sentiment reflects a wish to possess a piece of history rather than just a fleeting digital memory. We are committed to honoring this feedback as we continue to build and enhance our legacy.
To achieve this, our focus will remain steadfast on covering the biggest stars, influencers, and legends in martial arts. This was why we loved Black Belt, as it introduced us to masters and stars beyond our dojo. We aim to provide our readers with access to these icons, sharing their ideas and lives while inspiring a new generation of martial artists to take pride in the legacy they are a part of.
Our coverage will stand on four pillars:
Entertainment
Sport
Training
Master Profiles
Entertainment will spotlight the vibrant world of martial arts in film and television. We’ll feature legacy stars and legends like Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris.
Alongside contemporary superstars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean Claude Van Damme, Cynthia Rothrock, Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins and Donnie Yen.
We'll also celebrate emerging talents like Iko Uwais and the recent resurgence of Ke Huy Quan, as well as visionary directors and stunt coordinators like David Leitch, J.J. Perry, and Jon Valera.
Sport coverage will provide up-to-the-minute coverage of MMA and traditional martial arts, from the UFC to the IJF. Black Belt will be ringside, delivering unbiased coverage of fights and fighters, including current stars like Islam Makhachev, Kayla Harrison, and Valentina Shevchenko and GOATS like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell.
We’ll also pay tribute to the legends of the sport, such as Mike Stone, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, Benny Urquidez and Ron Van Clief.
Training will encompass a wide range of styles, emphasizing a return to Budo—the traditional principles of martial arts that stress respect, discipline, and the often-overlooked art of self-defense. Our focus will include traditional arts from Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand, addressing self-defense techniques and mind-body training for optimal performance.
We’ll also feature insights from modern combative experts like Jared Wihongi, Graciela Casillas, Tim Kennedy, Olivier Gruner, and Kelly McCann.
Finally, if training is the heart of the magazine, then Master Profiles will be its soul. We’ll showcase both legendary figures and rising stars in our industry, from Mas Oyama and Ed Parker to contemporary masters like Burt Richardson, Apolo Ladra, Harinder Singh and David Kovar—those leading the charge in dojos and communities worldwide.
"We are thrilled to expand the magazine into new media frontiers and hope our journey continues to motivate and inspire you on your martial arts path.
My promise is straightforward: to showcase the best in the field while honoring the greatest decision we've ever made—to learn the martial arts."