NEW COMBATIVES BOOK AVAILABLE NOW!

Turn the predator into your prey with Kelly McCann's new book, Combatives for Street Survival: Hard-Core Countermeasures for High-Risk Situations.

Regardless of whether you're in Baghdad or in Boston, McCann’s gritty portrayal of violence will teach you how to train realistically with a partner for street confrontations and ultimately prevail!

Filled with kicks, strikes and skills that soldiers and civilians have successfully implemented, this full-color instructional guide gives you everything you need to know to survive a confrontation on the street... including how to:

- create opportunities to overwhelm an opponent with power
- identify threats and avoid conflicts
- develop the right mind-set for facing life-threatening situations
- effectively execute devastating techniques under duress

Combatives for Street Survival: Hard-Core Countermeasures for High-Risk Situations is available now for $24.95 from Black Belt Books!

$24.95 | Code 502 | 192 pgs. | Color illustrations | ISBN: 978-0-89750-176-7

 

Link through here to an exclusive interview with Tim Tackett, one of the authors of Black Belt Book's new title: Chinatown Jeet Kune Do: Essential Elements of Bruce Lee's Martial Art.

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/658

Black Belt Books Unlocks the Essence of Bruce Lee's Martial Art

Original "backyard" students of Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto capture the hidden details behind jeet kune do's effective fighting techniques. The longtime instructors tap their personal understanding of Lee's final recorded artistic developments to break down this subtle yet revolutionary art.

Valencia, Calif. (BLACK BELT) June 13, 2008 –– In Chinatown Jeet Kune Do: Essential Elements of Bruce Lee's Martial Art, authors Tim Tackett and Bob Bremer clearly explain the basic structure, principles and techniques of Lee's innovative art so readers can integrate their findings into their own training. They give readers an insider's view into "the art of the intercepting fist" through descriptive step-by-step instructions, comprehensive photo sequences and personal anecdotes of Lee's wisdom.

With more than a century of experience between them, Tackett (taught by Inosanto) and Bremer (taught by Lee directly) lead readers through eight extensive chapters on stances, footwork, hand tools, kicking tools as well as defense, attack and hand-trapping techniques. The book also includes a special chapter on what Lee believed were the art's most effective fighting and training skills—even though, until now, they have been relatively unknown.

In addition to the precise and in-depth technical descriptions, the authors analyze the winning strategies that Lee developed for use against various opponents, no matter their combat background. The book dissects and disseminates Lee's philosophy behind such concepts as "the five ways of attack," "the swinging gate drill" and "the hammer principle" in a practical way so that any reader can use them effectively against any attacker.

This Black Belt book also includes a foreword by Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, as well as a fable by Bruce Lee. Linda Lee Cadwell writes, " Only a handful of people in the world have studied jeet kune do under my husband, Bruce Lee, [and] I appreciate the time, effort and primarily the love that Bob and Tim have put into transcribing their experiences [...] for the benefit of generations to come."

A glossary of terms also add to this authentic jeet kune do experience, making Chinatown Jeet Kune Do an essential book for anyone interested in the original thoughts, theories and teachings of Bruce Lee, the master himself.

About the Authors

Bob Bremer enrolled in Bruce Lee's Chinatown school in 1967. Because of his no-nonsense approach to fighting, Bremer was often invited by Lee to train in one-on-one sessions. He shares his dedication to Lee and private knowledge of jeet kune do in this book.

Tim Tackett first saw Bruce Lee at Ed Parker's International Karate Tournament in 1967, but he didn't begin training in jeet kune do until 1971 when he joined Dan Inosanto's backyard class. Today, Tackett and those original students make up the who's who of modern jeet kune do. He continues to teach jeet kune do with Bob Bremer in Redlands, Calif.

About Black Belt

Black Belt is the world's leading martial arts magazine and is dedicated to both the classical and the modern martial arts. First published in 1961, Black Belt features interviews with the world's most prestigious martial artists and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles, as well as in-depth coverage of the latest techniques, weapons, self-defense systems, training regimens and industry trends. It also continues to publish instructional books and DVDs from a variety of disciplines, including jujutsu, mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, grappling, jeet kune do and more. For more on Black Belt and its line of books and DVDs, visit www.blackbeltmag.com.

To order

Only $18.95 U.S. |166 Pages (B/W)
ISBN: 978-0-89750-163-7
Call toll-free: (800) 581-5222
Order online: www.blackbeltmag.com/ctjkd

Contact

Sarah Dzida
Book Editor
(661) 257-4066 ext. 35
sdzida@aimmedia.com

Former Israeli Defense Force soldiers Avi Nardia and Albert Timen break down the principles and training methods of Israel’s first martial art for readers to incorporate into their own workout for anytime, anywhere self-defense success.

Valencia, Calif. (BLACK BELT) March 26, 2008 –– Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces teaches readers how to upgrade their toolbox of personal combat skills with the power of kapap’s modern and original fighting method. This new book published by Black Belt Books features more than 400 color photos and helps civilians, martial artists, law-enforcement officers and military personnel create a customized defense for any scenario through versatile training exercises and principles.

With backgrounds in Israeli special forces, kapap instructors Avi Nardia and Albert Timen, along with Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert and special adviser John Machado, demonstrate versatile kapap techniques for single- and multiple-person combat scenarios. Chapters and color photo sequences also focus on fighting theories to apply to any martial art or individual workout no matter a reader’s combat background. In addition, the book sheds light on adaptable principles for combat conditioning, weapon use, movement and relative position as well as for knife drills, grappling techniques, striking tactics, pressure points and more.

Originating in the 1920s, kapap is the Hebrew acronym for Krav Panim El Panim, meaning "face-to-face combat" and is the tactical foundation for martial arts like Krav Maga, haganah and lotar. Today’s modern style evolved through and continues to be employed by Israeli defense, security and police forces as well as Israeli special-operations and anti-terrorist units.

In 2000, Nardia and Lt. Col (Res) Chaim Peer founded the International Kapap Federation in order to preserve kapap’s original and versatile fighting principles. Today, Nardia and Timen promote and teach modern kapap to civilians and elite special forces around the world through the Kapap Academy. Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces is their first book.


About Avi Nardia

Maj. (Res) Avi Nardia is an experienced and certified fencing, jujutsu, kendo, Thai boxing, fitness, rappelling, diving, boxing, Krav Maga, lotar, defensive-tactics, shooting and kapap instructor. As a young man, he spent five years in the Israeli military and then spent several years in Japan training in traditional martial arts while working as a bodyguard. When he returned to Israel, Nardia taught hand-to-hand combat at the invitation of the Israeli National Police to the elite YAMAM unit. He is now based in the United States where he plays an active role in the evolution of kapap as a modern martial art and reality-based self-defense system through the Kapap Academy.

About Albert Timen

Advanced Staff Sgt. Major. Albert Timen is a former lotar and close-quarters combat instructor for Israel’s anti-terrorism units. He has been involved in hundreds of missions and is one of the few security operatives in the world to have subdued and arrested a "live" suicide bomber. In his 18 years of operational experience, Timen has trained special units in tactics as well as cross-trained with the best operational units in the world. He is a certified Krav Maga, lotar, defensive-tactics, kapap and shooting instructor. He is also the president of the Kapap Academy.

About Black Belt

Black Belt is the world’s leading martial arts magazine and is dedicated to both the classical and the eclectic martial arts. First published in 1961, Black Belt features interviews with the world’s most prestigious martial artists and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles, as well as in-depth coverage of the latest techniques, weapons, self-defense systems, training regimens and industry trends. It also continues to publish instructional books and DVDs from a variety of disciplines, including jujutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, grappling, jeet kune do and more. For more on Black Belt and its line of books and DVDs, visit www.blackbeltmag.com

Contact

Sarah Dzida
Book Editor
(661) 257-4066 ext. 35

Kapap instructors and former Israeli Defense Force soldiers Avi Nardia and Albert Timen prepare to put their skills to the test in the jungles of South America in preparation for a bigger scheme to be realized in 2009.

Valencia, Calif. (BLACK BELT) March 13, 2008 –– Kapap instructors Avi Nardia and Albert Timen are traveling to Guyana to do field research for a survival course they plan to launch in April 2009. The authors of Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces propose to offer martial artists who love a challenge the chance to try their combat skills against the forces of nature.

Nardia says, "We do basic survival in the States for our students like first aid, an introduction to the outdoors, how to find north without a compass, etc. [But the jungle is completely different] because you don’t have the sun, and this makes it much harder."

Nardia also says that this jungle survival course is a new thing for martial artists who really want to challenge their abilities in an unpredictable environment. Of course, safety is a concern for their preliminary program, and that’s why Nardia and Timen plan to spend 2008 researching and preparing the logistics for such a trip.

"[Kapap instructors] always try to study new things [and jungle survival] is a new skill; it’s not a joke. Again what we’re doing is like what we discussed in our book––it’s more about combat concepts," Nardia says, meaning it’s more important to learn principles and how to implement them rather than just the techniques.

About Kapap

Originating in the 1920s, kapap is the Hebrew acronym for Krav Panim El Panim, meaning "face-to-face combat" and is the tactical foundation for martial arts like Krav Maga, haganah and lotar. Today’s modern style evolved through and continues to be employed by Israeli defense, security and police forces as well as Israeli special-operations and anti-terrorist units.

Today, Avi Nardia and Albert Timen promote and teach modern kapap to civilians and elite special forces around the world through the Kapap Academy. Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces is their first book and is published by Black Belt.

About Avi Nardia

Maj. (Res) Avi Nardia is an experienced and certified fencing, jujutsu, kendo, Thai boxing, fitness, rappelling, diving, boxing, Krav Maga, lotar, defensive-tactics, shooting and kapap instructor. As a young man, he spent five years in the Israeli military and then spent several years in Japan training in traditional martial arts while working as a bodyguard. When he returned to Israel, Nardia taught hand-to-hand combat at the invitation of the Israeli National Police to the elite YAMAM unit. He is now based in the United States where he plays an active role in the evolution of kapap as a modern martial art and reality-based self-defense system through the Kapap Academy.

About Albert Timen

Advanced Staff Sgt. Major. Albert Timen is a former lotar and close-quarters combat instructor for Israel’s anti-terrorism units. He has been involved in hundreds of missions and is one of the few security operatives in the world to have subdued and arrested a "live" suicide bomber. In his 18 years of operational experience, Timen has trained special units in tactics as well as cross-trained with the best operational units in the world. He is a certified Krav Maga, lotar, defensive-tactics, kapap and shooting instructor. He is also the president of the Kapap Academy.

About Black Belt

Black Belt is the world’s leading martial arts magazine and is dedicated to both the classical and the eclectic martial arts. First published in 1961, Black Belt features interviews with the world’s most prestigious martial artists and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles, as well as in-depth coverage of the latest techniques, weapons, self-defense systems, training regimens and industry trends. It also continues to publish instructional books and DVDs from a variety of disciplines, including jujutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, grappling, jeet kune do and more. For more on Black Belt and its line of books and DVDs, visit www.blackbeltmag.com

Contact

Sarah Dzida
Book Editor
(661) 257-4066 ext. 35

Reality-based self-defense guru Sgt. Jim Wagner packs a punch in his new book about the techniques and methods of world-class special-operations units. Detailed photo sequences and reality-based wisdom show readers of all combat disciplines how to defend themselves like elite forces in hot-spot conflict zones.

Valencia, CA. (BLACK BELT) March 13, 2008 –– Black Belt’s latest book by Jim Wagner takes his reality-based personal protection audience to a different level of combat awareness. Filled with comprehensive illustrations, Defensive Tactics for Special Operations illuminates readers, no matter their combat background, on special-operations knife defense, unarmed fighting methods, room-entry and recovery protocols, weapon retention, arrest-and-control techniques, helmet and riot-shield tactics and much more.

Defensive Tactics for Special Operations also features more than 400 photos in sequences with captions for readers, and it displays photos of Wagner’s real-life work as an instructor to special-operations units from countries that include Argentina, Spain, Germany, Israel, Canada and the United States.

As an excellent addendum to his thorough and well-received 2006 title and acclaimed DVD series of the same name: Reality-Based Personal Protection, this book is distinctive because it breaks down tactical situations, like sniper deployment defense, grenade ambush procedures, armed and unarmed hostile takedowns and even victim rescue and triage, without the use of special weaponry. Though the book appears geared toward police and military personnel, it actually contains information that can be used by self-defense instructors and students from any martial arts discipline.

Wagner says, "I wrote this book to give people a good look at a solid special-operations defensive-tactics program. Many instructors take traditional-based martial arts, throw a SWAT uniform over it and call it ’defensive tactics,’ [but] the techniques and training methods found in these pages are based on my own involvement in elite teams around the world. They are ’street tested.’ "

About Sgt. Jim Wagner

As a well-known defensive-tactics instructor, Black Belt’s High Risk columnist and a Black Belt Hall of Fame member (2006 Self-Defense Instructor of the Year -- WATCH VIDEO!), Sgt. Jim Wagner draws on more than three decades of experience in martial arts, police, military and special operations to bring readers the very best in reality training. His methods are used by many elite forces, which include the Israeli Special Forces, FBI SWAT and GSG9. Wagner also recently appeared on CNN to discuss the combat training he gave Morgan Spurlock, the star of Super Size Me, for his new documentary Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?

About Black Belt

Black Belt is the world’s leading martial arts magazine and is dedicated to both the classical and the modern eclectic martial arts. First published in 1961, Black Belt features interviews with the world’s most prestigious martial artists and historical pieces on the philosophies of various combat styles, as well as in-depth coverage of the latest techniques, weapons, self-defense systems, training regimens and industry trends. It also continues to publish instructional books and DVDs from a variety of disciplines, including jujutsu, mixed martial arts, reality-based self-defense, jeet kune do and more. For more on Black Belt and its line of books and DVDs, visit: www.blackbeltmag.com

To order

$18.95 U.S. | Code 493
(152 pages)
Call toll-free: (800) 581-5222
Order online: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/jimwagnerbooks

Contact

Sarah Dzida
Book Editor
(661) 257-4066 ext. 35

APRIL 2008 ISSUE


COVER STORY

DEFANGING THE SNAKE
Paul Vunak reveals teaches the only weapon technique you'll ever need for self-defense. Thomas Cruse explains how it applies to empty-hand fighting.


FEATURES

PANKRATION
Dr. Andreas V. Georgiou gives a concise history of pankration, the world's first mixed-martial arts competition.

COMMANDO KRAV MAGA SURVIVAL GUIDE
If you're skilled at grappling and think that alone will enable you to prevail in a street fight, you need to read this article. Now.

COUNTER-KICKS
A veteran taekwondo instructor details 12 kicking-based responses you can use against the most common tournament attacks.

WAY OF THE CAT
Ernie Cates explains his hybrid self-defense art, which combines the best techniques of jujutsu, judo and aikido with feline ways of moving.

10 KEYS TO COMBAT
A Black Belt columnist claims that the kata you practice every day have already taught you the essential principles of self-defense.


DEPARTMENTS

JEET KUNE DO SOURCE
Teri Tom continues her explanation of Bruce Lee's attack by combination and how it applies to punching.

CUTTING EDGE
Carl E. Long insists that some sword drills still need to be performed using live blades.

PSYCHED
Having the proper mind-set can help any martial artist overcome a loss and channel his energy in the right direction, Dr. Randy Borum says.

FIGHTBOOK
Read up on The Red Canvas, an MMA movie that stars Frank Shamrock, Ernie Reyes Sr. and Jr., and Dan Severn.

HIGH RISK
Sgt. Jim Wagner describes the parallel development of the mixed martial arts and reality-based self-defense.

FULL CONTACT
Richard Ryan argues that all fighting arts are mixed in that they combine successful techniques from other styles.

KARATE WAY
Dave Lowry unveils the healing properties of katsu, the ancient Japanese art of first aid.

FAR EAST
Black Belt's East Coast correspondent talks to Matthew Polly, an American disciple of Shaolin Temple

WAY OF THE WARRIOR
Ever wonder how learning to kill with deadly weapons fits into the arts of self-defense? Keith Vargo has the answers.

NEXT GENERATION
Any martial artist who trains with weapons needs to be smart to stay safe and legal. This article tells you how.

SCREEN SHOTS
Patrick Vuong reviews Quinton Jackson's Rampage: Birth of a Champion and an anime DVD titled Karas: The Revelation.

CELEBRITY WATCH
Musician Duff McKagan, formerly of Guns N' Roses and now with Velvet Revolver, reveals how his life was saved by kickboxing lessons from Benny Urquidez.


PLUS

Editorial + Mailbox + News + Essential Gear
Black Belt Pages + Classifieds + From the Archives


Visit the official Black Belt Web site for more information!

Prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime as Steve DeMasco—Black Belt Hall of Fame member (Instructor of the Year, 1998), personal disciple to Abbot Shi Yong-xin and the American cultural ambassador for China's famous Shaolin Temple—invites YOU to join him for an incredible journey to the other side of the globe from July 1 to July 13, 2008 for EXCLUSIVE training at the Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng city, Henan province) with the legendary Shaolin monks, visits to some of China's most famous and revered cities and historical sites, and an EXCLUSIVE ceremony with Abbot Shi Yong-xin.

Click here to read more information and/or to register!

Watch an exciting promotional video for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Interim Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, found time in his very tight schedule to come in for a photo shoot. If you don't already know, he's considered by many to be one of the top pound-for-pound mixed martial artists on the planet. Plus, he's a genuine martial artist, a longtime student of kyokushin karate. Currently in training for a rematch with Matt Serra, who took the welterweight belt and title from him on April 7, 2007, St. Pierre will be fighting in his hometown of Montreal on April 19, 2008. Read an archived interview with Georges St. Pierre!

The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 winner Mac Danzig came up from his Hollywood digs to talk exclusively with Black Belt about his experiences in mixed martial arts and how he got to where he is today. He demonstrated a few of his moves for the camera while he was here, too. Look for a feature on Danzig in an upcoming issue.

Alaska-based Split Second Survival founder Larry Wick stopped by twice in one month. The first time, he demonstrated his unique defense style. The second visit, he was here for a photo shoot and his partner was none other than Black Belt scribe and kung fu expert Dr. Mark Cheng. Look for a feature in an upcoming issue.

Reality self-defense expert Kelly McCann came in for a cover shoot and rattled the walls with the force of his demo. It was one of those rare occasions when the subjects actually drew blood while performing for the camera. Watch for McCann on the cover of the June 2008 issue.

BOB YOUNG ATTENDS "SHOT" SHOW
Executive Editor Robert W. Young attended the SHOT Show where he met with Tony Blauer, Ernest Emerson from Emerson Knives and Matt Hughes. Tim Sylvia was signing autographs at another booth. Boker Knives was displaying Sgt. Jim Wagner's DVDs, books and his two knife designs. Young then attended UFC 81: Breaking Point in Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 2-3, 2008) and met Renzo Gracie while backstage.

"THINK TANK" IN BOULDER, COLORADO
Special Projects Editor Raymond Horwitz traveled to Boulder, Colorado, for an Active Interest Media "think tank" meeting to discuss Internet strategies and goals for the coming year. With blackbeltmag.com becoming a more important presence in the martial arts multimedia world, this conference was an opportunity to meet with webmasters from across the company's wide spectrum of special-interest magazines, including Yoga Journal, Backpacker, Log Home Design and others.

MAMET AT MAGNO'S
Managing Editor Edward Pollard met with Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Renato Magno and his student, playwright/director David Mamet, at Magno's West Los Angeles studio where the two had a private session. The grappling was followed by an extensive interview with Mamet, whose latest film release, Redbelt, is a jiu-jitsu-themed drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tim Allen, with Randy Couture, John Machado, Magno, Dan Inosanto, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Gene LeBell, Enson Inoue and more. Watch for the film release in late April and blackbeltmag.com coverage in the June 2008 issue.