MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINES

Prior to the publication of BLACK BELT MAGAZINE only a few publications existed that could actually be termed martial arts magazines. Prior to BB( as it is often called) the first US magazine that dealt with martial arts was JUDO DIGEST and had early karate, jiu-jitsu, kendo,etc. articles and photos but it soon ceased publication after around 6-7 issues. I was a subscriber and still have all of them. I had planned to donate them to the HAWAII KARATE MUSEUM and may still do so some day. BLACK BELT MAGAZINE was the recipient of several letters to the editors/publishers from me over a period of years. My name has been mentioned in their archival reprints of the notable features,items, and covers of the old issues, which the new owners had two ORIGINAL AND VALUABLE sets ,ONE OF WHICH THEY SACRIFICED for placing on the internet! The entire set was torn apart and sliced up to do this as the process is not like actual printing or archiving otherwise. To set the record straight, I have had only ONE ARTICLE published by Black Belt, but I do have several rejection slips or letters from them,one of which is perhaps the more interesting of all of them. It was a rejection of an article of mine by the owner/publisher at the time,signed by him, of an article on CHINESE YOGA, which he felt had not place in a martial arts magazine. NOW, just look at the numerous Qi Gong, Yoga, etc. articles in martial arts magazines but in magazines devoted entirely to such!