1961 to 1981 In Their Own Words
On several occasions over the past year, in an effort to celebrate Black Belt’s 60th anniversary, we’ve written about the magazine’s history. Here, in the final issue of 2021, we’re adopting a different approach: passing along nuggets of wisdom that most readers never encountered when they first hit print but that have retained their value over the ensuing decades. It’s our hope that the quotes provide as much guidance for modern martial artists as they did for our fighting forebears.
ON THE GOAL OF JUDO: “The use of mental and physical strength most effectively in judo is the principle of maximum efficiency. It is a strength not based upon brute force alone. It relies upon ‘giving away’ or harmonizing with the opponent’s force.”
Source: Jigoro Kano
Date: Vol. 1, No. 1, 1961
ON TOURNAMENTS IN AMERICA: “If karate is going to degenerate into an elaborate, unrealistic sport, then we would do better to return to the original method of practicing only kihon (basics) and kata (forms) without competition.”
Source: Tsutomu Ohshima
Date: January 1966
ON DEVOLUTION: “Karate is supposed to instill the qualities of virtue, integrity and wisdom, but it appears that ambition, cupidity and duplicity have taken hold on the American scene.”
Source: Richard Kim
Date: August 1966
ON TOUGHNESS: “Karate is for the rugged.”
Source: Mas Oyama
Date: February 1967
ON A MASTER WHO BROKE A CHOPSTICK BY JAMMING IT AGAINST HIS THROAT: “Why did he break the chopstick himself? Why didn’t he invite someone else to jam it against his throat? Why did he not invite someone to come out and smash him with the hammer if the object is to show he can withstand pain? If gung fu consists of the above, the end of the art is arriving.”
Source: Bruce Lee
Date: February 1968
“We do our best to avoid injuries, but the students must expect some injuries in free fighting. Some people come to us and think they will become karate players by meditating and thinking
