Best Black Belt Magazine Podcasts (2024)

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#16: Dexter Fletcher – Form Follows Function when Hunting Monsters 1:18:47

1M ago1:18:47

1:18:47

“When you go into a Hostage Rescue you have to see it as if you are protecting or trying to save your own child, your own mother, your own brother. If you can’t put yourself in a situation to see it that way you can’t do that job. And that’s the way Miami Dade SWAT SRT, that is what our perspective was. The Job that we do is real, and you are going…

1
#15: Chris Kent – The Spirit of Jeet Kune Do 1:27:59

2M ago1:27:59

1:27:59

“Jeet Kune Do to me is not about the perpetuation of an art, it is about the personal cultivation of an individual. To me Jeet Kune Do is a state of being. It’s a dynamic way of thinking and acting that encompasses the same fluid operating principles you use in dealing with opponents that you would use every day in the arena of life. I would like t…

1
#14: Nicolas Saignac – Express Yourself and Be Free 1:16:49

2M ago1:16:49

1:16:49

“You want to find this place with the person that you are working with, sparring is working with people, it’s not working against people, you are going to receive what you give. If it’s too hard, and you do not respect the parameters that are set, something is not going to go right. Work with people in the gym, don’t work against them. You express …

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#13: Fariborz Azhakh – How To Be A Master Teacher 1:27:34

3M ago1:27:34

1:27:34

“I never wanted to be the greatest martial artist ever, I always saw myself as a teacher. I want to influence people, I don’t want them to be impressed by what I do, I want to be a vehicle for them to learn. To me integrity is a moment by moment choice. My work is to challenge myself to choose the way I respond to situations. Who we are is more imp…

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#12: Tom Callos – The Martial Art of Kindness 1:43:52

3M ago1:43:52

1:43:52

“The real goal is not to be a great martial artist, but to be a great human being. A Black Belt is a good human being that is constantly working on themselves, it is somebody of a high level of skill, that brings their practice to life in ways that makes other people stop and look and listen. It’s about the Artist that brings the practice to life.”…

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#11: Harinder Singh – Master Your Center and Flow in Chaos 1:18:59

4M ago1:18:59

1:18:59

“Spiritual Growth is not necessarily found on a yoga mat, in the dojo, or in a meditation room, it’s found in the space between your thoughts, it’s found in the space between your decisions, it’s found in the still point in the transition between stimulus and response. If I can pause and master those transitions and come to center in those moments …

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#10: Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro – The Iron Mind of a Champion 1:01:55

5M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

“Champions have a very strong spiritual understanding of when is the right moment to throw a perfect technique, using time and timing to understand the right moment. It’s impossible to put into the an equation how it feels, because if you stop to think, you are late, flow is not a motion, flow is a state, it’s a congruence, it’s a rhythm that you a…

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#9: Chip Townsend – Breaking Through Barriers 1:14:28

5M ago1:14:28

1:14:28

“When pushing the boundaries of the human body, either I’m going to break, or it is. Can I pull the trigger and go? It can be this way in self-defense, life, and everything else that we do. A great question is to ask what is the absolute worst that could happen in this situation, when you can wrap your mind around that worst-case scenario, I know t…

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#8: Willie “The Bam” Johnson – The Art of Honest Self Expression 1:23:30

6M ago1:23:30

1:23:30

“The Jail that I was in was easy. The Jail that most people are in today without being incarcerated in a Jail Cell, is the Jail cell of the mind and the heart. It wasn’t till I learned to love me in Jail, it wasn’t until I learned to express me in jail, that I was able to look at myself in the mirror, and say, Let’s Go Bam.” My guest this episode i…

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#7: James Hundon – Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast 1:07:28

6M ago1:07:28

1:07:28

“Everyone has a gift, but not everyone seeks to find it, or has the patience to go within themselves to find it. It’s passion, what are you passionate about? What part of you gives you the drive to work hard to get good at something, no matter what it is. We can be mediocre or we can be average, but what makes a person driven to become extra ordina…

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#6: Graciela Casillas - Trailblaze Your Own Style 1:25:59

7M ago1:25:59

1:25:59

“My goal in training is to build a student’s reflexes not just memorizing a technique. Building reflexes by discarding the drills, and eventually being able to free flow, so you can react to any angle of attack, if you train that way you will never be caught off guard because you are prepared for any line of attack, it doesn’t matter the trajectory…

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#5: Val Mijailovic – Karate is Harmony 1:18:17

7M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

“When I was coming up, we didn’t look at anybody else, we didn’t glorify anybody else, instead we learned by discovering what we could do. Everybody was different. Now days there is so much information out there and it is so easily available. So now we try to become like others, and this takes away from that spiritual and physical muscle memory exp…

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#4: Billy Blanks – "Heart of a Champion (Transformation Begins from the Inside Out)" 1:06:48

8M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

“Tae Bo sold 115 million copies and revolutionized the fitness world. It changed the way people talked about fitness, I was the first person that talked about inside out. Most people didn’t really talk about the inside, most people talked about changing your hips, your legs, your bum, and your arms, but nobody talked about the heart. I was the only…

1
#3: Erik Paulson - "The Creative Act of Martial Arts" 2:32:39

8M ago2:32:39

2:32:39

“It doesn’t matter where it comes from as long as it works, and you don’t know if it works unless you experiment with it. In order to get good at everything you got to break it all up and pull it apart. Find the common thread, that’s how the styles will merge.” -- Erik Paulson My guest on this episode is Erik Paulson who is an Encyclopedia of Marti…

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#2: Michael Jai White – The Ego is The Enemy 1:05:00

9M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

“Don’t take yourself too seriously, if you do it is about your ego. If I get my ass kicked, I will brag about it, because then it means I am learning something. We go into these things as insecure beings, I was no different. But be willing to learn, my philosophy revolves around the concept of learning. I have progressed a great deal, because every…

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#1: Big John McCarthy – “Let’s Get It On” 1:01:37

9M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

“The ability to relax under pressure is the trait that all the greats share. Panic is the most useless emotion that humans can have in any situation. Fear is a good thing, it tells you , you have a problem, the question is how do I fix that problem, bringing panic into it is not going to help the problem. The people that are the ones that tend to c…

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#16: Gerry Chisolm “Lady Sensei” – Make The Weak Strong 1:36:36

11M ago1:36:36

1:36:36

“The Mind is the primary weapon. Everything else is just a means to an end. When the body fails the mind takes over. When the mind fails the spirit takes over. There is no greater study, higher study than the study of self.” – Gerry Chisolm "Lady Sensei" My guest this episode is Gerry Chisolm, who is known as the Lady Sensei. She is the founding pr…

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#15: Michael and Mikey Dillard – Exist to Inspire 1:02:52

12M ago1:02:52

1:02:52

“Exist to Inspire, Martial arts is so much more than what people think. If you live the way, and actually make martial arts part of your lifestyle it comes with these values and skillsets that no one can take away from you and can be used in all aspects of your life.” – Mr. Mikey Dillard “I want kids to have confidence and discipline, self-respect …

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#14: Dave Kovar – A Mindful Approach to Martial Arts and Life 1:07:38

1y ago1:07:38

1:07:38

“The key to getting good at anything is mindful training over time. Make a conscious effort to shift gears, empty your cup of everything in your day, so you can become present and focus on your martial arts training. Spontaneous right action equals a moment of enlightenment, in the moment at your best, mental clarity, physical energy, and emotional…

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#13: Ron Van Clief – We Have to Be Strong Enough to See our Way Through the Bad and Find the Good 1:25:01

1y ago1:25:01

1:25:01

“Martial Arts is a people building device, it teaches you how to live in a chaotic world and be happy. If we make the best of our lives by doing our best in life, we can create the life that we want. And that’s really what life is about, being kind, courteous, respect, and respect for yourself. Do things that make you feel good and help people to b…

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#12: Zoltan Bathory – The Power of Creative Problem Solving 1:54:42

1y ago1:54:42

1:54:42

“When people are faced with obstacles, they try to brush it away, or shut it out of their minds. Obstacles and doubts are different. Obstacles are real and doubts are created by the mind. Martial Arts is one of the best ways for your mind to train for real situations. You have to deal with situations and deal with them right now. You have to face i…

1
#11: Scott Coker – Be A Black Belt in Life 1:02:37

1y ago1:02:37

1:02:37

“The journey just starts at Black Belt. How do you carry yourself as a master instructor of your own domain? Be a black belt in all 3 disciplines, life, business, and martial arts. Integrate them all together, now you are a martial artist.” – Scott Coker My guest this episode is Scott Coker, who is an Ernie Reyes Protégé, 8’th degree Black Belt and…

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#10: Paul McIlroy – The Martial Art of Strength 1:37:49

1y ago1:37:49

1:37:49

“Pain isn’t going anywhere, it’s always going to feel the same, but how you decide to categorize it is what changes. I can’t change that it hurts, but I can change that I don’t care. As a fighter and martial artist, the biggest thing to ensure your success is that no matter what situation you are in, there is an acceptance of pain. Once you fully t…

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#9: George Chung – Fall in Love with Martial Arts Again 1:18:01

1y ago1:18:01

1:18:01

“If you can embrace chaos and change, you can get greater focus, efficiency, and become more creative, because you have to figure out how to maneuver and get around the change, so you can take the negative and turn it into a positive. “ – George Chung My guest this episode is George Chung, who is a Martial Artist, Businessman, Actor, Director and T…

1
#8: Mike Chat – Overcome Obstacles and Unlock the Creative Process 58:18

1y ago58:18

58:18

“Highest Degree of Discipline is Self-Awareness. It can only be achieved through thousands of constant repetitions.” – Mike Chat My Guest this episode is Mike Chat who is a Martial Artist, Actor, Producer and Stuntman known for his role as the Blue Power Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. He is the founder for Xtreme Martial Arts or XMA whi…

1
#7: André Galvão – Finding Joy in Uncomfortable Moments 50:37

1+ y ago50:37

50:37

“The state of mind is more important than your body being prepared. When you compete, your body will not always be 100%, but your state of mind has to be super ready.” –André Galvão My Guest this episode is Prof. André Galvão who is a legendary Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Grappler and a professional mixed martial artist. He holds 4th Degree Brazilian Jiu J…

1
#6: Apolo Ladra – Learn to Teach, Teach to Learn 1:12:56

1+ y ago1:12:56

1:12:56

“People get hung up on the ranking as opposed to the teaching methodology. Upgrade your teaching methodology instead of getting more techniques. Instead of collecting new techniques connect the basic techniques so that you can make them look advanced.” -Apolo Ladra My guest this episode is Tuhon Apolo Ladra who has trained in the martial arts for o…

1
#5: Darren Tibon – The Highest Level is When Your Offense becomes Your Defense 1:24:41

1+ y ago1:24:41

1:24:41

“Fighting is a chess game. If you don’t get your opponent within 3 moves, you are dead already.” —Darren Tibon My guest this episode is Grand Master Darren Tibon who was a personal student and graduate of Great Grand Master Angel Cabales’ Serrada Escrima. Angel Cabales was known as the teacher of teachers and in 1967 was one of the first to commerc…

1
#4: Shannon Lee – Be Water, My Friend: Bruce Lee’s Philosophy for Life 1:11:06

1+ y ago1:11:06

1:11:06

“Bruce Lee’s Superpower is Self-Mastery.” – Shannon Lee My special guest this episode is Shannon Lee who is the daughter of the Martial Arts Icon Bruce Lee. She is a martial artist, an actress, and the CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Company, which is on a mission to share the art and philosophy of Bruce Lee to inspire personal growth, positive energy,…

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#3: Ray Sefo - Mental Toughness is the Courage to Step Forward and Face your Fears 1:00:49

1+ y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

“Your Conscious Mind is So much stronger than the Subconscious, if you allow your Conscious Mind to take control of what is happening.”—Ray Sefo My guest this episode is the one and only Ray Sefo, he has fought in 110 Professional Fights, achieving 54 Knock Outs and 6 World Titles. He has competed in 4 Combat Sports (Boxing, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing,…

1
#2: Ernie Reyes Jr. – The Art of Living Life to Its Fullest 49:33

1+ y ago49:33

49:33

“At the end of the day if you don’t have hope, you have nothing.” – Ernie Reyes Jr. My guest this episode is Ernie Reyes Jr., a martial artist, actor, and fighter. He is known for his work in films like The Last Dragon, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Surf Ninjas, and the Rundown starring alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I first remember bein…

1
#1: Tim Kennedy – To Serve and Protect 1:14:06

1+ y ago1:14:06

1:14:06

“A Fight is a Fight, it doesn’t matter what tools you have, all that matters is how efficient your chassis is.” – Tim Kennedy My guest this episode is Tim Kennedy, a Special Forces Sniper, a Range Qualified Green Beret, a former UFC & Strike Force Fighter, and the President of Sheep Dog Response. He is one of the few fighters to simultaneously serv…

1
#16: Chatri Sityodtong – Fight for Your Dreams 36:25

1+ y ago36:25

36:25

“Martial Arts is the Greatest Platform to Unleash Human Potential.” – Chatri Sityodtong My guest this episode is Chatri Sityodtong who is best known for being the founder, chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship. Chatri’s diverse background includes over 30 professional Muay Thai fights in Thailand, a brown belt in BJJ, an MBA from Harvard, and in 20…

1
#15: Master Ken – Lethality, The Way of Ameri-Do-Te 37:15

1+ y ago37:15

37:15

“My goal was always to see how quickly I could hurt or paralyze every opponent.”—Master Ken My guest this is episode is the most famous martial arts master in history, the founder of Ameri-Do-Te, the one and only, Master Ken. Master Ken is the founder of Ameri-Do-Te which is an American street fighting system. You may know him as the Professor of P…

1
#14: Miesha Tate – Mental Toughness and Fighting the Inner Battle 1:06:39

2y ago1:06:39

1:06:39

“It’s a matter of winning the smallest battles in your head before you win the big battles on a big stage.”—Miesha Tate My guest this episode is Miesha Tate who is a pioneer and trailblazer of Women’s Mixed Martial Arts. She is the former Strike Force and UFC Bantamweight Champion and was Vice President of One Championship. She is currently fightin…

1
#13: Jackson Rudolph – The Martial Art of Discovering Your Potential 58:55

2y ago58:55

58:55

“Achieving a black belt is telling you that you can do anything you set your mind to." –Jackson Rudolph My guest this episode is Sport Karate World Champion Jackson Rudolph. Jackson is known for his innovative Bo Staff Routines which have led to 14 ISKA U.S. Open Weapons Titles, the most for any man in history. Jackson is the founder of The Flow We…

1
#12: Cynthia Rothrock – Life is An Adventure 1:12:33

2y ago1:12:33

1:12:33

“Martial Arts taught me to never accept failure.” – Cynthia Rothrock My guest this episode is a film legend, a forms World Champion, a Black Belt Magazine Hall of Famer, the one and only Cynthia Rothrock. Cynthia is a lifelong martial artist who holds 7 Black Belts and is receiving the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Century Martial Arts Sup…

1
#11: Master Wong – Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy 1:15:08

2y ago1:15:08

1:15:08

“Know yourself, know your enemy, know your ability and know your surroundings.” – Master Wong My guest this episode is Michael Wong, known to the world as Master Wong. He is the first martial artist to successfully use YouTube as a teaching platform with a reach of almost 3 Million followers. His high energy and dynamic teaching style along with en…

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#10: Rickson Gracie – Spiritual Warrior: The Path of Empowerment 1:30:52

2y ago1:30:52

1:30:52

“Breathe and Flow with the Go.” – Rickson Gracie My guest this episode is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Vale Tudo, and MMA legend Master Rickson Gracie. He reigned as world Jiu Jitsu champion both in the middle-heavy weight and open divisions for almost two decades, retiring with an undefeated record after hundreds of Jiu Jitsu, Vale Tudo and challenge matc…

1
#9: Mike Swain - 1988 Bronze Medal Olympian in Judo 1:31:58

2y ago1:31:58

1:31:58

“Success Leaves Clues, so Surround Yourself with Greatness.” – Mike Swain My guest this episode is Mike Swain who is one of the most successful American Judoka’s in history. He is the first American Male Judoka to win a Gold Medal in the 1987 World Championships and followed that up with a Bronze Medal in the 1988 Olympics. He is the VP of Martial …

1
#8: Tony Blauer – How to Develop the Ability to Recognize and Manage Fear 1:33:20

2y ago1:33:20

1:33:20

“We are all Human Weapons.” – Tony Blauer My guest this episode is Tony Blauer a martial artist, self defense, and combatives instructor for over four decades. He is the founder of Blauer Tactical Systems which is one of the worlds leading consulting firms specializing in research and development of combative training and equipment for military, la…

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#7: Burton Richardson – Approach Your Training with Integrity and Pressure Test Everything 1:46:38

2y ago1:46:38

1:46:38

#7: Burton Richardson – Approach Your Training with Integrity and Pressure Test Everything “Self Confidence through the Practice of Realistic Self Defense.” – Burton Richardson My Guest this episode is Guro Burton Richardson who is one of the most cutting edge multi style martial arts masters and teachers on the planet. He is the founder of “JKD Un…

1
#6: John Hackleman – Physical and Mental Conditioning are the Master Key’s to Performance 1:51:38

2y ago1:51:38

1:51:38

My Guest this episode is “The Pitmaster” John Hackleman who is one of the most sought-after trainers in MMA history. He is the founder of the world famous “Pit Martial Arts and Fitness” which is home to UFC Champions Chuck Liddell and Glover Teixeira. The Pitmaster’s unique approach is catered to children, adults, and professional fighters. His Haw…

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#5: Dave Kovar – Professionalism & Empowerment through a Growth Minded Passion Driven Approach 1:31:46

2y ago1:31:46

1:31:46

#5: Dave Kovar – Professionalism & Empowerment through a Growth Minded Passion Driven Approach “There is no higher calling than teaching Martial Arts.” – Dave Kovar My guest this episode is Hanshi Dave Kovar who is known as “The Teacher of Teachers”. He is the founder of Kovar’s Satori Academies and PROMAC, the Professional Martial Arts College. He…

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#4 : Justin Wren – Be Resilient, Never Quit and Overcome all Obstacles 1:22:49

2y ago1:22:49

1:22:49

“Live to Love and Fight for People” – Justin Wren My guest this episode is Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren, a humanitarian, author, speaker, and a professional mixed martial arts fighter who has inspired millions. He is the founder of “Fight for the Forgotten” a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the weak, loving the unloved, and empowering…

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#1: Michael Jai White – Martial Arts is About Overcoming Yourself 1:49:45

2+ y ago1:49:45

1:49:45

“Respect Needs to Go Around for Every Martial Art. We can learn Something from everyone.” -Michael Jai White My guest this episode is Michael Jai White, a highly trained martial artist & actor. Michael has broken barriers as a Hollywood star and is an International Box office sensation. He is a national martial arts champion, a special education te…

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#2: Jocko Willink – Detachment from Emotions is the Master Key to Success 59:15

2+ y ago59:15

59:15

“You are going to die. Accept Death, but move forward in life, and do everything you can to make it a good life” – Jocko Willink My guest this episode is Jocko Willink a former Navy Seal Commander & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. He led Seal Teams in the battle for Ramadi during the Iraq war and was honored with the Silver and Bronze Star. Jocko i…

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#3: Herb Perez – The Art of Setting and Achieving Goals 1:27:57

2+ y ago1:27:57

1:27:57

“Do Things for the Love of It” vs “The Fear of Losing It” – Herb Perez My Guest this episode is the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, in Tae Kwon Do, Master Herb Perez. He is the owner of Gold Medal Martial Arts Centers, the creator of the Torch Program, a Lawyer, and the former Mayor of Foster City, Ca. This episode is literally filled with gold, and I …

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