Pages 42-47

My last article was published in Black Belt in 2007. I haven’t picked up a copy since 2008. At the time I was only writing on Western martial arts and the editors showed no interest. Looking at this issue I like what I see. The magazine is covering the traditional arts, the commercial arts [gag], MMA, serious violence, and also Western arts.

Forgotten Martial Arts of Great Britain is an illustrated survey of Cornish wrestling, singlestick and Quarterstaff, and also covers the hybrid British/Asian arts of Defendu and Bartitsu. My favorite illustration is from 1903 and shows activities including rapier and cloak, Long Sword and Bartitsu. There is an interesting recent photo of Cornish wrestling as well.

The best aspect of the article was the explanation of the evolution and devolution of singlestick, which parallels the course of most contact weapon arts. Adam Manuel has made an excellent argument for becoming a Black Belt reader again.