Category: Karate Page 1 of 22

Black Belt Throwback: Alex Sternberg, A Champion’s Journey

From karate champion to coach, international referee, scholar and 8th-degree master, Dr. Alex Sternberg has spent more than five decades pursuing excellence in and beyond the martial arts.

Pioneering Karate Tradition Returns for Nisei Week – Rafu Shimpo

Nearly 70 years after what is believed to be the first public demonstration of karate in the U.S., the tradition continued on Aug. 22 as Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) hosted the annual Nisei Week Karate Exhibition and Tournament at the Terasaki Budokan in Little Tokyo.

Obituary for Grandmaster Carol Middleton, a 7th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and the founder and director of the D.C. Self-Defense Karate Association – PoPville

Thanks to Lyn for sending: “Grandmaster Carol Middleton, a 7th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and the founder and director of the D.C. Self-Defense Karate Association (DCSDKA), died on Aug. 11, 2026, in Chantilly, Va. She was 78 years old.

Karate Illustrated, We Remember Kaicho Takayuki Yamazaki

From the archives of Karate Illustrated, we remember Kaicho Takayuki Yamazaki – a martial arts pioneer whose influence reached far beyond the dojo. A 9th-degree black belt, internationally respected sensei and martial arts leader, Yamazaki was part of a generation that helped introduce and establish karate in America alongside legends such as Fumio Demura, Chuck Norris and Dan Ivan.