I received the newest January 2008 issue of Black Belt Magazine in the mail (I have a small ad in there each issue and they send you one), and this issue is, you know, the special silly-named, redundant, "reality-based, self-defense" issue. To me, reality-based self defense is like saying, "I'll have pizza with my pizza."
Despite that fact that John Pelligreni (in modern digitized camo) is on the cover. It is utterly owned by Isreali martial arts in a giant trifecta of darren Levine's L.A. version, Moni Aizik Commando KM and Karanak's Haggannah Fight. Oh, and Kapop, so make that a "four-fecta." Full page ads with smaller companion ads and then full articles by each. Each article is a disguised ad for their courses, of course, not a strict educational piece, per say. This is utterly common. Get a big ad, then get an article. Checkbook jounalism.
What an Israeli, marketing phenomina, all started by Levine's smart, kick-off politics and big wallet for 1990s ads.
Jim Wagner has a modest presence in his regular BB column, once again dressed in his his "dramatic beret and combat army uniform" of his state, military reserves. (No plug for recruitment found once again by the new sergeant)
There's a piece by ol' James Keating and Bram Frank, oddly both articles on applying proper energy into cutting when slashing with a knife. I was just up in the northwest and friends of Jim say Jim is retreating further back into the wilds up there, working mostly as a guide to geologists. He really loves the outdoor life. Bram Frank is just..well...you know...Bram Frank. On that same sort of NW subject, friends tell me that Kelly Worden has just built a beautiful and expensive, top notch, new gym/school in Washington state.
As with all magazines these days, ad sales for them are down, DOWN. they started the year with higher ad rates. then dropped them. Now are wheeling and dealing. Deals can be made. But, I am removing my "business card" monthly ads from Black Belt. I am spending that money elsewhere as in professional police and military journals. I personally can't trace any business back to the Black Belt ad. Some do. I can't right now.
I still can't find a single person who says, "Gee, Black Belt is a great magazine." Instead its treated like a "necessary evil," thumbed through in the bookstore magazine rack. Black Belt is far from alone in this regard. I'll bet you won't find a single magazine management on the planet that wishes they couldn't just publish on the web only, and forget the whole paper/ink/distribution thing.
One thing, Peligreni did go to Afghanistan, via some old West Point Combat Hapkido students of his. I am jealous of this, as I have tried to go too, and Iraq too, and failed. Can't seem to make the connection. Most of my folks I know are there and for short tours, and start dreaming and making plans to leave as soon as they get there. Plus, it is a giant, State Department, paperwork hassle. Peli pulled it off. And he went. Most of these powderpuffs teaching martial arts in the USA wouldn't go of they had the chance. There is an emotional moment when you actually see and board the plane that takes you to a place where they are shooting at your face and blowing up your cars...well... Peli went!
Anyway, I was fascinated by the "four-fecta" Israeli coverage in the new issue. Its like an invasion from a most unlikely source, but when you think about it, we've been "invaded" by Japan, Korea and China already!
Hock
More on Moni here...
http://hockscombatforum.com/index.php/topic,4217.0.html 
