The Toughest Era of Martial Arts? From the blood-and-guts pioneers of the 1960s to the rise of the UFC—and how Karate point fighting lost its place at the center of the martial arts world

The Toughest Era of Martial Arts? From the blood-and-guts pioneers of the 1960s to the rise of the UFC—and how Karate point fighting lost its place at the center of the martial arts world

There was a time in America when winning a karate tournament could make you a worldwide star.Mike Stone, Joe Lewis, and Chuck Norris in early karate tournament trainingLong before mixed martial arts, pay-per-view, and social media, the road to fame ran through packed gymnasiums and sold-out arenas, where the world's greatest martial artists battled for championships, prestige, and respect.The iconic 1968 Black Belt cover featuring Joe Lewis and …