Discover the latest across the mat and the octagon, from philosophical judo to high-stakes MMA.We start with Judo's history at the 2025 World Kata Championships in Paris, where Itsutsu-no-kata, the "unfinished kata" created by Jigoro Kano Shihan, made its program debut. This philosophical kata embodies the core judo principle of maximum efficiency, minimum effort. Olympian and British Judo development director, Karen Roberts Castle (7th dan), competed in Itsutsu-no-kata with uke Fiona Chan to promote judo as a vehicle for education and show the direct links between its principles and practical shiai applications, such as kaeshi-waza (counter techniques).In BJJ news, we celebrate Renzo Gracie's promotion to the BJJ coral belt, an honor bestowed upon him by his cousin, the legendary Rickson Gracie, recognizing Renzo's decades of global influence.We also explore the business side of martial arts management as Open Black Belt announced the transformation of its product to Lotus by Open Black Belt. The new name symbolizes the balance between martial arts tradition and modern, cutting-edge tools designed to streamline dojo managementFinally, we recap the thrilling action at UFC 322: the undefeated Michael Morales (18-0) secured a massive welterweight TKO victory over Sean Brady in Round 1 and called out for a title shot. In championship bouts, Islam Makhachev dominated to win the main event title, and Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight title in a one-sided performance

This episode explores the expansive world of martial arts, featuring El Paso native Robert Arevalo's multifaceted career as a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Apache tribal chairman, and actor in Tulsa King who has trained Hollywood stars like Keanu Reeves, while highlighting the launch of the Armor of God Jiu-Jitsu nonprofit by veteran Dan Gandy to provide free mental health support and training for first responders struggling with PTSD, celebrating the competitive resilience of students who secured quadruple gold and the inspirational medal win by nine-year-old Lottie Peck just two weeks after being hospitalized with viral meningitis, and finally examining the argument that boxing needs to adopt a colored belt system to provide structured progress alongside the distinct "Oriental palette" aesthetics used in the fantasy drama Whispers of Fate. 🥋💡

This week, we grapple with the biggest headlines across the combat sports world, from high-stakes UFC title fights and historic returns to community-focused martial arts initiatives around the globe.UFC Blockbuster News: We break down the massive claims coming from Conor McGregor, who stated that his long-awaited return fight at the UFC White House event is a "done deal, signed, delivered", with Michael Chandler still being the targeted opponent. Plus, we preview the heated rematch at UFC 320 where challenger Alex Pereira hopes to reclaim his light heavyweight belt by defeating Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira acknowledged the "small story" and "rivalry" now exists between them and is already looking ahead, highlighting Carlos Ulberg as a rising contender and potential first title challenger if he wins the title back. We also cover Khalil Rountree's hope to avoid a "Violent, Bloody Fight" at the event.History on the Mat: We celebrate a monumental achievement in international sport as Himanshi Tokas makes history as India's first junior world no. 1 in judo. We detail the rigorous commitment, extensive planning, and use of psychological techniques—including working with a psychologist and practicing self-talk methods—that enabled her to achieve 100% mental focus despite frequent injuries.Jiu-Jitsu Community Impact: Finally, we look at how martial arts are shaping local communities:• In Barton County, instructor Nick Taylor is offering free Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes to first responders (including correctional facility workers and medical professionals) for the remainder of the year. This initiative emphasizes BJJ's focus on leverage and control to teach participants how to eliminate excessive use of force and control subjects with the minimum force necessary.• We visit D.C.'s Highstyle Jiu Jitsu—nicknamed the "hyena clan"—a small business dedicated to being a politically active community focusing on social justice causes. Founder Benjamin Lagos emphasizes creating a safe space for those hesitant about the sport's traditional "macho element", while teaching vital life skills like problem-solving and self-defense. The school offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and even hosts a queer fight club.