Forgotten Fury: Racism and discrimination in martial arts-Part 2

Originally published in the Amsterdam News, 2010 by Nigel Clarke (Clarke Illmatical)

"Racism does exist in martial arts and it is worse today, than it ever was before!" This was the statement that was vehemently made to me, when I visited the home of Ronald Duncan, a Black man who is regarded by many as “The Father of American Ninjutsu.” Ninjutsu is the traditional Japanese art of espionage, stealth and assassination.

Individuals who practice this art are known as “Ninja.”

"I was the first one to publicly do a Ninjutsu exhibition, in New York at the Americana Hotel. It was called "The Orient vs. America." This was the first time ever, Ninjutsu was shown, alive and breathing... this was 1967." Despite this, the person who is widely acknowledged as the first American Ninja is a White martial artist named Stephen Hayes.

Duncan enlightened me regarding racism in martial arts and that the major contributor is the martial arts media, specifically Black Belt magazine. After a successful Ninjitsu presentation at the Manhattan Center in 1968. Duncan was questioned and insulted by the editor and original publisher of Black Belt magazine, Mito Uyehara.

Although the magazine is now operating under new management and editorial staff, it was governed by Mito Uyehara through the parent company, Rainbow Communications,

from the 1960s to the '80s. At the end of his presentation, after being congratulated by the majority of those in attendance, including some who are Japanese, Duncan was questioned and insulted by Uyehara. Duncan recalled Uyehara's words, saying "Duncan, who taught you Ninjitsu? You're not Japanese! You're Mickey Mouse! Who gave you the right to do this anyways?"

That incident would be the end of his relationship with Black Belt magazine. After a series of conversations with martial artist Frank Dux, I began to understand the financial agenda of the publication. Although it has presented itself as the magazine of record in martial arts, the magazine was used as a promotion tool for individuals with whom the publication had book con-

tracts. In addition to Black Belt magazine, Rainbow Communications also owned and operated Karate Illustrated and Fighting Stars magazines.

A featured martial artist would appear several times a year on one of the three magazines and at the end of the year be featured in a book published by O'Hara Publications, which was also owned by Uyehara.

Gordon Richiusa, a contributing writer with Black Belt magazine, was told that he could not publish a story about Frank Dux because of their relationship with Hayes. "We have a contract with Stephen Hayes that says we can't publish anything about any Ninjas except for him," said Richiusa.

Ronald Duncan represents a class of accomplished martial artists who haven't received proper acknowledgment, because of their ethnicity. For too long, entities within the martial arts media have contributed to racism, distorting the truth for self-serving interests.