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[Benjamin Liu]

Back in the late 1980s or early 1990s I had an idea for the ideal practical MA/CQC magainze.

The writers would be people from various systems who took a practical approach as well as writers on firearms and tactics, maybe some useful survival info, and maybe a little bit of history.  No tournament results, no endless articles on MA celebrities, no product reviews, etc.

In 2002 I bought the Knife level 1-6 videos and got a free subscription to Hock's magazine and it was the closest thing to what I was looking for.  Later Hock put up the back issues to download for free.

IMO Black Belt still has a place, but like I said it is more for people looking to take up MA or kids who are trying to get something while they stry to convince their parents to sign them up at the local dojo.

IMO the magazine market's days are numbered.  Much of what I used to buy magazines for is available on online forums for free, and forums often are more up to date, have better quality info, and are more interactive.  People can write articles for years and not be questioned, or not have the letters questioning them printed, but a person who writes a post is often questioned the same day.

[Hock]

Eventually, almost all magazines degrade/de-evolve down into catalogs.
The market place does this.
Free viewing, not buying, thanks to chain bookstores, affects revenue. Leaves advertising the only hope.

Hock

[whitewolf]

I had just reread some of the comments about the makeup of BB and can it survive when my wife came home and gave me the latest edition (Oct2010)-I looked  though it and here are my thoughts on its makeup.
First-it appears that someone on the editorial staff has been reading the derogatory
comments and made some changes-(for the better).
Starting with the cover-it really stands out now-especially on the magazine rack.
I see that there is no mention of Mr Jim Wagner in this issue. (I never met him but
he did not impress me.)
The contributing editors are real professionals.
There are a lot of articles on different styles which makes for good reference material
Yes-there is a lot of advertising-but if you are looking for martial arts gear/reading material or schools its a good place to start out in your search.
Lastly what i do like is that various styles and teachers are being represented so there is something for most everyone.
I wish them good fortune in the future.
Whitewolf (el Lobo Blanco) speed of light

[arnold]

That's right! Plus it makes an excellent liner for my cat's litter box!

[robbhamic]

Agreed except that is expensive cat litter liner.. I would rather use my neighbor's news paper..

[whitewolf]

Its to slippery for litter box lining- WW

[arnold]

I don't buy it. I take it out of my neighbor's trash as use it for what it is intended.

[SileyEric]

Whenever I find a vintage issue of Black Belt, it's always fun to look through it.  It's cool in the same way 70's and 80's comic books are cool.

I had almost forgotten Hock's CQC magazine, which I enjoyed getting every month.  Much more useful, and more interesting sidebar stories about history, the military, and general "guy stuff."

[Keith Miller]

I recently downloaded the latest edition of Popular Mechanics to my iPad. Very cool, they understand what a digital magazine should be...very interactive with pop up graphs, inserts, and videos inside all of the articles. Like all PM editions, there was a project to build. It had a separate parts list, 360 degree interactive 3D model, plans and more! Freakin' awesome. I really think that the future of the magazine industry is digital.

So this morning I was reading this thread and went to download one of the old CQC Dispatches onto my iPad. Wow...this is the way magazines are meant to be read!

Hock, you should do an iPad version of the old magazine. Include videos and stuff...it'd be great!

[whitewolf]

Hock-Why did you stop printing your mag? Too expensive or people were not ready for it? Just curious-the way the guys were speaking of it you should try again (if you have the time)-I dont remember it but at the time you were making it I think I was pretty busy and probably drunk-WW (ELB) Speed of light

[Benjamin Liu]

If you don't have them you can download them here:

http://www.hockscqc.com/cqcdispatches/cqcdispatches.htm

[Hock]

Now is like the worst time in the world to start a new magazine, or to try to keep one going.
No matter the subject. Like newspapers, terrible business outlook.

Hock

[whitewolf]

Hock- understand-WW

[Hock]

An ipod version....hmmm, sounds like fun, but a lot of work.

I am trying to dodge a work these days. Failing at it. But trying. If I had a staff like Hugh Hefner and I mean exactly like Hugh Hefner? I might start with a lot of designated duties.

Hock

[sarguy]

I've loaded the PDFs of the old magazines into my wife's Kindle (mostly to see if they would turn out ok, partly to mess with her). Not bad. Handy to have around when I'm away from home and wanting to read something decent.

Hock spending time and money creating a publication or app for an I-anything? Please, no. Too much time and $$ tied up in app development. There's whiskey to be drank and books to be written. 

(I was happy to see Be Bad Now offered as a Kindle book. Hopefully it'll increase readership.)