What's with Martial Arts Magazines these days?

[Kymus]

Originally posted by GeneChing
(and we'll never exhaust Chinese history).

That is so true Gene. With thousands of styles and China being basically the oldest still-living civilization, you really can't run out :-D. You have a good point when you talk about having to have a knowledge base with something like this. I guess to have a decent MMA mag you gotta have a lot of people from different backrounds huh? You guys do an amazing job with KFTC, I've loved it since I first saw it 4 years ago (or was it 5?). Keep it up man

[phantom]

I second the thanks for your response, Mr. Ching. I really miss M.A. Training magazine. Always presented good ideas to help you with your training. To a somewhat lesser extent, I also miss Karate Illustrated and Inside karate magazine.

[GeneChing]

...that wasn't the reaction I was expecting, but it's sure appreciated. We'll keep the nuggets coming.

[Kymus]

How about every tells Gene how great and wonderful he, and KFTC are? Lets see how many shades of bright red we can make Gene turn!

[GeneChing]

...but if you really want to be flattering - subscribe!

[Kymus]

Originally posted by GeneChing
...but if you really want to be flattering - subscribe!

I already have a 2 year subscription and bought almost $300 worth in equipment in Oct. I think that makes me good for atleast a year

[GeneChing]

You flatterer you.

[Kymus]

Originally posted by GeneChing
You flatterer you.

I couldn't resist. 1 year I could afford, 2, well, I shouldn't of spent that extra money, but the "Got Qi?" shirt made me do it.

[rogue]

(and we'll never exhaust Chinese history).

And if you do, we'll just make up some more.

[GeneChing]

Indeed, we fight a two-front war here at Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine. Ain't no place I'd rather be.

[norther practitioner]

two-front

Two front!?

Come on Gene.. admit it.. you were surrounded before you even realized you were starting.

[GeneChing]

For a publisher, it's the only future and the past. The moment is too fleeting.

When you publish a mag, you become a little unstuck in time. For example, you all will be seeing our new issue on stands in a few weeks - it's scheduled to go on sale on 4/6/4, our subscribers should go out this week or very early next week. Of course, we've already seen the advance at the office. This is the May June 2004 issue (and today is the day after St. Patrick's Day). We're currently working on our July Aug 2004 issue, which ahs been in production for almost four weeks already. And next week, assuming everything goes according to schedule, I'll begin advance work on our Sep Oct 2004 next week.

I'm not even sure where the moment is anymore. Not very Zen, I know... The real hardship of practice is the intrusion of the mundane.

[Kymus]

Gene, someone needs to make you a little program where you just click a button and that will have the direct link for the product. Someone wants a <a href="http://store.martialartsmart.net/45-84wu.html">Monk spade</a>? no problem, just click monk spade and the link is given to you . If I ever get better at programming, I'll see if I can whip one up for the he|| of it.

[Ben Gash]

KFM is the ray of light in my CMA mag starved world. The magazines in England are pathetic, totally driven by advertising, and not wanting to know if someone doesn't have an advertisement with them. Some of the people they big up are complete jokes, but they bought a full page ad.
This isn't restricted to MA mags as this link shows
www.edromanguitars.com/rant/magazine.htm
but I think it's somewhat sad that this culture should thrive in a martial arts community

[GeneChing]

kymus - how's that different then this? I'm mean call let's a spade a spade...

ben gash - Thanks for the kind words. I don't fault other mags for promoting their advertisers. We do it too. At least the advertisers give something back to the mag. We've promoted a lot of masters over the years and more often then not, the masters seem indignent about it. Maybe that's not the word. Controlling. They want they 'image' to be portrayed in a certain way, which often translates into "show me for the GOD that I am". It's amazing how many times we get stung by people that we try to do a little favor for, then they get all huffy because of some trivial detail. It gets tiresome. At least the advertisers put their money down.
Actually, that's one of the advantages of our mag - we don't rely on outside advertising, so we don't have to cater to that. We just promote who we like.