Top 10 Covers of Inside Karate Magazine: #6: Female Action Stars

In the early 1980s, there existed a magazine called Kick Illustrated. It was the world's premier source for photos of kicks. But its editors weren't satisfied. They dared to ask the question, "What if?" What if there was a magazine that pulled back the veil not just on kicks, but on punches. On grapples. On open-fist palm strikes. On throat chops. And so was Inside Karate magazine born.

Inside Karate, or "Karate Inside Karate," as its own covers seem to call it, combined all the over-earnest badassery of late-20th century martial arts with the zazzy, breezy coverlines of a city magazine. That combination, much like a combination of strikes followed by a triangle choke, turned Inside Karate into this world's preeminent printed publication and earned it a stranglehold on the martial arts community's reading circles until its untimely demise in 1999. Did readership really dwindle? Or was the new century simply unprepared to coexist with such a kickass periodical?

Don't be fooled by copycats like Professional Karate or Karate Illustrated. They have neither the high-quality karate action photography nor the deep-diving karate action features to compete with the marketplace leader. Join us as we count down the best magazine covers in karate action history.

It's not 1952 anymore. This is the '90s. Our females want to have it all. They want to be action stars. They want to want to wear silk karate gis with a bedazzled fringes. And they want to wear makeup and jewelry while they kick dudes straight through the Inside Karate logo. And why shouldn't they be able to? Females can do anything––even go one-on-one with Don "The Dragon" Wilson, if we're reading this cover correctly. Does this mean that "The Dragon" is against the idea of females being action stars? Find out... inside!

Are your kids having trouble paying attention in school? Not to worry! Just use Tae Kwon Do on them until they shape up! For the record, we're hoping that Tae Kwon Do is also the cure to the Delayed Death Touch.

Also of note: Another point in favor of grappling. And if the Boston Crab isn't included in the list of Unbeatable Finishing Holds, I'm canceling my subscription.

Plus! Inside Karate finally defeated Inside Tae Kwon Do once and for all, and, after eating its heart, has now usurped its power!


Think you can do better? Study the cover archive here and show us your moves!