Black Belt's founder and original editor, Mitoshi Uyehara, was an avid martial arts enthusiast who practiced judo and aikido. A team of advisors was assembled consisting of dan (black belt) holders of judo, kendo, aikido and karate. These advisors provided the magazine with a resource for trustworthy accounts of the traditions and techniques of authentic martial arts while helping to weed out what was bogus and unreliable.