From Black Belt to Zero: A True Story (sort of)

From Black Belt to Zero: Johnny’s Story follows the journey of Johnny, an idealistic martial artist who challenges a world where martial arts have become a theatrical farce. In a not-so-distant future, students are handed black belts on their first day, choreographed techniques dominate tournaments, and physical contact is forbidden. Johnny’s skepticism grows as he witnesses the hollow spectacle, and a fateful accident leads him to discover real, functional techniques. Branded a heretic, Johnny is demoted to the lowest rank and banished by the pompous Grand Poobahs Council (GPC), a group clinging to tradition over truth. Undeterred, Johnny exposes the ineffectiveness of their methods, sparking a global rebellion. Disillusioned students abandon their schools, pillow-fighting leagues rise as absurd alternatives, and the GPC struggles to rebrand itself in a desperate bid for relevance. As the martial arts world collapses under the weight of its hypocrisy, Johnny’s ＂Practical Combat＂ movement thrives. Teaching authentic, functional techniques, he inspires a new generation of martial artists who value substance over spectacle. While pillow-fighting mania sweeps the globe, Johnny continues his quiet mission, knowing that for those who seek truth, functionality will always matter. A humorous and heartfelt satire, this story explores the fight to reclaim meaning in a world lost to pretense.