Description
Collector's Note – Why This Issue Matters
The December 1987 issue of Inside Kung Fu reflects a mature stage of the American martial arts magazine boom, when kung fu, karate, kickboxing, and related fighting traditions had already moved far beyond niche curiosity in Western popular culture. By the late 1980s, martial arts magazines served as reference points for practitioners, film fans, instructors, tournament followers, and readers interested in the discipline, performance, and philosophy behind Asian fighting arts. As part of the wider field of collectible 1987 magazines, this issue belongs to a period when martial arts publishing was still deeply tied to both training culture and screen-influenced performance culture.
The featured name on the issue is Philip Wong, identified in the listing as a world-class performer. That phrasing is important because it places the issue within the performance side of martial arts visibility, where demonstration skill, athletic presentation, and public exhibition helped introduce kung fu to broader audiences. While the listing does not confirm specific article titles or interview details, the cover emphasis on Wong suggests an issue shaped around the artistry and public presentation of martial arts as much as its combative application.
December 1987 also sits near the end of a decade when martial arts had become firmly embedded in American entertainment, fitness, and youth culture. Publications like Inside Kung Fu helped preserve that moment in print, documenting the figures, styles, and visual language that defined the era for serious readers and collectors.
About the Publication
Inside Kung Fu was a specialist martial arts magazine aimed at practitioners, instructors, competitors, performers, and enthusiasts interested in kung fu and the wider martial arts world. Its editorial identity was built around martial arts personalities, training concepts, style coverage, demonstrations, photography, and reporting from the broader fighting-arts community. During the 1980s, it occupied an important place among readers who wanted focused martial arts coverage rather than general sports or entertainment journalism.
Key Highlights Inside
- December 1987 issue of Inside Kung Fu magazine.
- Features world-class performer Philip Wong according to the listing title and description.
- Associated with late-1980s martial arts culture and the growing Western audience for kung fu.
- Listing notes the issue includes martial arts-focused articles and photography, though specific interior article titles are not confirmed.
- Newsstand copy noted with no mailing label.
- Protective plastic covering is noted as part of the condition description.
Condition & Rarity
Collector evaluation for this issue should account for the stated good condition, with minor edge wear and slight cover imperfections typical of a late-1980s magazine that has been handled over time. A newsstand copy with no mailing label is often more desirable for display because the front cover remains free from subscription-label placement. The protective plastic covering is also relevant from an archival standpoint, as it helps reduce additional surface wear, edge rubbing, and handling damage. For martial arts magazines of this period, complete pages, stable binding, clean cover presentation, and limited edge wear are key factors in assessing long-term collector interest.
Looking for More Issues Like This?
Specific late-1980s martial arts issues centered on named performers can be difficult to trace once a collector is searching by exact month, year, and featured subject. Readers interested in the same cultural moment can browse the broader 1987 magazines collection for related publications from the same year.
That wider year-based collection is useful for comparing how martial arts, entertainment, sports, and pop culture were documented across the magazine landscape of 1987.