52 Blocks! African martial art or prison fighting system? With special guest Professor Moe 

No just no stop all the trying to make things sound deeper than they are this goes no deeper than foundation of black Americans creating a fighting system in prison. Stop trying to give credit to everybody else for what foundational black Americans make

It's not African it's a black American thing

There will always be similarities in arts that deal with pragmatic striking, and the defense of. Simply put fighting is fighting. The things that work will always be repeated in every art. The things that don’t work are always abandoned in every art. I challenge everyone to this. Name one art that and it’s pragmatic form(Street application) isn’t the same or similar to an another art……

@@TheMartialMaze Well, Ninjutsu Do is an art all its own. It's very adaptable. People even other well trained martial artists, think that it's just about sneaking up behind and killing people and that's as far from the truth as Earth is to Saturn! It's just about get in, rescue an abducted person, and get out! The weapons they used were for defense or slowing down their pursuer. That's why elite military forces all over the globe have employed their tactics.

@@TheMartialMaze Any word on whether or not Professor Mo is still teaching in the NYC area?

Sok Sok and pical.

@The Martial Maze things that don't work are not always just abandoned. Look at Tae Kwon do. Tornado kicks and 720 degree spinning heel kicks are not street or ring techniques. Tai chi and kung fu in general have A LOT that aren't practical. I can name techniques by the dozens. But, those techniques are good for other things, like building strength and training body mechanics. It's also not true that all styles will look alike. Even at its most basic - punching and kicking - tkd does not look like muay Thai. Power generation is different, which changes the whole technique. The biggest thing they have in common is that (if we are talking about old style muay) neither of them punch very much. Old Thai boxing had not incorporated western boxing and the hands are more frail and do less damage than knees, elbows and kicks, so they didn't punch as much. Styles from similar areas, however do tend to look more alike, as they influence each other. Tkd looks like japanese karate - but it also came from karate. Okinawan karate looks like southern Chinese kung fu - because it came from there. Muay Thai, Bando, Kali, etc share similarities as they came from southeast Asia. That being said, I'm not in any way saying 52 came from southeast Asia, but it's strikingly similar. Environment plays a role in that as well

Of course they respect you, I bet you're better trained for a hand-to-hand situation than a lot of cops. lots of precincts dont put enough time and money into that kind of training, but I think martial arts should be mandatory for anyone in your line of work.

@@murphylhunn Thank you for your kind and encouraging words! 🙂But at the time I joined school safety, we were a law enforcement division under the NYC DOE and not the NYPD. We were grandfathered under them in 1998. But I didn't wait for the DOE nor the NYPD. I took it up on my own.

Congratulations on intimidating school kids

​@@Snakz718U silly.😂

She’s hott.

any class/school in association Master Mo is worth while. speaking from exp

Much respect for your experiences and all the way you have made.

🔥🔥🔥🔥 1:17

We hear you. But I would definitely tell you to shop around. The fault I found with Gracie combatives curriculum, is that it does not address more than one attacker effectively(if at all). And you’re also fighting from the ground which as anyone who’s been in real fights can tell you. This is the one place you don’t want to be! Outside of sport. We know there are plenty of videos out there showing folks fighting one on one on the ground and succeeding.(always great for selling an art) But they’re also just as many with folks getting jumped(more than one attacker)or killed(armed attacker)fighting on the ground. Hypothetical: “If you need 3 to 4 points of contact in order to effectively sweep from your back an attacker on top of you. Then I ask what are you using to defend yourself against the other guy kicking you in the head?As a Judoka I do enjoy Brazilian jujitsu. I know that it comes from the ground fighting found in The martial art of judo. So I’m a fan. However I will leave you with this to meditate on. Where It’s good to know how to defend yourself from the ground. It is even better to know how not to be on the ground. Now that being said. The study of the martial arts is not a one-size fits all. Everyone has to find their own flavor. Brazilian jujitsu like with Judo are completely defensive arts. 52 blocks fighting system is offensive and defensive pragmatic approach to addressing violence. Different kind of flavor…….

Have you trained in Gracie Combative or any Gracie program?

Is this school still at the same location because I want to stop by and check it out

Kali is over 5,000yrs old, created by the black Philippinos called the Aetas(stated by grandmaster Tuhon Leo Gaje). As Kali modernized throughout the centuries, Jkd/Kali/Silat enthusiast Dan inosanto said it himself( I was there)that Kali modernized in 1899 when the black prize fighter's( whom where Buffalo soldier's)set foot in the Philippines, and influence their handwork amd the way they move. Philippino farmer's whom where Kali fighter's adopted their stances abd footwork( a lot of their Filipino hand techniques always have been influence by the blade itself). Most of them became prize fighter's themselves. He also mentioned that the h2h combat always existed in the Philippines before boxing wss introduce too them. The only thing new too the Filipinos is boxing. Despite the offense and defense tactics in 52. The techinques and method is purely created by the black prize fighter's whom created it. Despite the similarities of techniques of both 52 and Kali (Panatukan-Pagomot-Suntukan)? Despite similarities, both art's has its individual uniqueness.

Depends on the instructor/region

We’ll keep that in mind for future episodes during the filming of season two

@@TheMartialMaze cause I really want to take this art to the next level I fell in love to this art man it’s nice smooth and it flows

A great rhythmic art form that's what you get

No everything we do don't come from the motherland. That's your problem giving credit to other people for what fbas create. That's not wise

Give me a day to get back to you on that

Yea I’m in GA

We hear you. Professor Moe is the most known worldwide for the 52 blocks fighting system. At no time has anyone ever said he created the system. In fact in the episode he states that the 52 blocks came from Africa during the time of slavery.. We are aware that Professor Moe is not the creator of the 52 blocks fighting system. However with this being said. The 52 blocks system never had a syllabus until Professor Moe. However this is still up for debate.

@@TheMartialMaze lytle burly is world world recognize as the leader n 52 blocks do your research mr. Has been on NBC abc He has done seminars around the world He was just in Is Belgium A couple of weeks ago worldWhen you type in 52 blocks lytle burly will pop up on your search engine.

@@TheMartialMaze Also please if someone points out an incorrect statement that you've made just own up to it. Sensei Moe is known for more for his Kung Fu then he's 52 blocks sensei mo is respected well know martial artist i was @ one of his seminars I respect him . His not the father of 52 nor is he the MOST know for his 52 DO YOUR RESEARCH.

@@tonybreez2480 again. We hear you. However in reference to doing research. It was done. Many names come up when one googles 52 blocks. Which is why it’s up for debate. This might be because 52 blocks has many names that are associated with it. You say lytle, others say Moe…. And the great debate continues

@@TheMartialMaze I understand stand ? Did u pick mo instead lyte burly ?

Not good it's not an mma useful style from a grappling stand point from a defensive stand point ABSOLUTELY GREAT IN THE STAND UP GAME the actual blocks that's they use help immensely

There is no such thing as X martial art vs Y martial art

@@mysteriom1341 Have you ever heard of (SPARRING)??????? If you wondering why I asked you this question . Here go your answer. I'm responding to your comment.

It’s hard to compare both arts because The 52 blocks fighting system is designed for urban base combat offensively and defensively.(from what I’ve seen, and all the other examples you can find online).52 Blocks covers: Fighting more than one attacker, armed and unarmed Combative. I’m not sure what style of jujitsu you’re referring to. So in this case I’m assuming it must be Brazilian jujitsu. Brazilian jujitsu is a completely defensive art (which is why it’s so good for personal self-defense) However it only addresses fighting a one on one attacker. This was one of the downsides when including Brazilian jujitsu in modern army Combatives. No weapons. And no striking. At one point in time BJJ did address these things for the exception of more than one attacker. But from what I’ve seen in the United States like with Judo it is no longer practiced and has devolved into a sport.(so sad) there are some clubs/schools that still teach the old way but they are hard to find I mean extremely hard to find. Now in reference to original question how one would hold up against the other. That would come down to the practitioners from both arts. Depending on the skill level of each individual, and what type of venue. I would say that if it was in a controlled environment with rules Brazilian jujitsu would have the advantage. If it were life or death my money would be on 52 blocks. But again it all really depends on the practitioners……..

@@TheMartialMaze I will strongly disagree with you on that one Sir. I will like to see it tho. 99% of fight end up on the ground. So please asked yourself which fighting style is designed for the ground Jujitsu or 52. That's why I disagree with you Sir but again I would love to see that.

Black belt magazine

@@TheMartialMaze thank you

@Righteous Shadows Dojo did I ask you lil boy

I hear you, please elaborate

@@TheMartialMaze 52 blocks is a system thats been around since the slave times it has been called different things such as Virginia scuffle, stato fist, jailhouse rock and so on. it has roots in traditional African martial martial arts but the modern day styles come from guys who were fighters in jail(mother dear, old man sha sha, lord rahmel scott), boxers who added martial arts to elevate their styles(born justus, lyte burly, fleetwood mac), and from street fighting and knowledge( eric tweety, diallo fraizer, big ant) so while sensei mo is a master of 52 he isn't the father of 52.

@@MistyNightProductions we hear you…. Professor Moe is considered the father of the 52 blocks fighting system. This might be because up an til professor Moe there hadn’t been a complete Documented syllabus.

@@TheMartialMaze i still wouldn't call him the father because he didn't create the system. To say that he is the father would assume he created the 52 blocks but he didnt he is still an amazing fighter in the 52 though

@@MistyNightProductions There in lies the actual argument, Or debate. Some have made the argument that there was no organized system (syllabus)until Professor Moe. The term father of: This is likened to James Brown being considered the father of Soul. We know that there was soul music before James Brown. And there were others that were arguably much better. And yet the title still stands. There will always be a debate over who the title of father of 52 blocks belongs to. I guess at this point Professor Moe is the most known.

Cap

Black Americans created it

But you're right it's not African they try to African everything. But I don't believe in just calling an American prison style because that erases the black Americans who created I don't think whites were adding moves I don't think Mexicans were doing anything in prison it's pretty much just a black American

Yes

@@TheMartialMaze were in Africa what tribe?

@@jaren2159 That’s a great question. As a suggestion you might want to reach out to Professor Moe for the answer to your question.

@@TheMartialMaze thanks for responding

No it's not it's from America. Black Americans made it nothing ever comes from Africa black Americans always make new things and people attribute it to africa

Its probably based off of it

😂 foh it's a black American art form. Where is the videos of Thai doing this?

Definitely

Exactly black Americans made it and everyone keeps giving credit to africa for everything black Americans make

Black Americans aren't African

@Righteous Shadows Dojo some of it works like the skull and bones 🦴 iv tested it. The flow looks like kata dough

Some work, some dont

@@emiledixon7758 they can all work but... I'd say there are a handful of legit blocks with the bare knuckles

Gomez this was used on the streets and in jail just cause you can’t see it working means is working because you’ll be the one surprised by it.

Black belt in TKd under William Kim ...two time northern California champion... and for over 20yrs wasn't ever comfortable with cqc until I started dabbling in 52...

We hear you and thank you for commenting, We also think that would be a great conversation to have with Professor Moe

So where is it from,since you obviously know better?

​@@righteousshadowsdojopt.3979it's from America you know that. Black Americans made it stop trying to give credit to africa for everything black Americans make

@@jerrygraves6531 where in America and when?

NYC in the 80's.​@@righteousshadowsdojopt.3979