The Science of 52 Blocks in Norfolk, VA
Rooted in Afrikan and Black American culture, history, and values, 52 Blocks Norfolk, VA is a comprehensive academy designed to heal our community from racial trauma and historical suffering through learning Afrikan-centered self defense. 52 Blocks Norfolk, VA is purposed for the restoration (Sankofa) of an Afrikan cultural identity before slavery and colonialism. It is a combat science and an Afrikan way of life for the community.
What is 52 Hand Blocks?
Classes held across 3 locations: NSU, NSTS, Bainbridge
Email the52mentor@gmail.com for class times and locations
Spirit of Afraka
These are some of the words, terms, and definitions we use in Afrikan spirituality and martial arts.
Alkebulan - Ancient name for the continent commonly miscalled Africa.
Afraka (Afrakan) - “Af” means flesh as in our black and brown skin. “Ra” means the Ultimate Light which illuminates all things. “Ka” is the Living Spirit within all things. To call our Motherland Afraka and ourselves Afrakan is to connect our physical to our spiritual Afrakan Self.
To be Afrakan is not just about skin color and goes beyond race.
Nu Afrakans - Those individuals of African descent who are conscious and connected to their Afrikan ancestry, acknowledge their Creator through actions towards Afrikan unity, and live to pass on their knowledge to the next generations forever.
Moyo - Spiritual Energy
Yoruba:
Ija - Fight
Ijakadi - Wrestling, Combat, Fighting
Gidigbo - Wrestling
Ogun - Orisha of Warriorhood & Metalwork
Ori - Head
Ese - Punch
Onapasi - Kick
Egika - Close Quarters Combat Nille - Ground Fighting
Kemetic:
NTR - The All, the Father and Mother of all existence, infinite Consciousness
Ntru - Cosmic forces or Spiritual expressions of the NTR.
Ma’at -Kemetic Principles of Truth, Justice, Harmony, Balance, Order, Propriety, and Reciprocity
Montu - Kemetic NTR of War used to describe Afrikan Combatives, Wrestling & Fighting
Smai Tawi - Kemetic practice of energy movement and postures similar to Yoga
African Martial Art Styles
Some Afrikan forms of martial (montu) arts include:
Borey - Practiced by the Mandinka people of Senegal and Gambia consisting of knees, headbutts, kicks, and devastating locks/breaks
Calinda (kalinda or kalenda) - An African folk martial art which uses sticks and was developed in the Caribbean
Cocobalé (or Kokobalé) - An Afro-Puerto Rican martial art utilizing music, dance,rituals involving sticks or machetes. This art is accompanied with the Bomba musical tradition
Capoeira - Inverted Kicking, sweeps, upperbody stiking, and acrobatic dodging system
Danmye - From Martinique in the Carribean. Danmye uses kicks, head butts and hand blows and is similar in form and movement to capoeira with sweeps and acrobatic defenses
Engolo - Predecessor to Capoeira & practiced by Queen Nzinga of Angola
Knocking & Kicking - Believed to be descended from Engolo to the Americas
Mgba - Grappling system based on leg wrapping
Ijakadi/Gidigbo - Yoruba striking & grappling art
Dambe - Hausa Boxing from Nigeria
Musangwe - Venda People South Africa Bare Knuckle Boxing
Laamb or Lutte - Senegalese Wrestling
Tahtib - Kemetic Stick
Zulu Stick Fighting - Art practiced by Zulu people of South Africa
Khandeka - Slap Boxing & Stick
Istunka - Somali stick fighting
Haitian Machete - From nation of Haiti
El Juego de Mani - Game of War from Afro-Cubans
Reisy - East Afrikan form of combatives emphasizing head butting
52 Blocks - System founded by Africans born in the United States, Afro-Americans
Moraingy (Morengy) - Bare Knuckle style from Madagascar
Afraka, I never knew You
Africa
I never knew you in my innocence
Kind of naïve in a sense
Like a tender child torn
From his mother when born
So too, we were ripped apart
The memory of you, my lost ark
Of a covenant now broken
All because they turned
My MOTHER into a token
Afraka, I never knew you
You were sold to the highest of bidder
And yes, your beauty was to consider
Sweet to the touch, and easy on the eye
Countless the number of tears you cried
As he RAPED you in chains undignified
(till his lust was satisfied)
And sold your children around the globe
Who today wear your pain in a brown robe
Yellow, tan, brown, and all tainted skin
Lost and disconnected from their darker kin
Afraka, I never knew you
The dark continent they call you
Yet what can be darker than nothing?
No language, culture, or history
In the colored only memory
Erased by the white out called slavery
Still, I see you... Afraka
Beaming and shining in my sight
If you appear dark,
It's 'cus they're blinded by your light