"Defenders of the Flame" lighting the pathway for 52 Handblocks boxing

Preface
Over the last several years many “authorities” have come forth to try and discredit what we know as 52 blocks, Stato, Jailhouse Rock, or any of the other generational or geographic terms associated with this style of pugilism. While It’s modern roots can be found everywhere from breakdancing to professional boxing there are those who refuse to even believe it exists much less consider it a codified method of self defense. I can only speak on that which I know and while I am also a professional MMA and striking coach my core is Filipino Martial arts in fact =29 years and 3 generations worth of practitioners. To this end I would ask, what are the parameters set forth by the naysayers as to whether a martial art is considered legitimate?

Tribal structure the “Common Thread”
Before you set fire to my flag here, please take a moment to realize the commonalities in the two. To the case in point for people like Phil Elmore, FMA would not qualify as a codified martial art due either to lack of written records, scrolls and other circumstances which would seem foreign to those outside this culture and especially those in western mindset who need rational explanation of everything in their world. So too then would all of the martial heritage of Polynesia and Melanesia where oral traditions were the standard due to lack of written record.
This would conclude then that longstanding warrior traditions like Hawaiian Lua, Maori Rongomamau or Rakau, and many others of those regions are less than legitimate as well right? Wrong. Let’s first look at the similarities in societal structure where martial arts remain social, and are not so much rigid as methods of play and self defense handed down over generations under the watchful eye of an elder or big brother who will in turn add his personal “tricks” or flavor that have proven effective for himself over time. This is the same as traditional African methods of martial technology and is largely due to the history of tribal structure versus what we think of as contemporary Asian martial arts. In FMA you have what we call systems, but within systems you also have “styles” which often refer to certain methods of defense or combinations of specific techniques within a system. i.e ocho-ocho or “figure 8 movement” or Crossada or “crossing style” of play.

The Claim of Racism
So why then is it unfathomable to think that at least loose groupings of techniques herein called the 52 blocks could be passed down orally by demonstration, or mimickry through the "play" as stated before? I find it funny that Mr. Elmore referred to the 52 in context as a “racist martial art” due to the supposed opposition to teaching outsiders. Is this not the root of all martial arts? The term martial itself implies warfare and martial arts in this case, would be designed as a method of self preservation against an oppressor whether it be a slave owner or prison guards and therefore whomever was responsible for passing it on would be thoroughly justified in teaching only whomever they deemed worthy.

While I agree that the history is a bit hazy I believe that there are enough unrelated sources who have witnessed this style of play in action, or corroborated life experience either through training or otherwise over the years to deem that there are unmistakeable commonalities in the movements of its purported practitioners to support 52's existence. Even if it is a rebirth or revival of something thought not to exist, then why is the effort to propagate it as such not enough for the masses to qualify it as a martial art? In Cambodia and Thailand you have many trying to revive various older or near forgotten arts and they are considered legitimate. Lua was only rebirthed and reborn through Olohe Charles Kenn’s extensive work with his students Dr. Mitchell Eli and Richard Paglinawan and David Nu’uhiwa so why not 52? FMA continues to be rebuilt and modernized all the time because its dynamic and flexible adaptations to current environments and needs are the keys to it's effectiveness. One could at any point make the same arguments against other modern arts like Kapap, Krav Maga or even Aikido which was only born this century.

To the future
While I as a mere disciple of the craft of 52 and the sweet science of boxing agree that more research is necessary, that is for the black community to do This is their backyard, their treasure to unearth and revive, and their right to preserve what is theirs. All others should be honorable enough to respect that before anyone rushes out to discredit it due to lack of understanding. I am content to believe that many of the techniques contained within its categories are effective and viable and have been proven so for a long time whether it be in a 1920’s or modern era prize ring, the urban streets of 1970’s Bronx or Brooklyn, a beach in Gullah 100 years ago or today by the Constellation family who are now fighting hard to revive and rebirth this gift for the betterment of our youth.
End Note:
Playing the 5's along with my Filipino Martial arts has given me a fun spark, a unique yet familiar and well rounded approach to my boxing practice that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Peace be unto the elders and keepers of the flame good luck in your research.
Haumana/disciple The Ill-a-pino.