Fightmonks.com - Questions and Answers

Asalaamaualaikim wa rahmatALLAHE wa barakat
Thank you for your detailed explanation, you seem very knowledgeable and I congratulate you Alhamdullilah.
I will practice this as much as I can and will keep you informed from time to time if you want me to.
I have a background in kick boxing but I have a passion for boxing so learning this art is a natural transition for me.
I would like to master this and pass it on. But as you know to learn something you must seek someone who mastered the art or anything else for that matter.
Any other gems would not go to deaf ears and would be appreciated, well anything to better myself.
Anyway my brother take care.
Jaza Khallah Khairan

Shah Alam

Asalaamaualaikim wa rahmatALLAHE wa barakatouh...
Brother thanks for your support and questions. Are you aware of
classical boxing footwork? There are two styles called orthodox and
unorthodox. (Right hand stance and left hand stance) I advise you to
practice boxing combinations from both stances. The basics are
practicing overhands, hooks and uppercuts. Then you want to employ
blocking combinations into the mix of punches. The bolo punch is
coming from the side at an odd angle. Practice this as well as stiff
arms in all directions. A stiff arm can stop someone dead in their
tracks if you understand weighting and rooting. I talk about this a lot
in my interview section about taiji and bagua. Read the Rogue Boxer
review and you will find a lot of details on correct rooting -
(dropping your unified body weight into and through the feet via
relaxation) Gain a conscious awareness of this weight in the feet.
This is called Central Unified Weight and can be used to manipulate
opponents with lack luster balance.
Now you want to practice your blocks and punch combos from both right
and left stance. The bum rush elbowing technique can transition off
of most of the blocks shown. The footwork for this is stepping forward
right to left, right to left etc. Classic boxing uses stepping and
sliding keeping the feet about shoulder width apart for good balance.
52 has no rules in stepping, although you must master the single
classic boxing stepping or you will get knocked off balance pretty
easy by a more experienced boxer. Also the foot work in an enclosed
space is right to left shuffle, remaining almost in the same place.
This means you will look like your doing a Latin dance going back and
forth with the feet. FWAPE has a good video of BIGK doing this in one
of their videos on Youtube under farris daniels account. They are NBE
or 5 percenters. I am a sunni Muslim ALhamdulillah and have a hard
time believing people think they are ALLAH. AstagferALLAH. I have
looked passed this point and have absorbed a lot their understanding of
something called supreme mathematics. Maybe you have heard of it. The
52 system is based on this principle although I am reluctant to reveal
it, since I feel it will further the support of a belief system that I
feel is Biddah and Shirk. I may try to camouflage this fact and use
simple lingo as not to draw to much attention to their use of lexicon
in their belief system.

In short it the so called wisdom or science
of 52 goes like this. The body when broken into four gates or sectors
forms 4 90degree angles like a Cartesian plane in math class. The
first actual block of the original system starts from the feet and
goes past the head. For instance in their supreme mathematics 1 is
knowledge. 2 is wisdom, 3 is understanding, 4 is culture/freedom 5 is
Power 6 is equality/justice-truth 7 is GOD 8 is Build/Destroy 9 is
Born/Manifesting and 0 is called cipher or completion 360 degrees.
How does this relate to 52? I will explain. 52 using their code system
means Power/Wisdom. The blocks are broken up from 1-0 using this
system. 1 Knowledge/Low guard against kicks 2 Wisdom Mid guard
against groin strikes and vitals 3 Understanding Hook guard with the
elbow and forearm tucked on the side of the head/chin tucked. 4
Culture/Freedom Single Elbow that uses agility and can cover blocks
around the head using a single arm technique. 5 Power- Double cross
arms across chest to protect solar plexus, neck, and chin from
uppercuts, this guard is power cause its called standing on the square
and all blocks and strikes can be accessed easily from this point. 6
is equality- double triangle guard opens up fast to both sides and is
used to create space against multiple attackers and protects from
hooks respectively, also elbows easily accessed at this point to both
sides equally. 7 is the high cross guard that protects the head from a
multiple of blows and weapons coming over the top. 8 is Build or
Destroy and is the double cross guard that has the hands open
protecting the ears shown in the second book. This is a last resort
coming out of the high guard and can be used to access stiff arms and
rolling punches or the arms can be swung down rapidly to adjust to low
blows and kicks. etc. 9 Is born manifest which is the double front
cover that boxers use against jabs etc. This is mostly used at a
transition point between blocks but should not be ignored as
insignificant. Finally 0 cipher or completion is the windmill which
swings around the top and down around through the bottom ending is a
double peek a boo stance. This is the science behind the art. All
these blocks can be explained to block or set up a block of one of the
four gates of the body. Split a man in two up the middle vertically
and then horizontally from the naval. These are the four gates. Just
when you thought it was already to complex. lol. There are variations
that I have shown in the books from these central 10 that I have
stated. The variations are shown in the books I have put out. The
science of transitions from blocks, punches, footwork etc. is a
personal journey that would just take a little practice and
experimentation. Get a sparring partner and work out with different
combinations. Don’t forget your back hands, stiff arms, elbows, punch
combinations, reverse punches, knee punches, thrusts, etc. I hope this
helps you out, and remember that balance is obtained through keeping
the legs shoulder width apart, and sometimes sprawling them out and
relaxing. Tai chi and bagua teaches balance and hip/torso flexibility
like no other art.
If someone shoots in using a wrestling technique, then use a single
downward elbow and if he gets in, drop instantly down to one knee and
wrap him up in a front choke. Check out IMmr52 on Youtube. He is the

best I have seen in the perpetuation of this art form.

Have a great night!
ALLAH ARRAZAQ

William,basiclly I'm trying to find all the info i can on the underling principals of 52 blocks/jailhouse.i know alot of the footwork involves an imaginary square and keeping you opponent within his square. if you have any info or can lead me on the right path to find legit info i would greatly appreciate it- thanks for your time,jeremy bromwell-also do you know this style(52)

Yes I am familiar with this style of boxing. It was said to have been started by the 5 percenters, but i have talked to Mr Daniels and he claims its a ancient African art. I doubt the later claim, since I have heard of old timers talk about how it was called Comstock, and Jail house rock in the 70's. There is also a version that i learned of it called Bum Rush. This is a combination of blocks and elbows coming in at a rapid pace and literally Bumrushing the opponent. I was contemplating writing a short ebook on this style although it may cause me alot of controversy since this seems to be a very in house style. I can tell you that it is boxing at its best, from my perspective. The whole square idea is actually Masonic and the 5 percenters seemed to have been created as some kind of freemasonic offshoot. IN any case I understand the principles of this art and all the blocks and faints that it presents. There is a gentlemen on youtube this goes by the name of IMmr52, and seems to have the most genuine version displayed on his page. The only thing that i don't see him do from the pre 52 era (Comstock) is the Bumrush. They are trying to keep this secretive and a man that goes by the name of Big K is probably one of the best alive at this. The problem is that they don't want to show the masses, since this is the bread and butter of inside fighting. I will try and put this together in a short ebook on this style of boxing. Time willing. Some of this art i covered in Combat Geometrics. The key is that blocks morph into punches and blocks morph into elbows at close range. Hip Flexibility is must as well as great footwork and leg strength.. watch Immr52 and see that he changes from right to left stance almost without thought unlike a traditional boxer. Also in 52 the boxer wishes to attack the whole body from head to foot at different times depending on timing. I don't wont to get on a lengthy tyraid so i will leave it at that.. I hope that helps.

william,
thanks for the info. if you do write that ebook shoot me a email so i can grab it. i have seen immr52 on youtube. but immr52 and lyte burly put out a dvd on 52 and the next thing you know immr52 is saying that lyte burly does not know 52 and now he is buying out his own dvd on 52.suposidly immr52 taught lyte burley but i don't know it all kinda seems like a money racket between the 2 of them. thanks again jeremy bromwell

The problem is that no one with knowledge wants to step up and just teach the real skills of the art. They want to shroud it in mysticism and what i call BS false knowledge. I have also followed Lyte & FWAPE over the years to measure any real time progression and what i have found out is that there is no REAL 52. It started out as JAILHOUSE ROCK and COMSTOCK STYLE, ATL SHUFFLE ETC. There was a video by FarisDaniel that was out a while back that had BIG K doing the BUM RUSH technique. It might be on their BREAKING THE GLASS DVD. It is like watch the TAZMANIAN DEVIL throw elbows and blocking while moving in with a rapid cadence. Also FWAPE teaches body positioning, such as knocking your opponent off balance at close range using elbow blocks and turning the waist. The techniques are solid but could be advanced with knowledge of simple balance and rooting drills. I still don't think they have that knowledge yet, but they do understand controlled breathing and mental projection.

william,

thanks for the info i ordered the break the glass dvd to see if there is any good info on 52. if you decide to write that e book let me know cuz i definitely would like to get it. in your last email you talked about the feints in 52.if it is not to much trouble would you mind explaining a few? if not i understand and will be waiting to here about that ebook.do you live near maryland?if so maybe we could get together so i could learn some of the 52 i would pay for your time. thank again for your time-jeremy bromwell

general use feinting as a way to see how a boxer will react. In 52 The real objective is like boxing but the cadence is a little different since a real jailhouse boxer will come in with punches and then at short range use multiple elbows. The turning of the hips, timing and positioning are very important. A simple feint would be to fake a jab coming in and then change into a raising elbow with the same arm. Alot of boxers like to fake the jab and then hook with the same arm. Another would be to fake the overhand punch or cross and then use a uppercut hook with the other arm when the opponent ducks down or bobs and weaves. A good fighter to study is Floyd Mayweather. He always stands to the side and crouches down to his right and uses his left arm/elbow for blocking and creating space. This is to his advantage since is this coiled position is right overhand is most powerful and hard to see coming. He knocked out Ricky Hatton when Hatton thought he would go to his left, or Mayweathers right as he usually does and then Mayweather stepped to the left and caught him with a check left hook. In 52 the swinging of the arms quickly and precisely causes most opponents mass confusion. The forearms and elbows are the key to blocking so a 52 player should train his forearms extensively. Finger push ups, weighted rolls, Squeezing a tennis ball etc. Pullups are the best for this and also build the back, chest, biceps and shoulders. Great exercise and its the one of choice for inmates. When you understand how to keep your hands up, the basic blocks of 52, and good footwork, then you can get creative with the feints. The combo's are endless, but you should really work on waist flexibility. Its the Axis for big punches. Stand shoulder width apart, and throw overhands right and left, hooks right and left, and uppercuts right and left- twist the waist for each punch, right,left, right, left. This is basic, but most people don't work enough on it. Also foot work- work on the right and left stance. Forget about a square - just divide a person in two sides. Stay on his right or left, and never remain in his middle area. If your legs are spread correctly then you can pull back quickly and bob and weave. Check out Mayweather vs Zab Juddah. both of them have 52 knowledge. The advantage of 52 or street fighting is using elbows and back hands. You can throw a over hand and then rise up with the same arm and back fist a person. Its kind of corny but if you watch the Karate Kid movie 2 or 3, (I don't remember which one) Mr miyagi takes out that little wooden dummy noise maker and spins it and tells daniel that this is the secret to fighting. then Daniel uses right to left hooks uses his waist as the axis. this is actually correct. Well i have said alot. lol Hope this serves you well.

william,

thanks for the info.I have been practicing the the combat geometrics, the stuff in there is solid. My 5 yr old boy is into ninja's and he has been learning the fist couple moves,stances and exercises. In combat G the due guards and the stances are they fighting stances or ready positions or are they reference points for you to use your tools from? I have been wondering why they call it 52.I have heard things dealing to 52 cards in a deck. How many blocks are actually in 52? Sorry if i am bothering you i am just really interested in the ideas of 52 boxing, with the elbow strikes and blocks in close quarters it is amazing. Just let me know though. Is egypt nice?how long you lived there? thanks again! JEREMY

ANSWER-

I enjoy answering inquiries since its the least i can do for all the support of my customers. The Due Guards and stances all have reason. The Due Guards are idle stances for breathing and centering focus. Some of the stances are also blocks and positioning moves.

In Baji the players use a low wide stance to knock their opponents off balance. Low and wide gives good natural balance, but it is not the pinnacle of balance. There is another level of rooting that takes place no further than shoulder width apart. I have met few that understood this. .....Thats cool that your little boy is starting his training young. If you work on his structure and flexibility on a regular basis he will have a great understanding of self defense one day. If a person works more on striking drills then balance and structure, then he is putting the carriage before the horse, so to speak. This was the purpose of Combat Geometrics was to focus on things that can give you balance and flexibility. I feel boxing is the best for working on striking, and If one adheres to relaxation and control, then his power will be apparent. I do hope to set my sights on a 52 boxing ebook that focuses solely on strikes and blocks. I have heard many theories concerning the origins of the name for 52. I know that inmates take a deck of cards and assign different exercises to card suites. They mix the deck and then pull a card. If its a 10 of hearts. Then they would do like ten push ups, if they assigned pushups to hearts.etc. They would do between 20-50 reps for face cards.

Its probably a code of sort and has nothing to do with the amount of blocks. Like 50 is the police, "52" is probably just a code set for the practitioners. Also "Blocks" may be in reference to "cell blocks" . All of this stuff came out of prison culture and the era of Wing Chung and bruce lee. Also if a person is handcuffed there is only so many striking options a person has against a security officer. So the pyramid blocks, closed arms across the face, cross bones blocks etc. are all things that can be used while handcuffed. Elbows, Double arm strikes, and kicks are the only tools of offense while cuffed.

In your site you describe yourself as "I am also a 52 boxing specialist" Can you tell me who you studied

with and for how long to obtain this level of competence . Also where did you learn as I see you are from Egypt?

Nice to meet your David!

I have a rather unorthodox track history considering I have no certificates or papers to prove my competence in 52 Boxing. I was able to obtain inside knowledge in this art due to my constant training and inquiring into the wide range field of self defense. No one could consider themselves an expert without having multiple tests by other certified experts. I have done this by sparring with many boxing and Gung Fu experts. I was given a e-mail of recommendation into self defense mastery by the Vice-president of the Chen martial arts society in Beijing, China. I don't like to toot my own horn, and actually preserve these arts for my own health and well being. I may be getting of track here, so the only thing that I can say is I was shown the inside techniques of 52 Boxing. I have spent the last 2 years of my life to bring them into a form of mastery. My knowledge of other fighting arts enabled me to memorize and understand the underlying factors in 52 Boxing in a short span of time. I teach self defense here in Cairo, Egypt. I always tell acquiring students to take a free lesson and see what I have to offer. I feel every person should spar with a teacher before paying him money for classes, since a person may have acquired skills that out weigh the teachers. I have been in this situation myself and wouldn't advise anyone to follow someone blindly.
Thanks for your question!

Sincerely,
William Beattie

Thanks for the reply.I only ask as I have personally trained in 52 in NYC with Lyte Burly and am sure it would take more than 2 years to become a specialist.

Do you have any videos on youtube of you using 52 or on DVD?

Did you learn any razor spitting aspects?

Many thanks

David

ANSWER-

David,

I currently have no video online as I am not promoting myself in this fighting genre. I have in the past posted short videos and have received violent threats against me from 5 percenters that feel the art is only theirs, so to speak. I am working in the e book trade, and I currently have a book on 52 that I am sure you are aware of called, SOUL ON ICE. This book shows most of the 52 Block moves, although I left out a few techniques in relation to feints and punches. The moves in the book are solid fundamentals that anyone could use to improve their boxing game. Talent, Speed, Footwork, Timing, and Power are relative things that not everyone has, so for this reason I don't promote this system as being the end all in the fighting game. Heart, Mind & Will Power are elements of self defense that no one can gauge by videos and pictures alone. I don't pretend to be the best fighter in the world, but at the same time you can bet the barn that I would never get humiliated. So as far as the technical side of 52, I would consider myself a specialist, just like a Boxing Trainer that's not the best pugilist in the world, but he can help produce some of the best.

I may be coming to France soon, so if you day you wish to exchange information, I have no qualms with that. Free of charge. I do this for the love and make mere pennies off my site that affords me an occasional night out for dinner.

In relation to spitting blades and things of that nature I am not very interested in this aspect. The best defense against this is to invest in a small wooden club about 2 and a half feet long that can be concealed along side your pant leg. Two of them would be ideal against a single (or multiple) knives and blades.

Great to hear from you!

Cheers,

William Beattie

COMMENT-

Thanks for the explanations ,I have the book and saw some things I recognized and others I didn't

No Problem,
I have some friends that live in the UK, and maybe one day we will cross paths.
Its a small world. I will be putting together a short clip soon, that
will include all the things in the book, and a few more things that I
couldn't include due to their complexity.

Keep in touch.
William

Well you never know when we might meet.I'd be interested to see that clip if you could send a link when its ready.I have a short clip on youtube username dink1973dink and a longer clip of training on Lytes site 'dink comes to NYC' .Best wishes for the future ,.David