52 Blocks The Art Of Defence

I was introduced to Fifty-Two Blocks when I was twelve years old. Later, when I moved to Manhattan, I met Rhamel Scott, who taught me his form of Fifty-Two Blocks. With his blessings, I bring you the much anticipated street/prison fighting system, Fifty-Two Blocks. Besides Fifty-Two Blocks, I've spent 3 years doing Rimbukyu, 3 years of Boxing, 5 years doing Tai-Chi, Pa-kua and Hsing-I, and can say Fifty-Two Blocks is a very good and effective self-defense art for the common man.

An African American fighting system of blocking punches with your forearm and elbows. Dating back to when slaves were first institutionalized evolving in the ghetto's and prisons of America, having been influenced by uprocking (break dancing), pimps and boxers. Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight, was known as one of boxing's greatest defensive fighters. Having fought on what was known as the Citlin Circuit, where ten black men were blindfolded and the last one standing being the winner. Jack Johnson would win these fights and in doing so discovered a science in blocking punches with his elbows. Since a strong defense is better than a strong offense, 52 blocks uses its defense as its offense by catching punches on the elbows, which can seriously injure the hand. It also uses an array of feints so you can set up an opportunity to punch or strike with the elbow. Slaps have also been known to be used. Glass Man, Mother Dear, Fat Cat, Penguine and True-God are the most known to have developed excellence with this system.

52 blocks is a old art that has its roots in prison fighting and boxing used by earlier black fighters such as Jack Johnson, Peter Jackson, Sam Mcvey, Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Georgie Bentton, Joe Gans and many more.
And to clarify its roots in prison, do not be confused this is not the art of thugs, there have been criminals who became proficient in this style but its jail backgrounds go back to the days of slavery where fighting in tight quarters developed techniques of blocking with elbows if your hands were shackled.
Head movement and footwork was also used, most believe footwork needs a large space but true footwork can be used in large areas effectively as in tight cramped places. My father who spent some time in jail said he met a guy they called chicken neck all he would practice was bobbing his head side to side he was said to be very hard to hit and when black boxers were allowed to box theses moves begin to be implemented and changed to fit boxing rules.
It continued to evolve through the sixties, seventies and eighties where it was well known to be used in street fights with the range being bigger then prison cells it was once again improved on to fit this situation and a lot of what is thought of by some to be excessive arm movement is actually clever feints used to distract before attacking similar to the principle behind three card monte and the defensive shapes were given extra moves according to the user
Just as mother dear took the concept of catching a punch and turned it into the catch and kiss where he caught your fist and then for bragging rights would kiss it then throw the knockout strike some think this wouldn't work but the principle behind it is effective and simple after catching the punch the kiss being such a bold move disrupts your opponent and takes his mind off the incoming strike this is like throwing keys in somebody's face and then hitting them so the art of 52 is defense footwork, feints, slips, ducks, blocks, interceptions is trained exclusive as you train your offense LGD.