52 Blocks Official Page

What is 52 Blocks?
52 Blocks, the only existing martial arts form originating from the United States, originates from Caribbean and Southern US (Gullah island) warrior traditions. Similar to its Brazilian counterpart, Capoeira, the fighting style was initially suppressed during slavery because white slaveowners feared potential rebellions of disenfranchised African-Americans. After Reconstruction, the art form followed the African-American migration Northeast and into the margins of large urban centers. Urban prisons, because of their ethnic breakdown as well as their social code, actually provided a more fertile ground for the art to expand, especially in allowing novices to dedicate themselves to ongoing training intensively. It was within the prison system that 52 evolved, fusing with urban dance and boxing tactics. 52's predominance in the criminal justice system also reveals why it has been so obscured from the martial arts world and the world at large- in fact, the only aspect of 52 blocks to trickle into the mainstream has been its hip-hop offshoot break-dancing, which enjoys wide global popularity.

WHAT IS CONSTELLATION?

Constellation is a unity of three organizations (Fwape, Bartendaz and Adon) whom have come together to document, instruct and promote 52 Blocks in its fitness and combat forms. Currently we have operating factions around the world and we hope to expand further promoting America's survivng martial culture.

WHO IS DANIEL MARKS?

FWAPE is spearheaded by Mr. Daniel Marks, who has studying martial arts, including boxing, karate, jiujitsu and kali, for over 30 years. Mr. Marks, who possesses a Black Belt in karate, first heard of 52 Backs from fellow officers at the beginning of his decade-long military career in the 1980s and was intrigued by the genre but found that information and tutelage was scarce. After giving his all in the Army, in 1993 Mr. Marks moved to New York, pursuing a social work track and working a group home as well as completing a degree in Computer Science. A that point, he has been researching the culture and its connectors more intently, meeting with practitioners and recording their narratives piecing together the puzzle that is Black Martial Culture. Mr. Marks supports his passion and his research with earnings from his own LLC as well as his position within the field of high end IT technology and computer applications.

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