Bishop Chronicles: Thoughts on PE Booting Flavor Flav + Lost Int. w/ Eddie Bravo!

Adisa the Bishop talks about his recent trip to London and his reflections after watching Hamilton while out there. Then he takes a deep dive into the split between Chuck D and Flavor Flav after Flav did not show up for a Bernie Sanders rally. Then he shares a 2014 never before heard interview with American jiu-jitsu legend Eddie Bravo shortly after his rematch with Royler Gracie.

The new episode is up! Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Mixcloud right now. Everyone else can visit www.bishopchronicles.com to listen!

Adisa Banjoko Hosting Talk on Hip-Hop & Martial Arts June 30th 3-5 at Oakland Museum!!

Saturday, June 30, 2018, 3–5 pm

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In Hip-Hop culture, the barbershop is known as a community hub for news and debate. Inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, gather around the Barbershop space inside the gallery to learn from guest speakers focusing on new topics each month. Explore unexpected aspects of Hip-Hop culture. This month’s theme is Hip-Hop & Martial Arts, featuring Gene Ching, Publisher of Kung Fu Tai Chi & kungfumagazine.com, and Adisa “The Bishop” Banjoko, Founder and Executive Director of Hip Hop Chess Federation. 

Included with special exhibition Museum admission. There is an additional $4 charge for special exhibition RESPECT. Advance online tickets are available; choose your date and desired hour of entry.
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We also have some other special guests coming through....Don't miss this one!! 

Modern Violence and the New Era of Young Bulls

Modern Violence and the New Era of Young Bulls

By: Adisa The Bishop

Mr. Miyagi mentors Daniel in The Karate Kid

Long before a lot of people cared about NHB (no holds barred) or Vale Tudo (anything goes fighting)
I wrote a piece for a small MMA publication called Vale Tudo News. As a new white belt I was loving jiu-jitsu but
deeply troubled by the lack of philosophy that worked to balance such a dangerous art. I don’t remember my exact words but
I said something along the lines of “ Without a solid philosophy the people learning jiu-jitsu
and MMA we will have a country of bulls with no brains or sense of moral duty.”

While it was well received by some, by many others it was just the whining of a new white belt who
wished for teacher and pupil scenes from Kung Fu TV show. As I trained in jiu-jitsu I read books like
The Art of Peace, The Art of War, various Taoist and Confucian, Christian, Sufi and Buddhist texts.
It helped my understanding of jiu-jitsu, violence, non-violence, emotional control and other areas of
my life. I believe without question those years of personal cultivation have made me a better student, t
eacher and overall human being.

Despite taking the super duper slow route I am now a brown belt under my instructor Alan “Gumby”
Marques at Heroes Martial Arts. I teach chess fused with jiu-jitsu to help people cultivate body and
mind simultaneously. I currently teach high school, and college courses on chess and jiu-jitsu. I also
teach an all ages class on the weekends. I find it very rewarding personally, but I also see impact in
both young and adult lives. Some teens I mentored are now graduating from college and thanking me
a lot. Others are just finding their self esteem and trying harder in school. Others are just making
better decisions as they do their 9-5 thing.

The other day I was really shaken. I learned a student of mine (who trains in MMA and aspires to be
an MMA champion as an adult) . He was accused of intimidating and threatening a teacher who is
an elderly woman. I was really confused by the incident. I thought when I met him that because he
already did martial arts that he was well acquainted with philosophy. As it turned out he was not.
Additionally, he is a borderline average student. Even in my class. He aspired to little more than
MMA. Skillwise, he certainly has a decent base but it will remain to be seen if he has what it takes
in the long run to get to the top ranks of MMA. I thought we would bond.
I found him helpful when it was time to do jiu-jitsu demos. From time to time he was a helpful at
getting other kids to be inspired about training. More often than not though, he was largely out to
lunch academically.

I was very disappointed in him after I learned about the incident. I asked him about what happened.
He was less than truthful initially about what he had done. After I told him I had several witnesses,
he admitted what happened. I told him about the difference between being a martial artist and a
fighter. I explained a martial artist is trying to cultivate their mind and heart- not just their bodies.
I told him a fighter is just looking for a check, a mercenary of sorts.
I used Bruce Lee and Jon Jones as examples of each (Jones being a fighter).
I could not help but wonder if his martial arts teachers push aside philosophical discussions so
they can get another round in on the bags.

He was unremorseful about the incident. His lack of remorse scared me more than the incident.
Further he admitted he had wondered about if he was a fighter or a martial artist and he said he
saw himself as a fighter. I explained that fighters last only as long as their body holds up but
martial artists help the community through their teaching and training of others. The boy
blinked at me silently with a minimal sense of remorse or desire to lift up his character.
Not only did he not care that much, his desire to pretend he cared was equally low.
I realized I was looking at one of the young bulls I wrote about all those years ago.
Digital tools like Worldstar, YouTube, Snapchat and
Instagram fights add to the emotional vacuum our young people live in.

As I left school that day my hope was that he changes. He is young, so,
the potential for change is great. When I was his age, I did did a lot of reckless things.
Things that made it so nobody I grew up with back then could evision me the way I live now.
At the same time I can’t help but wonder if bulls I spoke of years ago are starting to stand up.
Is he just one kid in the new era of morally unreachable young men who happen to train as fighters?
Without using Eastern philosophy, meditation, chess etc. to balance out the martial arts training,
we can only expect more of these kinds of incidents will become commonplace in our society.

HHCF Teams w/ Deus Fight Gi's for The Oakland (Silver and Black) Gi.....

HHCF Teamed up with philanthropic jiu-jitsu brand Deus Fight for a new line of gi's. The Oakland gi, is made in the warrior tradition of the Raiders as well as a reminder that Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back had a Silver and Black side to the Album....Proceeds from the sales of the gi will benefit the HHCF Chess and Jiu-Jitsu Initiative. Get one today at www.deusfight.com  Special thanks to BJJ Legends Magazine for connecting our orgs for the greater good of our children. When we say our children, we mean all children. PEACE! 

D'Juan Owens is the Perfect Storm:Chess Player, MMA Fighter and Bboy!

 Fresh off his high octane submission victory over Myron Baker in Odyssey Fights, we got an exclusive interview with D'Juan "Dirty South" Owens. In this interview we look deeper into the connections between chess, music and martial arts. He also has a serious background as a Bboy (thats Hip-Hop dancer for you squares). He blends the wisdom he gets from the rhythm of fighting, dancing and playing chess. It gives him and edge that makes him a cut above the others in MMA today. D'Juan Owens is truly the living embodiment of everything HHCF represents. 

HHCF: I know you're a serious chess player, and a real beast in MMA. Can you tell me about the places you see overlap between MMA and chess?

D'Juan Owens: There are MANY aspects that I believe overlap between chess and MMA! I believe that self-confidence, and belief in your skill may be the most crucial. Regardless of how bad your position is in a bout(or a game), the fight isn't over, until it's over. If you're still in the fight, you should be striving for a path to victory. 

HHCF: You are also a real Bboy. The old school Kung-Fu films inspired a lot of dance moves as well as the psychology of battle. Can you tell me for you personally as a dancer and fighter the areas of overlap that affect how you approach both paths?

DO: When it comes to dancing and fighting, I see both as an extension of our personality. The rawest form of expression. Obviously, the more skill you have, the more ways in which you can express yourself. When I'm dancing, I want to paint a picture. When I'm fighting, I want to display the beauty in martial arts. Of course, there's a danger-element in fighting though, and winning is priority. But the more efficient I am, the more likely I am to win; and there's beauty in efficient combat.

HHCF: What are your favorite martial arts movies?

DO: My favorite martial arts movie is definitely the Shaw brother's "Five Deadly Venoms"! "Shaolin vs Lama", and Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" are my joints too.

HHCF: You just came off an awesome victory in a Jiu-Jitsu super fight at the "TORO Cup". Tell me about that match and the plan you put in action to win?

DO: I competed against a really slick 10th Planet guy. He'd been tearing up the local tournament scene lately. I watched a few of his matches online, and I saw that he was VERY good from the lockdown position. He submitted a black belt who I knew was really good, so I knew it would be a tough match. I figured if I could stay away from his lockdown and whip up transitions, and steer the match toward more traditional positions, then I would have an advantage. I was in fight camp for an MMA fight so I knew I would have a cardio advantage. We battled for position for the majority of our match, but eventually I got the pass, and won by kimura from the reverse-triangle position.

HHCF: A few MMA fights back you lost a decision to to Luis Felix in CES. You seem to have bounced back from the loss with new fire, refined focus and ability winning your last two fights by submission. Cuban chess Grandmaster Jose Raul Capablanca said something to the effect that it's the losses that make you a champion. What changed in you after the Felix fight?

DO: After the post-fight gorging ran it's course, I changed a few things in my nutrition and training regimen. I started really focusing on improving my wrestling, and getting serious about my diet. Honestly, I went into that fight on a great winning streak and I was feeling myself a little too much. I wound up having basically a "fat-camp", instead of a training camp. I have the BEST support system so after about a month of moping around, I got back in the lab, and back on the grind, and we've had great results since.

HHCF:  Wait, before I forget, what are some of your favorite Bboy jams to dance to?

DO: When I was really about that bboy life, I used to LOVE "Funky Lover"  by eruption. I can't control myself when I hear it! I don't care if I'm in a three-piece suit, or a scuba diving suit. If that joint comes on, I'm definitely throwing down on the spot!

                                                           Rock out for a bit to Eruption

HHCF: I know you were in NY last year and played some street games out there. Because of your MMA you have been able to play street chess all over the world. Tell me some cool stories about playing chess while traveling. What has chess taught you about other people? What has chess taught you about yourself?

DO: I went to NY earlier this year to train at "KINGS Thai Boxing" with my muay thai coach Aaron. He knows about my passion for chess, so between training sessions one day, he took me to Central Park. We planned on getting our hustle on "White Man Can't Jump" style, except with chess [laughs] . Long story short, I played  3 people who had tables set up, and beat them all. The guy who actually made a decent wager with us, looked devastated after he lost. He was pretty good, I'm assuming around a 1800 level. He was an aggressive attacker; but reckless. He banked everything on that attack, and when it failed, his defenses were weak. Aaron and I looked at each other after the match, and I KNEW that we were thinking the same thing....I couldn't take this guy's money. This was his livelihood. Seriously, this is what he does. I told him to keep the money, and he gave me a half-hearted laugh and said "next time"... but I FELT his relief. On the way back to the gym, Aaron and I  joked about it, and wound up having one of the best conversations about life that I'd had all year.

HHCF: What are your plans going forward in 2016? Any last words?

DO: In 2016 I plan on going even harder on the MMA grind. There's not a doubt in my mind that we'll be in the UFC in 2016! In the meantime, I'll keep loving my family and friends, forging new business relationships, helping my community, being an asset to all of the organizations that we work with, and most importantly, continually striving to be the best human that I can be. 

HHCF: I want to give a PHAT shout-out to The "Hip-Hop Chess Federation" for putting in the REAL work for our youth. I'm honored, and proud to be a part of that work. GET FAMILIAR!!!

THIS JUST IN: D'Juan Owens will be coming to the HHCF HQ in the Bay Area in December 2015 to do both Bboy and MMA/Jiu-Jitsu seminars....We will also be hosting a panel about dance and martial arts with some of the top fighters and dancers in the Bay Area. More soon!!!! 

HHCF Film Project Looks Pretty Crispy

A very cool film on HHCF by college student Tommy Liu. We think it came out great!!! A fantastic way to start 2015!!

MMA Fighter D'Juan Owens on Chess, Hip-Hop, and Martial Arts

MMA Fighter and BJJ Purple Belt D'Juan Owens

D'Juan "Dirty South" Owens is an MMA figher and BJJ practitioner fighting out of Durham, North Carolina. He also happens to be a phenomenal Bboy and chess player. The HHCF sponsors him now. We wanted to introduce you to one of the upcoming starts of MMA.

HHCF: Where are you originally from and how did you first get into chess?

DO: I'm from a small town in Mississippi called Pass Christian. I was introduced to chess at a young age but initially I regarded it as any other board game. I didn't fall in love with chess until I was about 12. When I was in the 7th grade I was sent to ISS one day. As you know in ISS there's no playing, talking, or getting up from your seat. That day the original warden wasn't there, and  a young substitute allowed us to play chess after we were done with our work as long as we kept quiet. With no other options for entertainment, chess got pretty serious. I knew how the pieces moved, but like most novice players, my tactics and strategy was pretty basic. Being competitive middle school kids, myself and about 4 other kids played through lunch and when I went home that night, chess was all I thought about. The next day I went to the school library and checked out a book entitled "The genius of Paul Morphy". After reading that, I was hooked.

HHCF: What were your earliest memories of the martial arts? What were some of your heroes?

DO: My earliest memories of martial arts would be watching old kung fu movies with my father.  "The 5 Deadly Venoms", and "Shaolin vs Lama", were two of my favorites! I remember going outside and punching, jump-kicking, and doing what I thought were katas for hours. As far as heroes go, when it came to martial arts at that time, I only looked at it from an entertainment standpoint; so Wesley Snipes would probably come closes to what I would consider a hero to me then. It felt good to see someone who looked like me taking bad guys out.

MMA fighter and old school Bboy D'Juan Owens

HHCF: How did you first get into Bboying? Who were some of your heroes?

DO: I remember being fascinated the first time I saw bboying. I was about 8 and I was flipping through channels and I saw "Beat Street". It just happened to be at the classic scene where hey were battling at the Roxy and I was enthralled. That was the first time I saw someone do "windmills" and it seemed magical to me. My love for Bboying grew as my love and understanding for (real)Hip-Hop grew. When I met Allure from The Mighty Zulu Kings, she started me on the path of bboying as a lifestyle, as opposed to simply a dance to become good at. There are many pioneers of bboying that I respect but Kmel from the Boogiebrats stood out for me.

 

HHCF: What made you decide to get into MMA and what has it been like, mentally speaking to prepare for fights, etc?

DO: I was exposed to MMA when I was younger by my father who was always a big mma fan. He rented the first couple of UFC's, his buddy Tim would bring his VCR over so they could double tape. I wasn't a big fan initially but around 2005 I got into it when the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" aired on Spike TV. At the time I was in the Marine Corps and my roommates and I would always talk about how "we could do that" etc. In 2006 while deployed, I met a pro MMA fighter named George Lockheart in the ship's gym. I saw him destroying everyone on the mat and I asked him if he wanted to wrestle. Of course I got absolutely destroyed. That was the first time I had ever grappled and I had no clue as to how helpless a man could be against someone who trained. I never wanted to feel like that again; so I decided to take up mma for a hobby when my contract was up.

I've been a pro for 4 years now so at this point fighting is like breathing. I enjoy all aspects of mma and I see fighting as putting on a display of martial skill. The only thing I find tough about fighting is dieting, and cutting weight. Again, I'm from MS and we love to eat!

                                              MMA fighter D'Juan Owens playing chess in Peru.

HHCF: Tell me about your time playing chess in the military?

DO: My schedule was less demanding at that time so I played and competed MUCH more often than I do now. I was a 2x Camp Lejeune Chess Champion in 05' and 06. When I was on a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) in 05', I won the only chess tournament held on the ship and it felt great to represent for my unit, and for the enlisted marines :)

HHCF:  Have martial arts, chess and Hip-Hop done anything to enrich your life?

DO: In more ways than I can explain. I've made friends and acquaintances from every walk of life imaginable. A common passion, or pursuit of a common goal (especially an obscure one) can build the strongest bonds. Each of these transcend racial, cultural, and economic barriers. Because of these arts, I've been introduced to intellectual and physical competition. To compete and win is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. Contrarily, coming up short is humbling, and the best teacher....or so they say lol.

HHCF: What artists do you listen to the most when you are preparing for a fight?

DO: I love listening to REAL Hip Hop. Anyone from Yasin Bey (Mos Def), Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, The Roots etc.....BUT, when I'm training, or lifting, I want to hear the most ignorant/ratchet and crunk rap possible. I listen to T.I., Young Jeezy, and if Rick Ross comes on while I'm sparring..........yiu better ask somebody.

HHCF:  Do you currently teach chess, bboying, or martial  arts in your spare time?

DO: I've taught bboying(breakdancing) in the past in Durham and Hilsborough NC. Sometimes I help with classes at the MMA Institute where I train if one of the instructors can't make it, but I'm usually training and being coached. I've also taught chess for Big Brothers Big Sisters of  Durham, and given chess lessons at the Durham regional library.

HHCF:  Any last words? How can people get in touch with you?

DO: I want to say much love and respect to everyone out there striving and grinding!!! Fight for your goals, dreams, family/friends, and ideologies. Lastly, this Ghandi quote always applies: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world.."

You can contact me through my personal, or MMA page on facebook at: D'Juan "Dirty South" Owens.

WATCH: New Christopher Woon Film Showcases Hip-Hop Dance and Jiu-Jitsu

This is a great short by Christopher Paper Son Woon. It highlights the path of "Boogeyman" a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu champion and champion Bboy (Hip-Hop dancer). This is a very unique but amazing film and if anything it proves that there is a beautiful path for people of all walks of life. Everybody in the HHCF loves this flick and we hope it helps open more eyes to the potential of converging arts. PARENTS: There are a few curse words, be aware. Kids, get your parents permission. 

Chess and Jiu-Jitsu: Destruction of A Guard

Chess and Jiu-Jitsu: Destruction of A Guard

By: Adisa Banjoko, Founder of Hip-Hop Chess Federation  

I play chess, but my past is checkered/ The mic and I are like staff and sheppard/ When I apply science, my maths perfected, gotta move with proper tools for task selected - Ka, Peace Akhi

In the interest of furthering the discussion on chess and jiu jitsu, I wanted to share a reflection I've given thought to for quite some time. I find the connections between chess and jiu jitsu fascinating to the mind and enlightening to my heart. The interconnectedness between these arts and sports has given me much genuine inspiration over the years.

Recently I have been combing through tons of old DVD’s and  of VHS of classic jiu jitsu matches from the late 1990's. I’m talking about early matches with legends like Roleta, Marcio Feitosa, Mario Sperry, Terere, Jacare, Saulo Ribero, Fabio Gurgel, Gordo- all the OG’s. Its really exciting to observe how certain techniques disappeared while others stay or evolved. I have to assume that looking back in chess history certain evolutionary themes rise and collapse over time. Nevertheless some elements never will never die.

In chess, there is a theme called Destruction of a Guard (or removing the guard). Essentially it’s a tactic where you focus on attacking the pieces that are protecting the bigger pieces you are going after. Maybe its a knight in front of a queen you hope to capture. There might be two pawns and a rook preventing you from getting to the king. The process of capturing those pawns and rook, or getting them to move off of the squares they are on- is destruction of the guard.

Jen Shahade has a great chapter on this topic in her amazing book Play Like A Girl.

When people watch MMA and BJJ, there is a correlating physical position call “the guard”. Traditionally it's called "the closed guard" where one person is on their back (with a person on top of them, who is attacking) but the person on the bottom has both of their legs wrapped around their opponents torso. This takes a lot of mobility away from the person on top and leaves them vulnerable to direct attacks and reversals. For the person on top, until he or she gets past the person on the bottoms legs, it will be almost impossible to win. They must “destroy the guard”, commonly referred to in BJJ as “guard passing.”  I should note that there are many guard variations outside of the closed guard including "open guard", "butterfly guard", "X guard" and "rubber guard" among others. Each have their own nuances that turn every match into a positional  minefield (much like chess).

The jiu jitsu player on the bottom wrapped his legs around his opponent's torso securing the closed guard.

Here are some easy to understand examples of the countless elements of guard passing in jiu jitsu.  Jason Scully also has a cool video about guard passing that shows you many of the positional variations  when passing someone's guard. Having clarity in the full balance of power within the position, understanding threat assessment and your opponents  potential counters are key. Destroying the guard on the chessboard or the mat can be tricky at best, dangerous every time and if done without full focus- absolutely fatal.

A secondary theme in the concept of “destruction of a guard” in jiu jitsu is when one opponent is on top (after passing the guard and transitioning to the mount) and is trying to secure an armlock. However, his/her opponent (knowing they  are in danger of tapping out soon) defends the armlock by grabbing their opposite arm, or gi to prevent hyperextension of the elbow joint. Ryron and Rener Gracie have a fantastic presentation on various tactics people use to defend the armlock. Their video is a perfect illustration of the destruction of a guard.

Womens MMA sensation Ronda Rousey breaking the defending grip of her opponent to finish the armlock.

Without question the parallels between chess and jiu jitsu are as numerous as the potential moves within the two arts. I will post more on this relationship soon. Feel free to email me about your thoughts on chess and jiu jitsu at bishop@hiphopchessfederation.org!

HHCF Philosophy: 64 Squares in the Cipher

64 Squares in the Cipher

By: Adisa Banjoko

 

    This set can be purchased at www.thechesspiece.com

 

“I don’t play either side or the king, I play God / Heavenly wars played out on hand carved boards / Rakaa’s many moves ahead, learned to sacrifice to win / Angels share the tables with the ones that lived a life of sin.” - Rakaa Iriscience, 64 Squares in the Cipher

        People close to me know that my chess-playing skills are nowhere near that of a master. My friend once rightly joked “You are easily the worst chess player to ever make the cover of Chess Life magazine.” He’s right though. My game is at the level of a guy who likes chess, but never really pursued it on a competitive level. My addiction to the game came from the philosophy I got from the outcomes of the games I played and watched. That, and the fun I have irrespective of the outcome.

     For some intermediate and advanced chess players this seems to be a source of deep frustration. No matter what I do, or the members of this organization there is constant complaining about my rating, or the ratings of the rappers,  MMA fighters or jiu jitsu players who support HHCF.  I think the thing many of the chess players from this group lack is a greater understanding of the game on a social and cultural level. They are so obsessed with the game they love that they see any attempt to “alter” its true nature as an offense to something they are deeply passionate about and skilled at playing. In their obsession however, they miss the cultural essence of chess on a global scale. The international appeal of HHCF confuses so many “serious” chess players. So let me share my vision more fully for those  unclear on thee concept. Let me also say that I realize this is not an easy concept to grasp and I don’t fault anyone for not knowing the converging histories of Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts in America. But I lived this, with millions of other people, so, I know its real and I have seen the fusion enlighten and inspire.

    I think I saw something that said a little more than half a billion humans can play chess around the world. Now sit back and think to yourself, “How many of those people are active competitors who plan on become masters?” The answer after a few seconds should be a resounding “Almost none!” People love the game of chess because its fun. The games you play with your brother before leaving to school. The game your grandmother won that made you cry when you were 9. One night my wife and I were given a free weekend at a lavish hotel in the silicon valley. We were going to go to a restaurant, hit the club and stay out till dawn. That is what we initially told ourselves. We spent hours of it sitting in a hot tub locked in 23-hour chess battle on the 64 squares. The water got cold.  We took the game to the main room and stayed up till after 1am trying to win—that’s the chess I’m about. That’s the chess this planet enjoys. So few can remember if granny was breaking out the Kings Indian on them. Nobody remembers if they used the Sicilian Dragon on their opponent in that lunch hour. They just remember the fun. The purity of the fun and personal connectivity in that moment means more than any sheet of algebraic notation.

    At the same time, let me say without reservation that if it were not for those that seek to take chess to the highest heights from a competitive and academic perspective, the casual players of the world would have nothing to aspire towards. Players like Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Jennifer Shahade, Irina Krush, Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashley are the living cornerstones we stand upon even when we don’t know it. They must all be properly acknowledged for what they have achieved. It is no small thing.

          Nevertheless, I’ve played games with Hip-Hop stars Casual, RZA, Traxamillion, Amir Sulaiman I will never forget (I often came up short). One time Big Rich and Balance brought some husky Russian dude to play me at a restaurant. It was electric. This summer I played an amazing game with a young San Jose rapper named Society. It was such a positionally close game II named that match The Battle of Tai Chi. Our positions were so mutually intense and the pressure so high, we were both sweating and thinking and rethinking our moves. It was like a  match between Tai Chi warriors in a Jet Li film. The HHCF tournament at Rock The Bells ended with a street dude from Compton challenging a classically trained player who had just ethered everybody and the dude from Compton won. Off the hook. You can’t make these things up. It’s real life, its real chess and just because the players or fans can’t list the name of every opening or endgame strategy does not make it less legitimate.

         At Hiero Day 2013 in Oakland, HHCF had a table of chessboards set up right next to the All Tribes Zulu Nation booth. After Ronnie Lee and I set up the tables, we just walked away and it automatically was packed with players. Boyfriends lost to their girlfriends, strangers clashed leaving fallen opponents lost in mental anguish and some just passed by to learn the game. I played  nasty battle with rapper/educator Jahi. We had been trying to catch up to one another for years (life gets in the way, things fall apart) but on this day we vowed to play. It was stressful for both of us. Crowds swelled to get a peek at the tactical exchange. When it was over, we were all laughing and talking about opportunities taken, missed and lost. Then an Ethiopian college girl walked up and asked me how much it cost to play. I’m like, “Chess is free.” She just nodded and pointed as if to say “Move then.” I knew she was a killer from her question. She came after me like the blood of Queen Nzinga pulsed in her veins. I was a goner for sure. Then, daybreak! A missed opportunity to check me put me in a position where I had to check her repeatedly into a mate or perish. I  pulled it off, but my mind was jello after. I needed a sandwich and some ice tea to recover from those matches. Whoever said chess is only a game for your brain, surely lied. Your whole body feels the stress.  

I saw rap producer Ronnie Lee go head to head with some Latino street dude just as my game ended. Ronnie is a way stronger player than I am. This dude came in and started throwing pieces at Ronnie so hard (it was his last game of the day) and Ronnie was positionally on the ropes. Slowly though, the guys aggression caused him to poke holes in his own structure trying to eat Ronnies pieces. I saw him snatch a piece of Ronnies with a grin that soon dropped his jaw. The guys knight was now too far away to protect his king. He knew Ronnie was going to ride his castes down the H file and end it. He shook his head, laid his kind down. “Good game, man” he said with a smile and shook Ronnies hand. Thats the chess we seek to promote. That human chess.

          Observing the landscape of the jiu jitsu and in the Hip-Hop world, I find people of similar mind states. They are so in love with the purity of jiu jitsu, Rap or b-boying that they cannot see the connections to chess and respect it lightly because of a line from RZA or Jay Z or 50 Cent. I have said from the beginning that this organization is not for everyone. Not from a place of arrogance or exclusion, but, from a place of intellectual insight. The self-discovery that comes from playing chess, listening to Rap music and training in jiu jitsu and studying the philosophies from those paths has already altered how we see ourselves, humanity and art. Who knows what this fusion will unveil to us through consistent exchanges of intellectual, artistic and physical improvements?

    You gotta have an open mind to roll with HHCF. If you are locking into the path of the 64 squares only- the HHCF may not for you. If your love for the gentle art or MMA is too narrow to see anything else- I encourage you to keep walking. If you are all about your rap ciphers but you can’t see past the 5 elements of Hip-Hop- HHCF might not be your thing. We are an organization of people who know they are not one trick pony’s. We know that we are all connected.

This fusion of art and logic, of mental and physical combat was meant to unite people within. Then that unity should flow outward their local and global community. It was meant  to unify the minds of young boys and girls to inspire them. We hope to enable them to be able to  manifest whatever vision of themselves resonates within their heart. That is it. So if you want to know who the members of the HHCF are- look out your window. Now look in the mirror. Welcome to the HHCF.  For more information on what we do and how we do it, visit www.hiphopchessfederation.org . Educators who would like an HHCF branch in your area please email contact@hiphopchessfederation.org