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! 

HHCF Community Education Center Grand Opening August 16th!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Contact: Meek Gaborski

contact@hiphopchessfederation.org

Hip-Hop Chess Federation Celebrates Grand Opening of Community Center

HHCF Celebrates Community Education Center August 16th

July 15, 2014 - San Jose, CA- The Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) is proud to announce it will host the Grand Opening of the HHCF Community Education Center. The event will take place Saturday August 16th at 3396 Seldon Ct. Fremont, CA  from 1-6 PM.

The HHCF Community Education Center will focus on teaching K-12 youth chess, martial arts, Hip-Hop dance and competitive cheerleading. They will be offering additional after school mentoring and tutoring programs throughout the school year launch in Fall of 2014. The HHCF will also be hosting regular panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with leaders education, art, nonviolence, technology, chess and martial arts. For the last 8 years the HHCF has brought rappers and chess players like RZA, IM Josh Waitzkin, Sons of Anarchy actor Emilio Rivera, Immortal Technique, IM Emory Tate, Rakaa Iriscience, DJ QBert and others together with the youth to spark deeper levels of intercultural education and community engagement.

“The HHCF Community Education Center will allow our staff to help young people improve their grades, sense of purpose and physical attributes ” stated the organization's Founder Adisa Banjoko.

HHCF Director of Education, Arash Daneshzadeh stated “  The HHCF Community Education Center will give young people a place where their minds can truly thrive free of judgement and actualize their academic goals. Our fusion of Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts are built to inspire positive thought and action. We are thankful to all those who have helped make this day possible.”

1:00 PM-  Doors open, open chess gaming, open jiu jitsu mat and music by DJ Don Mega of All Tribes Universal Zulu Nation Chapter

2:30 PM-  Adisa Banjoko Grand Opening  Remarks    

3:00-   HHCF Raw Cheer exhibition + Akoma Arts Hosted Capoeira Roda + Future Arts Now Hosted All Styles Dance Cipher

5:00-  Performances by Shamako Noble & DLabrie, Nim One and more TBA

6:00 PM-  Closing remarks

In related news, the HHCF is currently running a free chess camp in San Jose that was funded by the City of San Jose’s Safe Summer Initiative Grant. Additionally, HHCF Founder Adisa Banjoko is currently serving as an Education Consultant to  the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis Missouri.  The World Chess Hall of Fame stated their exhibit will “delve into the overlapping cultures of Hip Hop and chess through the exhibit Living Like Kings. Hip Hop and chess share a rich history—as cultural touchstones, tools for community building, and avenues for understanding.”  The Living Like Kings exhibition will run October 9th 2014 to April 26th 2015.

For more information on Hip-Hop Chess Federation Grand Opening  RSVP Here or follow @realhiphopchess on Instagram for more information.

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!

Rapper Kalhi from Street Games Vol 1 Drops New Round 1 Mixtape !!!

When the HHCF dropped the Street Games Vol. 1 Mixtape with DJ Rob Flow, there was a huge positive response around the world. Nobody expected a profanity free mixtape to be so lyrically aggressive and educational. Rapper Kalhi, based in Geneva Switzerland had arguably one of the mixtapes most standout tracks with A Technical Flow which featured UFC Coach Ryron Gracie. If anyone had any questions about the connections between Hip-Hop, chess and jiu jitsu- he answered them!! Kalhi recently dropped a new mixtape called Round 1 which you can download right now! In the tradition of Gangstarr, Nas and others he gives his heart to the mic. Its a very impressive mixtape in terms of its production and lyrical content (though kids will want to get their parents permission). In this interview we talk about the impact rap had on his life, being raised between The Bay and Geneva, his love for martial arts and his plans for the future.

Where are you from.and what are your earliest memories of rap?

I was born in Berkeley California. My father is from the Bay Area but my mother is from Geneva 

Switzerland. When I was a few months old, my parents decided to move to Europe, so that’s 

where I grew up until moving back to the Bay at 18.

My earliest memory of rap was when I was about 5-6 years old. A friend of the family got me 

my very first album as a gift, it was Mc Solaar (french rapper who you might know from a Guru 

feature back in the day). No turning back ever since… 

I understand you learned English from Tupac and Nas albums? Is that true?

Yeah in a sense that’s true. I definitely got the basics from my father speaking to me in english 

as a child, but the way I talk and especially the way I rap was molded from listening to Pac and 

Nas mostly for sure. That’s why I can say that in a sense I learned a lot of my english through 

hip hop and movies. 

What else have you learned through Hip-Hop?

I really feel like Hip Hop was my third parent in a sense. I was conscientious enough as a kid 

to pick the right artists to listen to, but I learned so much I wouldn’t be able to list any particular 

thing. Hip Hop IS part of me, and who I am period. Hip Hop helped raise so many kids, and I 

was no exception. 

Tell me about your latest project?

I have a mixtape coming out at the end of january 2014. It’s been a LONG time coming! I’ve 

been rapping for about 14 years on and off, but never took it seriously until last year. This 

project is my “baby” in a sense. This one sets the bar for what’s to come this coming year for 

sure.

You also have a history with martial arts. Tell me about that.

Hip Hop and Martial Arts are the two main pillars in my life. If you want a common denominator 

to anyone I have met and done business with or anything in between for that matter, you can 

literally trace it back to either Hip Hop or Martial Arts (specifically Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu). 

I started my Martial Arts journey when I was 6-7 years old with Judo…then stopped after a 

couple years to play soccer (like every kid in Europe), but got back into it with kung-Fu when 

I was 11. From there, I heard about Muay Thai when I was 14 and never looked back! Fast 

forward to 2007 when I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team. Since then, 

I’ve been training mostly Jiu Jitsu, but was also teaching Muay Thai at Jake Shields MMA gym 

while I was a student at UC Berkeley.

You got a huge response from the CTRL Industries ad. Did you expect that?

To be honest I didn’t really know what to expect. But one thing I knew for sure is that it’s really 

difficult to mix rap with a certain “sport” and not make it sound all corny and wack…so I do feel 

like I was able to bridge the gap between hip hop/chess/and martial arts on that one song pretty 

nicely, while still keeping the true essence of Hip Hop intact.

Any last words?

I want to thank all the people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I want to thank 

my family and girlfriend for always being there for me, and my close friends as well. I also want 

to thank everyone around me who’ve been supporting me from day one, they know who they 

are.

Download his new mixtape Round 1 at www.kalhimusic.com 

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

Every parent MUST watch this!!

Much love and respect to Ryron, Rener and Ralek. The Gracie family, the Gracie WAY saves lives...See just one right here.

CTRL Industries & HHCF Present Rook II Video "A Technical Flow"

This is a video celebrating the fusion of chess and jiu jitsu by CTRL Industries clothing and the nonprofit 501(c)3 Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF). The song "A Technical Flow" by Kalhi illustrates the powerful connections between chess and jiu jitsu. CTRL Industries makes premium kimonos and t-shirts for those who love the jiu jitsu lifestyle. The HHCF fuses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence to at-risk, gang impacted and gang intentional youth. 

"Chess is jiu jitsu for the mind. Jiu Jitsu is chess for the body" is a teaching from HHCF founder, Adisa Banjoko

The essence of the story is the journey of the student Yin Dumela (white belt in the white gi) learn the essence of technique from is instructor David "Canada" McLeod (black belt in the black gi). The represent the beginning and the ending of the path in jiu jitsu. The chessboard serves as a secondary tool for the student to understand his lessons on the mat. More than chess or jiu jitsu, this video is about the friendship between a student and his teacher. This video was written by HHCF Founder, Adisa Banjoko and Chris Nguyen. It was shot at Heroes Martial Arts in San Jose, CA by Chris Nguyen and edited by Christine Nguyen for Christine Anne Nguyen Photography. 

The song "A Technical Flow" was preformed by Kalhi profuced by Joey Wunluv and mixed and mastered by Lawjazz. A complete version of "A Technical Flow " will be released on the Hip-Hop Chess Federation digital mixtape Street Games Vol. 1 in October of 2013. More of his music can be found on soundcloud.com/eloquence510. 

Follow them on Twitter @CTRLindustries @NightkidsGTR and @Hiphopchess 

SF Examiner Feature Profiles HHCF's Raheem Payton and Antonio Godoy

Senior Raheem Payton was oblivious to the students crowding around him, sitting on a bench in the middle of the quad, deep in thought about the consequences of moving his knight forward. His opponent in this chess game, security guard Adisa Banjoko, waited patiently for him to meditate on making his move. Suddenly, the silence was broken as the front doors of the school burst open.

“They got guns!” A student screamed, as four males brandishing handguns rushed through the lobby, their voices barking orders at the students to move out of the way.

Banjoko quickly moved into action, covering another security guard, Juan Gallardo, who was standing in front of the student the intruders were after. Payton sat frozen at the table, watching the scene unfold.

The intruders, including a 13-year-old suspected gang member, engaged in a verbal dispute with the guards before noticing security cameras and abandoning their pursuit of a rival gang member. Payton held his breath those minutes before they ran from the building.“All I could think was what is going on here,” he recalls, “It happened so fast, the way they ran in ready to fight.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE!

Why Every Girl Around the World Should Learn Jiu-Jitsu

                 
               

DISCLAIMER: If you are under 15 years old you I suggest you get your parents permission

When I was a child, I was raised in a very unusual home. At the time I did not realize it was unusual because, from what I saw on TV, everybody lived like me. I had a mother and a father who loved me and looked after me.

My dad worked as a mechanic at an airline company and eventually went on into management. My mother was an at home mother for most of my young life then went to school and worked in mutual funds.

Not one time in the course of their life together (they are STILL TOGETHER- 41 years) have I ever seen my father physically threaten or intimidate my mother. Not once! At the same time, I’ve never seen my mother throw plates or attack and berate my father verbally. Don’t get me wrong, they argue from time to time. But even when they argue they do it from a place of love.

I really thought all kids lived like me until I was about 15. I went to visit a friends house not too far from where my home was. I walked in to say hello (“Eddie Haskell style” as his mother used to say) and the instant I walked in, I knew it was a different world. His folks were together, but it was clear it was pretty loveless. It was more like how you might imagine visiting Smokey’s mom from Friday might be like.  Over time I learned that his house was very different than mine.

His folks fought a lot (not just argued), and there was a lot of abusive drinking and drug use in the home.

Over and over again in my teen years I quickly snapped out of the idea that most kids lived and learned like I did with two parents who loved one another and worked hard for their kids.

I’ve been lucky enough to be married 17 years to a beautiful Black woman and our kids are growing up fast. Its instinctual as a father to worry about your son as a teenage boy (because you know how quickly they might get shot or killed in some random situation). But it was not until my daughter was about 4 that I saw how hard life was for little Black girls.  

Later, after starting HHCF I saw much more in depth issues Black girls face in the inner city. I wrote a two part series last year about kids I knew who suffered from gang violence in Oakland and San Francisco. You can read PART 1 HERE and PART 2 HERE .

There is a deadly cocktail of cultural exclusion, identity based depression, verbal and physical violence that almost dooms Black girls to an early demise. When I say early, I mean by age 12 or 14 its already a wrap. When I say a wrap, I don’t mean to imply that anyone give up on them. I’m saying that the issues are so deeply entrenched within them that they may not be able to recover (from pregnancy, drug abuse or alcohol abuse effects). Not because they don’t want to. There are just so few systems of support in place. They can't do it alone. Most die quietly or are put in jail before we even really knew their names. Its sad, but very real.

This is part of the reason I fight so hard to promote chess to Black and Latina girls.

But you see, I quickly understood that this issue was not an issue for Black and Latina girls alone. This is a global crisis. Since starting HHCF I have seen soulbreaking documentaries about human trafficking . I have also watched many girls at the schools I work at fall victim to the streets. Many were Black or Latina, but some were White and some were Asian. I quickly realized that the mistreatment and abuse of women is not an American thing, its a male thing and it has manifested itself under every religious, political and social system we can think of. It is the duty of the men of the men of wisdom and truth to protect the women of this planet. Sadly though, we are failing to do that in large numbers. This is why I think all women of the world should learn Gracie aka Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or any other martial art they can.

About two years ago I taught a womens self defense class to girls at a high school I work at. It was so amazing to see their faces light up when you showed them how knowledge could overpower strength and speed. I told them about the creator of Gracie Jiu JItsu  and how he was a small man. I explained that they deserved to be defended, but they had to know that they were the first line of defense for themselves. They soaked it up and some still thank me for what I showed them. Even more impressive, not one of them used what I taught to fight another girl on campus or bully another female.  

Another thing is that watching girls who do judo and jiu-jitsu I have noticed a totally different level of confdence in them (on the mat and off the mat). Its a great thing to see.

Bottom line is that working at high schools has taught me one very specific thing: Many of the boys of today have no respect for girls. This is not just a teenage immaturity that needs a little guidance. These boys (most without fathers) are physically aggressive and feel little remorse for their actions. It is very scary to watch. The only thing more scary than the boys violence, is the girls acceptance that their being beaten is just “how it should be”.

Last year a girl I’m trying to reach out to asked me if I ever hit my wife.

“Never” I said.

“G.O.D.?!?!” [they spell God out meaning “swear to God”]. She searched my eyes for any level of weakness or faultiness.

“G....O....D!” I shouted with a smile. “I don’t hit my wife. She’d leave me for real if I did. But, I don’t even pretend to. I don’t threaten her. I never have.”

She shook her head, faithless of my words and said “I’m gonna ask her.”

I encouraged her to do that. The point is, what bothered me in the exchange we had that day was just that it was inconceivable that a women live her life without being beaten by the men in their life.

As men, I take on the duty to change that trend. I can’t save the women of the world. But I can work within my sphere of influence to help young girls physically and mentally. Mentally I believe all the women of the world should learn chess. Physically, they should be training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I favor Jiu-Jitsu because its made for people without lots of strength and speed to win. Also, woman cannot be raped if they cannot be grabbed and pinned down. This is super crucial to understand. If a women cannot be pinned or grabbed they are safe. If they can keep themselves safe, they cannot be trapped and if they cannot be trapped they can escape!  

If Jiu-jitsu is not available, I suggest judo (especially because its usually cheaper than jiu-jitsu). But if Kung-fu or kickboxing is near you- take that.

Girls often talk about how fighting is not like a lady. I remind them that the female lions of the pride are the ones who do the hunting. I remind them that the mother falcons and eagles are super dangerous and it makes them no less beautiful. Kyra Gracie, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and many other women out there are very lady like (however you define that) but are clearly amazing at self defense.

If I could, I’d take every girl on the planet to learn Women Empowered by the Gracie Family.

But I can’t. I can only encourage every girl, parent, uncle, aunt and cousin to take a female they love to a class on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for no less than a year. Help them learn to have faith in their body and mind.

Military strategist Sun Tzu said something like “Don’t count on the enemy not coming, be prepared for them when they arrive.” My hope is that most of the women I know never have to use Jiu-Jitsu. But if they do, I want them to be calm under pressure and use what they were taught to be safe and return to their families and friends.

This summer my oldest daughter who is 11 will spend it learning jiu jitsu and boxing basics. This is because I know that I won’t be around forever. Her brother won’t be with her in every situation. When something happens, I want to know I trained her right- regardless of the outcome. As a father and a friend of my daughter its my duty to prepare her. I’m not preparing her to be a fighter. I’m preparing to make her a woman of the world, who is confident within her own mind and body. Whatever else that is born from it, is her choosing. If you live in the Bay Area I suggest taking your daughter to www.heroesmartialarts.com and letting them take a free introductory class. I encourage you to share this with other women and girls you know.

Much Respect,

Adisa Banjoko