52 hand blocks/jailhouse rock

[Stickgrappler]

hello,

i vaguely recall in the old forum, someone (was it Call Me Al?) asked about JHR. or maybe it was a different forum?

my inquiries/research has turned up some info. i have been in email contact with an author Doug Century. he wrote a book STREET KINGDOM which is available through www.bn.com, amazon.com, borders, etc. it is about his experiences with the Flatbush Ave Posse (Brooklyn NYC). in it, one of his protagonists, Big K, uses a little known system called 52 hand blocks aka 52 blocks. the older name (from the 70's) is called jailhouse rock. Century is also writing a DETAILS magazine article due out in Aug 2001 about 52.

JHR was brought to the public's attention through Dennis Newsome's involvement in choreographing part of the fight scenes in LETHAL WEAPON 1 with Mel Gibson and his set of 4 techniques in MARTIAL ARTS AROUND THE WORLD pub'd by Unique Publications. also if you check out Wu-Tang Clan (and its offshoots), they often have references to 52.

check out my site

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com

specifically

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/52/52jhr.html

and

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/52/isthisjhr.html

for older info, check out:

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr1.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr2.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr3.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr4.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr5.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr6.html

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/jhr7.html

at first, it seems this may be a made up style to promote Newsome, but with Doug Century's research, it seems it may be real.

feel free to post/email questions if you have any for Doug Century. i will be sure to forward to him.

i was wondering if anyone had new info on JHR/52 hand blocks. TIA.

[TKDguy]

from what i have heard it is a lot of low kicks punches and some dirty and grappling. I would definately like to read that book though.

[BrotherD]

Greetings stickgrappler,
two things Doug really doesn't field question to much on 52 any more. Any question on the book or Big K he may take... By the way K is home and doing fine, but he's low key now due to the three stike rule. There are pockets of old school cats throughout the city that still now the game, but the most knowledgable cats are doing hard time, or keeping to themselves... The reason outside the joint you don't get to use your skill that much, to much gun play.
And since what they learned in Jail doesn't fit well wit all the rules in a sport fight, most of these cats would stay clear. Although they like wacthing MMA... some of the stradgies don't hold well in their minds, for the types of fights that they are use too, but they do take their hats off to the fighters of MMA. Just in case somebody was wondering I asked some bruhs that question. As for the fighting style depends, what you call a low kick we call a sweep or a leg bump. The fight now is played up stairs and no shot is foul.
again thanks for the Archive...
peace

[HtTKar]

Stickgrappler;
I have read every link on your forum before I even knew this forum (defend.net) even existed. You have so much great information there, I just wanted to thank you. I remember the threads on JHR, the one guy that answered questions about his experience in Jail. Pushing off the walls with your feet for added power. But in the end, I was left feeling that this was just a made up style taught by gang members to other gang members. Nothing really orginized to say the least. Researching around, I have found nothing contrary to that. I look forward to your new information.

[HtTKar]

whoops.
Just realized your post was 3 1/2 yrs ago...Somebody resurrected an ancient thread.

[DickHardman]

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[DickHardman]

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[Liberty]

What - no Rashad Evans (UFC 73 - fought Tito Ortiz to a draw)?

YouTube - 52 Blocks in the UFC : RASHAD EVANS

[DickHardman]

........................................mbles most?

[Knuckles&Knees]

Dude! Thanks for posting these vids! I like briefly heard several years ago about some fighting style that was created in U.S. prisons - but I thought it was called something like "50 [something] drop." I tried a few times over the years - very briefly - over the internet to find some info on it through a search. But I never could.

Dude! I just watched that first video and I'm highly impressed! Now that's street fighters that you have to worry about, and they for damn sure deserve the hollowed handle "street fighter."

That style of movement reminds me of Panatukan and it also reminds me of Western boxing influence of moving on the feet or up on the toes when throwing jabs etc.


This "52 Blocks" was created in a U.S. prison right? Do you know any info on its creator(s) and history? Which prison was it developed in?

[Knuckles&Knees]

Originally Posted by DickHardman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx7p3QcLQ3E

Ok, now that looks a bit weird. (the practice fighting)

That weird aspect of it I can do without.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Knuckles&Knees

....This "52 Blocks" was created in a U.S. prison right? Do you know any info on its creator(s) and history? Which prison was it developed in?

Jailhouse rock or JHR is a name which is used to describe a collection of different fighting styles that are alleged to have been practiced and/or developed within urban street gang culture and US penal institutions.

The different regional “styles” of JHR seem to vary greatly, with a common emphasis on improvisation governed by a specific set of underlying principles.

Some examples of the many styles of JHR are 52 Hand Blocks, Comstock Style.....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailhouse_rock