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Nation of Islam training seminar challenges the ‘less-than’ syndrome

 Lee R. Watkins, Special to The New Tri-State Defender

When one mentions martial arts and religion in the same context, naturally the association that comes to mind is Asian culture or Eastern religions. Martial arts, however, is also prevalent in the Islamic community, where it is practiced to achieve a higher spiritual connection with God.

Last Weekend (Dec. 15-16), martial arts played a major role as Mosque 55 of the Nation of Islam hosted its 7th annual Mid-South Training Seminar at the Orange Mound Community Center.

(Courtesy photo)

The two-day event focused on three key areas: fitness and health, martial arts defense training and a community panel discussion. The open forum discussion, titled “How to Police Our Own Communities,” was led by Sergeant Julius Beasley of the Memphis Police Department and pastor of East Trigg Baptist Church, author Demetric Muhammad and Tennessee State Rep. G.A. Hardaway.

Kareem Ali, protocol staff assistant at Mosque 55, said there is a great “disconnect” on how to police in the black community.

“We should have black police officers in our communities because they understand our culture,” Ali said. “They understand our plight in terms of our conditions. There’s a flipside to this as well – we as black people in our communities must respect authority.”

Getting fit at the river. (Courtesy photos)

The second day of the event kicked off with the Mid-South RiverFit workout at Tom Lee Park, and it was spearheaded by Sherita Darden and Cornelius Muhammad. A group of 50 participated in the boot-camp style training before practicing in a series of intense martial arts defense training led by Grandmaster Anthony Muhammad of United Schools of Survival.

Grandmaster Muhammad of Brooklyn, N.Y. is the assistant Supreme Captain of the Nation of Islam and the national trainer for the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Minister Louis Farrakhan. Muhammad converted to the Nation of Islam at the age of nine, and has more than 50 years of martial arts training. Responsible for teaching martial arts techniques to the Nation of Islam, Muhammad often has to go beyond the physical nature of his students.

“When I’m dealing with my students, I have to fight them,” Muhammad said. “I have to fight their will to not be overtaken. When they come and give themselves to training, you have to beat their will.

“And the only way you beat their will is beating their psyche,” he said. “You speak to them through their thinking, and it’s only if you have the right spirit that you can reach them.”

Muhammad has been a part of the Mosque 55 training seminar since its inception. His workout regime includes subtle movements of the legs, arms, hands and back. He teaches a series of three- and five-step combinations combined with a mixture of jabs, uppercuts and leg kicks.

While learning defensive fighting skills was the core purpose of training, the interaction between students was remarkably cordial.

The highlight of the three-hour training session was the special moment Muhammad shared with a woman standing off to the side of the recreational floor. Muhammad took a break from the class and encouraged the woman, who was disabled, to participate in the training course.

“I’m always looking for those with a mind that believes that they can’t,” Muhammad said. “They’ve been made to believe that. I’m always looking for an opportunity to prove that one who believes that they’re less than can be shown they’re more than.”

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