Khepera Media Group Interview with Balogun O. Abeegunde
Egbe Ogun / Afrikan Martial Arts Institute
Sha'KMT: Please give us some history behind the origins of Afrikan Martial Arts.
Balogun: The martial arts have existed for millenniums, since the dawn of man, which, according to scholars worldwide, is rooted in the continent of Afrika.
In people's quest for Afrikan martial arts, which is usually relegated to searches on the internet, they find it difficult to find information, because they do not know how to ask the proper questions.
Every tribe, or nation, in Afrika has its own complex and complete martial arts systems. In whatever language they speak, Afrikans, traditionally refer to their martial arts simply as "wrestling". The Afrikan concept of wrestling, however, is quite different from the Asian or Western concept of wrestling.
In the Afrikan martial arts, to "wrestle" means to put your opponent on his back, belly, or side in order to render him more vulnerable to a finishing technique. This goal can be achieved by any means: strikes, throws, sweeps, joint-locks, or weapon attacks. Thus, if you hit your opponent in the head with a club and he falls from the force of the blow, you have – by Afrikan standards – wrestled him.
How did it come to pass that the martial arts throughout the continent of Afrika would adopt this concept? For the answer, let's look at a story about the Yoruba prophet and master wrestler, Orunmila: Orunmila, who, among other things, was an undefeatable wrestler, traveled the continent of Afrika, teaching and studying spiritual, sociological and martial traditions. Everywhere Orunmila went, he wrestled with – and defeated – the greatest fighters on the continent. Orunmila would pick up a throwing technique in one village; weapons disarm in another. Orunmila's opponents would ask him to teach them the techniques he defeated them with and he would teach them, which is in accord with Afrikan customs. Eventually, the martial arts of Afrika began to possess a similar rhythm and to follow the same underlying wrestling strategy.
Sha'KMT: How does Afrikan Martial Arts differ from Asian Martial Arts?
Balogun: As mentioned above, the concept of wrestling is quite different. In addition, the application of techniques and the positioning of the body in Afrikan martial arts are as different from Asian martial arts as Afrikan dance is from Asian dance. The rhythm, look and feel is nothing alike.
Secondly, Afrikan martial arts do not incorporate forms (kata, kuen, poomse, hyung, etc.). Afrikan culture is based on development of the self through interaction with the community. Afrikan martial arts do not deviate from this. Thus, a student learns through interaction with other students. If we learn to punch, we learn to punch against a living, breathing, resisting opponent.
Finally, the Afrikan martial arts stress respect and reverence for the female power, as manifest in the energy called "aje". We also recognize that the true power behind the Afrikan martial arts is first and foremost, aje, working in conjunction with one's ase (the force of creation) and iwa rere (balanced character).
Sha'KMT: What role does Egbe Ogun play in the community?
Balogun: In Yorubaland, each city and town has a number of societies called "egbe". Each egbe preserves the wisdom and technology of various social and ceremonial functions within the community.
Egbe Ogun preserves – and transmits to others – the knowledge, wisdom, conflict resolution methods, martial techniques and sociological functions and responsibilities of the Afrikan warrior.
In addition to martial arts classes, we also conduct women's self-defense classes ("NZINGA: Mother / Daughter Self-Defense") and passage rite programs for boys and for warriors (men and women).
Sha'KMT: How does Egbe Ogun utilize the Afrikan Martial systems as a form of discipline among students?
Balogun: First, we stress the attainment of Iwa rere (Balanced Character). Balanced character is considered an internal process that places great value on honesty, cleanliness and true concern for the welfare of the extended family, which includes fellow practitioners of Egbe Ogun.
Through the process of building character, both the martial arts student and the martial art evolve. To the student of Egbe Ogun, balanced character is related to issues of communal responsibility. There can be no personal growth at the expense of others and when a student of Egbe Ogun fails to exhibit iwa rere, the entire art suffers. Therefore, respect, honor, humility and self-discipline, above all else, are emphasized in Egbe Ogun.
Sha'KMT: How is Egbe Ogun Martial Arts classes different from the average dojo teaching martial arts and /or any other recreational sport?
Balogun: We train on a traditional Afrikan cyclical system. Meaning, when you join a class, you learn what everyone is learning during that cycle (or phase) of training. There are no "white belt techniques", or "black belt techniques", there are just techniques. Thus, if a new student joins class when we are in the cycle of learning knife defenses, that student will learn knife defenses, just as the person who has been training with me for ten years. This enables even new students to learn to quickly defend themselves effectively.
Sha'KMT: What are your expectations of a student?
Balogun: I expect a student to constantly strive to attain iwa rere (balanced character) and to live by our creed, which is as follows:
1. I will train my mind, heart and body for a firm and unshakeable spirit.
2. I will observe rules of courtesy, respect my fellow brothers and sisters and refrain from violence.
3. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are power and with them, I can accomplish what I will.
4. All my life, through the true discipline of African martial arts, I will seek to walk the straight and righteous warrior's path of Egbe Ogun.
Sha'KMT: What inspired you to write "Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within"?
Balogun: I wrote the book, "Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within" because I want Black people to be proud of our warrior traditions and African culture. I have benefited greatly from the study of the Afrikan martial arts, as have my students, and I wanted to be able to reach a broader audience, so they can also benefit as we have. Since I am a writer, I felt a book was the best way I could do that.
Sha'KMT: What does the book offer to the Martial Arts novice?
Balogun: "Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within" offers students knowledge about the history and culture of Afrikan martial arts and actually gives step-by-step instruction in the application of Afrikan martial arts for self-defense. The book can also be used in conjunction with the techniques I teach in workshops, classes and in our "Technique of the Week" series on the internet at www.africanmartialarts.ning.com.
Finally, the book includes a 60 – minute interview, conducted by Stic.man of Dead Prez that goes deeper into the history, philosophy and methodology of the Afrikan warrior.
Sha'KMT: In your opinion, explain why you think Afrikan martial arts has not received the exposure it deserves.
Balogun: The Afrikan martial arts have not received the exposure they deserve because there are not many instructors teaching Afrikan martial arts in the Unites States, or anywhere else outside of Afrika, and until the World African Martial Arts Conference, which took place in Detroit in October, 2007, the instructors who do teach Afrikan martial arts were not very familiar with each other and had a weak network, if any.
Since the conference, however, and since the article I wrote in Black Belt magazine, the Afrikan martial arts are growing rapidly in popularity and people are seeking out Afrikan martial art instructors for workshops, interviews and classes.
Finally, the Afrikan martial arts will be featured in several feature and short films in 2008, including a feature film I wrote entitled "Reynolds' War", which I also am producing, starring in and doing the fight choreography for, along with my advanced students. All of my students are in the film and Full Instructor, Okulaja Sekou Hill, who teaches classes in the West End area, plays the antagonist. Stic.man is also in the film, which is being edited by acclaimed martial arts / action director, R.L. Scott. I believe the upcoming films will do for the Afrikan martial arts what the Steven Seagal movie "Above the Law" did for Aikido. Before "Above the Law", Aikido was relatively unknown in the U.S. After the release of that film, enrollment in Aikido schools increased 400%! I predict this will happen with the Afrikan martial arts. As people join, they can use the book as a reference to ensure what they are taking is truly Afrikan and follows the principles that all Afrikan martial arts follow.
Sha'KMT: How practical are Afrikan martial art techniques in a street fight?
Balogun: The Afrikan martial arts are proven – after millenniums of use on the battlefield – to be effective against all manner of armed and unarmed attacks.
Afrikan martial arts techniques are constantly trained with a resisting opponent and only techniques that can truly be practiced are trained. We do not train in eye gouges or driving a man's nose into his brain (which is impossible, by the way), because we can not train these techniques against a resisting partner (unless your partner doesn't mind losing an eye, or having his nose shoved into his head), thus we cannot program our nervous system to apply these techniques under adverse conditions.
The Afrikan martial arts also teach avoidance as the highest level of self-defense and teach students to recognize danger signals, change an attacker's perception and tune in to their intuition in order to more likely avoid an attack before it ever takes place.
Sha'KMT: Are you available for workshops and / or lectures in Georgia?
Balogun: I am available for workshops, lectures and book signings anywhere in the United States and abroad. I am also available for private instruction, consultation, choreography for film, stage and television and public classes. I can be reached at www.myspace.com/egbeogun, or at www.africanmartialarts.ning.com.
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