HOW KNOWLEDGE OF OGUN'S PATAKI EMPOWERS COMBAT STRATEGIES
The sacred number of Ogun, the Yoruba god of war and iron, is seven, and this number holds a profound significance in the realm of African spirituality. One of the intriguing pataki, or myths, surrounding Ogun is that he imparts his martial wisdom to his warriors through a structured system that involves seven key components: attacks, defenses, feints, footwork patterns, level changes, targeting, and more. This numerical framework represents not only Ogun's martial prowess but also his connection to the mystical power of the number seven. Mwalimu Mtaalam Ras Fletcher, a modern-day practitioner of African martial traditions, has taken this sacred knowledge and applied it to the core of his martial art system, Njia Uhuru Kipura. Within this system, the influence of Ogun's teachings is graphed and merged with the principles of human performance sciences, creating a holistic approach to martial arts that goes beyond physical combat. In Njia Uhuru Kipura, the concept of seven is m