CAPOEIRA THAT WORKS

  Samori Touré: The Lion of the Mandinka and Master of Resistance Samori Touré: The Lion of the Mandinka and Master of Resistance Samori Touré (c. 1830 – June 2, 1900) was a legendary West African military and spiritual leader, known for founding the Wassoulou Empire and leading one of the most formidable anti-colonial resistances against French expansion in the 19th century. His story is a testament to the strength, resilience, and brilliance of African resistance movements during the era of colonial conquest. Early Life and Rise to Power Born in the early 1830s in what is now Guinea, Samori belonged to the Mandinka ethnic group. His early years were shaped by the political and military conflicts that followed the decline of great African empires such as Mali, Songhai, and Wagadu (Ghana). These regions had earlier been influenced by Islamic expansion through invasions led by Arab and Berber traders and warriors during the Almoravid and later campaigns across the Sahel. Samori’...

  Trafic Sexuel et la Crise Affectant les Femmes et Filles Noires : Comment la Njia Uhuru Kipura d’ATACX GYM Affronte le Problème à sa Racine Le trafic sexuel reste l'un des crimes les plus insidieux aux États-Unis, touchant de manière disproportionnée les femmes et filles noires. La sexualisation continue des corps noirs, enracinée dans l’héritage de l’esclavage, perpétue des mythes nuisibles sur l’hypersexualité et la maturité précoce. Ces narrations, combinées à des défis socioéconomiques, une implication dans le système de protection de l’enfance, une déscolarisation, des enchevêtrements dans le système judiciaire pénal et des antécédents d’abus, créent une tempête parfaite de vulnérabilité pour les filles noires. Selon des recherches : 57,5 % de toutes les arrestations de prostitution juvénile concernent des enfants noirs. 40 % des victimes de trafic sexuel à l’échelle nationale sont des femmes noires. Des entretiens révèlent que les trafiquants ciblent les femmes noires car i...

  Part 2: Empowering Alkebulan Women Through Self-Defense and Advocacy Alkebulan women face disproportionate risks of being targeted for sex trafficking—a disturbing fact supported by FBI data showing they are four times as likely to be targeted due to systemic neglect and lenient punishments for traffickers preying on them. THE ATACX GYM, under Mwalimu Mtaalam Ras Fletcher’s leadership, has made it a mission to combat this crisis through education, advocacy, and empowerment. One cornerstone of this effort is the gym’s self-defense program, specifically designed for Alkebulan women. These classes teach participants how to defend themselves against physical threats while emphasizing situational awareness and legal protections. The program combines martial arts techniques with actionable legal knowledge, ensuring that women not only feel safer but also understand their rights when interacting with law enforcement. Furthermore, THE ATACX GYM actively organizes community rallies to com...

  Rediscovering the Roots of Kipura: Wristlocks, Knife Disarms, and Standing Grappling The martial art of Kipura , miscalled Capoeira by colonizers, is far more than the flashy kicks and acrobatics often portrayed in modern interpretations. This centuries-old discipline, forged in the fires of resistance and survival by Alkebulan (miscalled African) ancestors in Brazil, has a deep and vital history that goes beyond its current representation. Central to Kipura 's original form are techniques like wristlocks, wristlock throws, knife disarms, and standing grappling, which were essential for combat in both urban and rural settings. The Weapon of Choice: The Navalha (Razor) One of the most iconic weapons associated with Kipura is the navalha , or straight razor. This small yet devastating tool was a symbol of survival, adaptability, and defiance. In the golden age of Kipura , the navalha was not just a weapon but a part of everyday life, especially in poorer neighborhoods where acce...

       Women and Children’s Self-Defense Blog: Bear Hug/Grab from the Back According to statistics from Brazil and the USA, 53% of women report facing violence or the threat of violence in their lives. Furthermore, the most common forms of attack are wrist grabs, arm grabs, bear hugs, and throat grabs or chokes. Chillingly, the most common location for these attacks is the home or living quarters. This blog addresses the bear hug attack—the third most common attack—with a focus on its occurrence against women and children by larger attackers, usually men. We will also highlight the unique skills of Njia Uhuru Kipura. This system, developed and taught by Head Coach Ras of the Atacx Gym, showcases how what is miscalled "52 Blocks" is actually a subset of Kandeka, which itself is a subset of Kipura. The most effective techniques are preserved in the Njia Uhuru Kipura system, combining historical authenticity with modern effectiveness. Defending Against a Bear Hug fro...

  Women and Children’s Self-Defense Blog: Arm Grab, Headlock, and Wrist Grab Defense According to statistics from Brazil and the USA, 53% of women report facing violence or the threat of violence in their lives. Furthermore, the most common forms of attack are wrist grabs, arm grabs, bear hugs, and throat grabs or chokes. Chillingly, the most common location for these attacks is the home or living quarters. This blog addresses the arm grab and subsequent attacks like the headlock and wrist grab, while showcasing the unique skills of Njia Uhuru Kipura. This system, developed and taught by Head Coach Ras of the Atacx Gym, highlights how what is miscalled "52 Blocks" is actually a subset of Kandeka, which itself is a subset of Kipura. The most effective techniques are preserved in the Njia Uhuru Kipura system, combining historical authenticity with modern effectiveness. Defending Against an Arm Grab The arm grab is often used to control or drag a victim. Immediate action is crit...

  Theft and Larceny: Understanding, Prevention, and Ancient Wisdom Theft and larceny are not only the most common property crimes globally but also the most persistent crimes in human history. Despite the ubiquity of these issues, many approaches to combating them remain rudimentary. Unlike the often superficial tips given by many "Cardio Capoeira" instructors, Mwalimu Mtaalam/Head Coach Ras Fletcher of ATACX Gym integrates ancient Alkebulan (African) wisdom and modern crime prevention strategies into his Njia Uhuru Kipura system. Kipura, the original Kongo-developed practice of self-defense, spirituality, and human development, has been mischaracterized as the largely fitness-oriented activity called Capoeira. At ATACX Gym , Kipura is restored to its original intent: a holistic practice that includes effective tools for self-defense, crime prevention, and personal empowerment. In this blog, we will explore theft and larceny, share practical prevention tips, and draw from A...

  Empowering Black Women Against Domestic Violence Through Njia Uhuru Kipura Domestic violence disproportionately affects Black women, with more than 40% experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Many face additional barriers rooted in systemic racism, economic inequality, and cultural norms, leaving them without adequate support or resources. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach—one that combines physical self-defense, psychological resilience, economic empowerment, and spiritual healing. Njia Uhuru Kipura, developed and taught by Mwalimu Mtaalam Ras Fletcher at THE ATACX GYM, offers an innovative and comprehensive system to combat intimate partner violence. With its roots in the martial traditions of Alkebulan (miscalled Africa), Njia Uhuru Kipura draws upon centuries of proven strategies for survival and empowerment while integrating modern techniques to address the specific needs of Black women. The Crisis of Domestic Violence Statistics fro...

  Njia Uhuru Kipura: The Ultimate Self-Defense System Against Intimate Partner Violence Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a grave threat to the safety and well-being of Black women. While many self-defense systems claim to address the dangers of IPV, few offer the depth, reliability, and effectiveness needed to counter the complex dynamics of physical abuse, particularly when grappling and weapons are involved. Njia Uhuru Kipura, developed by Mwalimu Mtaalam Ras Fletcher at THE ATACX GYM, stands apart as a comprehensive system capable of defending against violent grappling and weaponized assaults in all ranges and phases of conflict. This distinction is critical, as conventional systems like Cardio Capoeira fail to provide practical solutions for these scenarios. In contrast, Njia Uhuru Kipura integrates proven techniques, biomechanics, and spiritual resilience, making it the most effective self-defense system for addressing IPV in the Black community. The Reality of Intimate P...

  Blog 3: Smai Tawi to Njia Uhuru Kipura: The True Origins of the Triangle Pose Many know the Triangle Pose from modern Yoga, but few realize its deeper roots in the Smai Tawi practice of Alkebulan (miscalled Africa) . Predating Yoga by over 2,000 years, this exercise embodies spiritual alignment, physical discipline, and cosmic connection. In Njia Uhuru Kipura , this pose is reimagined as part of a holistic system that preserves and celebrates its origins while integrating its benefits into a modern martial arts framework. The Historical Foundations The Smai Tawi practice of ancient Kemet (Egypt) was a spiritual and physical discipline deeply intertwined with the principles of balance and harmony. The pose now misattributed to Yoga's Triangle Pose was part of a ritual connecting practitioners to the divine through posture, breath, and focus. Key elements include: Grounded Posture: Feet firmly rooted to the earth, symbolizing connection to ancestral strength. Geometric Precisio...

  Blog 1: Mastering the Capoeira Esquiva Lateral: From Evasion to Grappling Domination In the dynamic world of Njia Uhuru Kipura , movements are more than techniques; they are gateways to balance, strategy, and empowerment. Among the foundational tools in Kipura is the Esquiva Lateral , a defensive maneuver that embodies agility, awareness, and tactical advantage. However, under the innovative teachings of Mwalimu Mtaalam Ras Fletcher of THE ATACX GYM STREET WARRIOR NJIA UHURU KIPURA , This movement transcends its traditional evasion roots, incorporating a potent grappling attack that seamlessly transitions into a basic far ankle pick and arm push takedown. Understanding the Esquiva Lateral The Esquiva Lateral (lateral escape) is a defensive movement characterized by sidestepping or shifting the body to evade an incoming attack. Rooted in the rhythmic essence of Capoeira and enhanced through Njia Uhuru Kipura , this technique involves a grounded, balanced posture with the bod...

  --- UFC 305 IZZY VS DRISCUS DU PLESSIS As most of you know…I did predict this ending and the round. Which is very hard for me to take, because I’m a big Izzy fan. He’s my guy at MW in the UFC. I did see a number of things [ that I’m sure that Izzy and his coach Gene Bareman and other members of CKB saw ] that can be taken from this tough loss that’ll send Izzy back to strapping the belt around his waist in about a year’s time. But first? Congratulations on the win to DDP and all of his fans. DDP is still a colonizer, recipient of enormous benefits resulting from stripping the riches, resources of the land of my people and lavishing them upon his invading, colonizing kinfolk and his win stemmed directly from that horrible legacy. And we will get it back, ejecting him from the strap and eject all colonizers from Alkebulan miscalled Africa. But not now.  Because DDP is the rightful champion.  He won it not only fair and square but in the way that an actual well rounded MMA...

  ### Title: The Forgotten Art of Fist Fighting in Capoeira: A Historical Exploration **Word Count:** 600   **Reading Time:** 3-4 minutes --- The art of fist fighting, or **Lisana ya Maboko** in Lingala and **Ujuzi Mapigano wa Ngumi** or **Michezo wa Ngumi** in Swahili, was an integral part of the combat practices in Capoeira's early history. Raphael Bluteau, in 1712, misnamed this intricate and diverse martial art from Kongo as "Capoeira." Originally, Capoeira encompassed a wide range of fighting techniques, including open-hand strikes, headbutts, elbows, knees, sweeps, grappling, weapon use, and unique footwork, all of which were functional for combat. This comprehensive approach to combat was a hallmark of the Kipura techniques from Kongo. ### Historical Context and Migration Capoeira's roots can be traced back to the African continent, particularly Alkebulan and Kongo, where diverse martial arts were practiced. When enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the N...