Hip-Hop Chess Federation [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

GeneChing

04-11-2008, 03:31 PM

if any of you forum members show, say 'hi'

Mind Over Matter
Celebrity Chess & Grappling Exhibition
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Menlo Park, CA
Free to the public

Students, Teachers, Music Lovers, Grappling and Chess Fans - You are Invited

Be our guest as the Hip-Hop Chess Federation host the Mind Over Matter Celebrity Chess & Grappling Exhibition on Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 11:30am to 5pm hosted at the Riekes Center located in Menlo Park, California

Events of the day include: XBox Live Hip-Hop Weekend Play & Win Sweepstakes, special giveaways and a very SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM A CELEBRITY GUEST. The best part is the event is free to the public!

Spread the word and see you there!

Adisa Banjoko, CEO and Founder
Hip-Hop Chess Federation
a non-profit organization that uses chess, music, and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence

Schedule of Events
Mind Over Matter Celebrity Chess & Grappling Exhibition
HHCF brings together top entertainers and fighters to inspire today's youth
11:30am: Doors Open

12:00pm: Chessmaster LIVE Hip-Hop Weekend Play & Win Sweepstakes (for details visit http://xbox.com - click on XBox Live - Events)

Open Gaming (Closes at 4:45pm)

Chess Tutorials with DLamont Robinson

1:15pm: Riekes Center Welcomes the Hip-Hop Chess Federation

1:30pm: HHCF Panel: Martial Arts as a Path to Non-Violence

Panelist:
Adisa Banjoko, HHCF CEO and award wining author & lecturer

RZA, Wu-Tang Clan, platinum recording artist, actor (recently seen opposite Russell Crow & Denzel Washington in American Gangster)

Josh Waitzkin, International Chess Master, Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands World Champion, author of The Art of Learning

Gene Ching, Associate Publisher Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine, noted author

Rakaa, BJJ practioner, member of the world renowned rap group Dialated Peoples

3:00pm: Judo Exhibition featuring Mike Pechina, Judo Black Belt, Cahill

3:15pm: Jiu Jitsu Exhibition hosted by Denny Prokopos, 10th Planet

3:30pm: 36 Chambers of Shaolin Screening

5:00pm: PEACE OUT!

Location: Riekes Center, Menlo Park, CA
Riekes Center is located at 3455 Edison Way, Menlo Park, CA

Directions: *we recommend that you map from your departure location using one of the many online mapping systems to verify the directions that work best for you
From 580: Take 580 (toward San Francisco) follow the signs to merge onto 880 San Jose/San Mateo Bridge, Merge on to Dumbarton Bridge towards Menlo Park, Turn left on Marsh Road, right on Bay Rd., left of 14th, take first turn on Fair Oaks, left on Edison. (You will drive through a residential area for a short period of time, Riekes Center is at the end of the residential area)

From 880: 880 towards Palo Alto, Merge on to Dumbarton Bridge towards Menlo Park, Turn left on Marsh Road, right on Bay Rd., left of 14th, take first turn on Fair Oaks, left on Edison. (You will drive through a residential area for a short period of time, Riekes Center is at the end of the residential area).

From 280: 280 towards Palo Alto, merge onto 85 towards Mountain View, exit 101 North toward San Francisco, take Marsh exit towards Atherton, left on Marsh Rd., right on Bay, left on 14th, take first turn on Fair Oaks, left on Edison. (You will drive through a residential area for a short period of time, Riekes Center is at the end of the residential area).

GeneChing

04-16-2008, 10:11 AM

...it's tough to be on a panel with RZA. He's the master of the mike. :cool:

Check us out. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pphl9CFwHMY)

GeneChing

04-18-2008, 09:37 AM

This reporter was there for most all of the event. Note Josh's cool lanyard. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH8kBM2YDS8&feature=related) :cool:

Satori Science

04-20-2008, 08:02 AM

...it's tough to be on a panel with RZA. He's the master of the mike. :cool:

Check us out. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pphl9CFwHMY)

Very Nice,
"Its All Possible,"

GeneChing

04-22-2008, 09:31 AM

Nice to see we made press in CS... :confused:

Hip hop chess (http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-04-22-0013.html)
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 - 07:42 AM

Teens and young adults from California's bay area are being shown a new way to put mind over matter.

It's a program that mixes hip hop music, martial arts and the game of chess.

"It's a perfect blend because you are unifying the convergence of the physical, the mental and the artistic. And we all have those things in us," explained Adisa Banjoko of the Hip Hop Chess Federation.

The Hip Hop Chess Federation is mixing a soundtrack of physical and mental strategy to give kids a new kind of inspiration.

Recording artists including members of the Wu-Tang Clan and Dialated Peoples are passing the mic for this message.

"These kind of strategies are embedded in us as a young person. When you grow up and go out there into the world, you're faced with a decision. The decision making is more powerful now. You're not just reacting, you're thinking, focusing and then moving," said RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.

"It's not magic. It's still going to be a situation where once you have their mind focused off the nonsense on to something positive, now you have to reinforce that positivity as well," added Dilated People's Rakaa.

How all this relates to education is the topic of a best-selling book by a world champion martial artist.

"This dialogue between these role models from different arts like this, it's exciting for kids. They see it and they want to get involved and they want to start looking for connections of their own. And then when kids start to get creative and discover thematic connections on their own, that's when things really get exciting," said author Josh Waitzkin.

Waitzkin is the now grown up subject of the 1993 film "Searching for Bobby Fischer", based on his life from six to nine years old.

"I think people have these stereotypes in their minds to think that rap is for one kind of person, chess is for another, martial arts for another. But it's not true. These people who are at tremendously high levels of all these different disciplines, they speak the same language," he said.

Adisa Banjoko agrees.

"We're not trying to change the world overnight, but we know that one chessboard and one rap song and one martial arts move at a time, people's lives will be improved and that's why we're here."

GeneChing

05-05-2008, 05:38 PM

This one's from Rakaa. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI37IxbgD_s&NR=1) More cool lanyards. More pics of me taking pics.

GeneChing

06-02-2008, 04:25 PM

The next step, or should I say square?

WuChess (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLFQ1BSZpM8&eurl=http://www.hiphopchess.blogspot.com/)

GeneChing

06-09-2008, 01:32 PM

...but you heard it from me, in the post above, last week. :cool:

Martial Art of Chess, Promoted by a Rapper (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/arts/music/07clan.html?ex=1370577600&en=6ce2276242d2077a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink)
By DYLAN LOEB McCLAIN
Published: June 7, 2008

Chess has long had an important role in the aesthetic of the Wu-Tang Clan, which has songs about the game. In “The Wu-Tang Manual,” a 2005 book about the group and its members, RZA (pronounced RIZ-a) wrote that chess is part of the Wu-Tang essence “because it’s a game of war — it’s about battle. And Wu-Tang was formed in battles, from challenging each other.”

RZA, 38, learned the game when he was 11, from a girl who, as he writes in the manual, also took his virginity. Though he and his cousin GZA, another founder of the group, both love chess, they did not play much when they were younger because, GZA said, they were too poor to own a board.

Now they play chess almost every day, and RZA, holder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation belt — a trophy he picked up last fall at a tournament in San Francisco that featured rappers and martial-arts experts — is turning his interest into a business. On Monday he started WuChess (wuchess.com), a Web site where fans can play chess online, chat, see scores of their games and other personal information, and get news about RZA and Wu-Tang. RZA said that the site might one day offer monthly tournaments, with the winner playing him online.

“The way you have to think in chess is good for everyday thinking, really,” he said, “especially for brothers in the urban community who never take that second look, never take that second thought.”

Membership costs $48 a year, which could deter potential subscribers. On techcrunch.com, a site that critiques Internet offerings, several readers applauded the idea of combining hip-hop and chess, but others complained about the fee.

Patrick Mahoney, president of chesspark.com, the company that developed the WuChess site, said that about 5,000 people had preregistered for membership and that several hundred had already paid. He added that hundreds of free memberships would be given to school-age children through organizations that contact him, and that 10 to 20 percent of the site’s revenue would finance academic scholarships to be awarded by the Hip-Hop Chess Federation.

Marley Kaplan, chief executive of Chess-in-the-Schools, a nonprofit group that teaches chess in poorer New York City school districts, said that RZA’s involvement might encourage some children to play, but that she doubted it would make a big impact. “Most kids get interested in chess through schools and through family and friends,” she said. “We taught 20,000 kids this year and I bet if you surveyed them, none of them knows that he plays chess,” referring to RZA.

Mr. Mahoney said the site was primarily meant to be a “competitive platform,” and there it comes up a bit short so far. Because there aren’t many members yet, it can be hard to find good opponents. And the pieces are designed using martial-arts and Wu-Tang symbols, which can make playing confusing. (Instead of a horse’s head, for example, the knight is a silhouette of a martial-arts fighter flying through the air.) Mr. Mahoney said users would eventually be able to select from more traditional piece designs.

WuChess is just one of many projects occupying RZA’s attention. On June 24, under the alter ego Bobby Digital, he is releasing a solo album, “Digi Snax” (Koch Entertainment); he starts an American tour to promote it on Tuesday. He’s also writing music for “Afro Samurai,” an animated show on Spike TV, and appearing in two coming movies: “Gospel Hill” with Danny Glover and “Repossession Mambo” with Jude Law.

In July he’s touring in Europe with the Wu-Tang Clan, although his relationship with several members is fractured. One member, U-God, has sued Wu-Tang and RZA, claiming that he is owed $170,000. Several other members, including Method Man, Masta Killa, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, publicly disagreed with RZA over the artistic direction of “8 Diagrams” (SRC/Universal Motown), the album released by Wu-Tang last year, which he produced. RZA said of the feud, “It’s that same kind of relationship you may have with your siblings where you are brothers forever, you are sisters forever, but sometimes you can’t stand each other.”

As the 10-minute game in his hotel room drew to a close, RZA put up stiff resistance, but soon his king was encircled. His opponent, the chess columnist of The New York Times, pushed his remaining rook down the board, forcing checkmate. RZA laughed and bumped fists with his challenger; it had been a good battle.

GeneChing

06-30-2008, 10:24 AM

Adisa mentioned he had something east coast in the works.

PRESS RELEASE: June 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: M. Gaborski
877.502.5758 ext. 8
Shinken Communications

The Hip Hop Chess Federation is proud to celebrate the 9 QUEENS' KNOCKOUT INVITATIONAL

New York, NY- June 29, 2008 - Join an all-star roster of hip-hop legends and inspirational chess players for an afternoon of chess, music, and art.

Featuring:
RZA - Legendary Wu-Tang Clan, Actor as seen in American Gangster. Other works include Kill Bill, Afro Samurai, etc.
Jennifer Shahade - 9 Queens' co-founder, Women's Grandmaster and two-time American Women's Chess Champion
Adisa Banjoko - Founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, Award Winning Author and Speaker
Maurice Ashley - World's 1st African American International Chess Grandmaster
Jay Smooth - Creator of illdoctrine.com and host of the longest running hip-hop radio show in New York City
Rugged Monk - From the Black Knights Youth female chess players from Intermediate School 318 Brooklyn, long running national chess champions

Join the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, 9Queens and Wuchess on July 5, 2208 from 3pm to 6pm at the Chelsea Art Museum, 556 W. 22nd Street, New York, NY
The Hip Hop Chess Federation is a nonprofit organization that uses chess, music and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence. The HHCF focuses on helping today's youth find the right life strategy to make a better future for themselves, their families and their community. For a list of upcoming or past events, visit www.hiphopchessfederation.org.

WuChess is the world's first online urban chess and social network communuity. Founded by RZA of WuTang Clan and Chesspark.com, a portion of the proceeds will fund the Hip-Hop Chess Federation Scholarship Program.

9 Queens is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and at-risk youth through chess. For more information on events and programs visit www.9queens.org.

GeneChing

07-17-2008, 03:55 PM

No hip hop tho... :(

Where chess and boxing meet in center of the ring (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/17/MNIG11Q51E.DTL&hw=chess+boxing&sn=001&sc=1000)
Recently minted sport combines up to 24 minutes of the top thinking game with up to 5 rounds of the top fighting game
Patrick McGroarty, Associated Press
Thursday, July 17, 2008
(07-17) 04:00 PDT Berlin - --

Nikolay Sazhin almost knocked out his opponent with a blow to the chin in the second round. But he had to take the queen to win the match.

In front of 1,000 cheering fans one recent Saturday night, Sazhin moved his bishop to go in for the kill and won the world championship of chess boxing, a weird hybrid sport that combines as many as five rounds of pugilism with a game of chess.

The combatants switch back and forth between boxing and chess - repeatedly putting their gloves on and taking them off, so that they can move the pieces around the board without clumsily knocking them over - in a sort of brains-and-brawn biathlon.

"It's the No. 1 thinking game and the No. 1 fighting game," said Iepe Rubingh, the sport's 32-year-old founder.
Idea from comic book

Rubingh's inspiration was "Cold Equator," a 1992 French comic book in which two heavyweight boxers beat each other's brains out for 12 rounds and then play a 45-hour game of chess.

"That's not functional. So I thought about how it could work," Rubingh said.

In his version, a chessboard is brought into the ring on a table and the combatants play four minutes, after which the board is wheeled off very carefully so the pieces don't fall over. Then the fighters put on the gloves and trade punches for a round, after which the board is brought back. The pattern is repeated over and over. The chess game can last up to 24 minutes.

If you knock your opponent out, the chess is over, too, and you win the match. If you beat your opponent at chess, then the boxing is over, and you are the victor. In the case of a draw at the chessboard, the boxer with more points in the ring is declared the winner.

Rubingh uses an electronic chessboard that lets spectators watch the action projected onto a pair of large ringside screens.

In 2003, some 800 people turned out in Amsterdam to watch an exhibition match between Rubingh and a friend.

"It was a catastrophe. I lost my queen in the second round of chess," he said.

But the loss didn't stop him from pursuing his dream.

The Dutchman returned to Berlin - where he has lived for a decade - and set out to find tough fighters who could also play a good game of chess.
Many boxers in Germany

Germany has emerged as a major boxing center, attracting top talent from Eastern Europe. Most of the world's top heavyweight fighters are natives of Russia and Ukraine, and many train in Hamburg.

Rubingh knows he won't be recruiting either boxers or chess players at the top of their game, but he believes there is a deep reservoir of talent among amateur and lower-ranked pro fighters with sharp, tactical minds.

One of his first prospects was Frank Stoldt, a 37-year-old Berlin riot police officer and amateur kickboxer. Stoldt was also an obsessive chess player who often lost himself in late-night online matches.
2 champs already

"Both disciplines are aggressive," Stoldt said. He started training at Rubingh's chess boxing gym in Berlin. In November, he won the sport's first world championship in Berlin.

He lost his belt this month to Sazhin, a 19-year-old Russian.

Sazhin learned about the sport while surfing the Internet, and tried out by mailing boxing tapes to Rubingh and playing him in online chess games. Rubingh thinks he could be the first of many chess boxers from a country that has embraced fighters and idolizes chess players like Garry Kasparov and Boris Spassky.

It was long after midnight in a Berlin warehouse when Sazhin and Stoldt entered the ring and sat down at the chessboard.

Stoldt moved quickly to establish a defensive perimeter of pawns, while Sazhin staggered his diagonally. Switching to boxing, Sazhin attacked Stoldt with a relentless series of body blows that left the German exhausted.

Back at the chessboard, Stoldt looked distracted, and he left his queen vulnerable as he scurried to protect an exposed bishop. Sazhin pounced, forcing Stoldt to concede the match.

In addition to the title and the belt, the champion won a cash prize. Rubingh would not disclose how much but said it was mostly symbolic at this point, and "it's nothing compared to professional boxing."

"To see these 120-kilogram (264-pound) guys sitting there playing chess, it's like a photo montage," said 27-year-old chess-boxing fan Yarim Fahre. "The different strengths, the tactics - it doesn't go together."

The rules

-- A chess boxing match starts at the chessboard. In this version of speed chess, each player has a total of 12 minutes in which to beat his opponent. During a player's turn, the clock is running. When he completes a move, he stops his clock and his opponent's clock starts ticking.

-- When the contestants have played four minutes of chess between them, the board game is suspended and they put on their gloves. The boxing is in three-minute rounds. After each boxing round, contestants have a one-minute rest before returning to the chessboard. The contest can last as long as five boxing rounds and six chess rounds.

-- If you knock your opponent out, the chess is over, too, and you win the match. If you beat your opponent at chess, then the boxing is over, and you win. In the case of a draw at the chessboard, the boxer with more points in the ring is declared the winner.

GeneChing

08-14-2008, 09:15 AM

Check it. (http://hiphopchessfederation.wordpress.com/) There's a feature on the Mind over Matter in our 2008 Sep/Oct (http://www.martialartsmart.net/kf200148.html), on stands now.

I met with Adisa yesterday. He sounded like Darth Vader because someone choked him out in practice last week and that messed with his windpipe. He kicked me down a copy of his book Lyrical Swords Vol: II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFeqdgqXusI). Their next event is Oct 11, but I'm scheduled for the Qigong Symposium and Training Workshop at Ohlone College (http://www.ohlone.edu/instr/wellnesscenter/20081000qigongsymposium.html) that day. Looks like I'm gonna have to hustle then...

GeneChing

09-09-2008, 10:35 AM

Clyde Smith of Prohiphop.com was kind enough to give us and HHCF some props. I heard from Adisa yesterday - he's in L.A. with RZA. :cool:

September 01, 2008
Hip Hop Chess Federation in Kung Fu Magazine (http://www.prohiphop.com/2008/09/hip-hop-chess-f.html)
The Sep/Oct issue of Kung Fu Magazine has a report by Gene Ching titled Mind Over Matter: Chess & Grappling Exhibition by the Hip Hop Chess Federation which includes mention of RZA's involvement in the HHCF though the grappling aspect has been developed by Adisa Banjoko.

GeneChing

09-15-2008, 12:09 PM

Here's the press release on that Oct 11 event. That's going to be a busy day for me.

UFC Fighters to Play Rappers at HHCF Annual Chess Kings Invitational

Actors, Rappers, Chess Masters, and UFC Fighters Come Together for Charity Chess & Grappling Event

The Hip-Hop Chess Federation is proud to announce the Annual Chess Kings Invitational. The Hip-Hop Chess Federation fuses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence. The Chess Kings Invitational is a charity chess tournament where celebrities and youth interact through a variety of avenues. Due to the popularity of the event, the HHCF will host the Invitational at the San Francisco Cow Palace. Everyone is invited to enjoy a variety of events from a traditional scholastic chess tournament, blind chess match, human chess, celebrity chess exhibition, scholarship tournament, grappling demo and more on Saturday October 11, 2008.

UFC Fighters Rich Franklin and Jeff Monson, RZA & GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, Rakaa from Dilated Peoples and pioneer female MC Roxanne Shante are just some of the stars participating in the celebrity tournament. Best selling author of The Art of Learning and chess master Josh Waitzkin, Rich Franklin, RZA and Ralek Gracie will participate on a panel called "Fitness of Body & Mind ". A second panel "Art and Education" will feature Roxanne Shante, Josh Waitzkin, author of children's book Chess Rumble Greg Neri and Def Poetry Jam's Amir Sulaiman.

There will be a standard scholastic chess competition for youth and adults. Additionally, four schools selected by the HHCF will play in the Scholarship Invitational where they will compete for education scholarships. A Brazilian jiu jitsu exhibition by MMA fighter Ralek Gracie and Rakaa will also take place. There will be open free chess gaming all day and those who do not know how to play can learn the basics from HHCF chess mentors.

"We are enthusiastic and grateful to all the celebrities, kids and educators coming together for the Chess Kings Invitational" said CEO Adisa Banjoko. "This Invitational is going to be an incredible event. These are tough times for many of America's youth. Nevertheless the HHCF remains unflinching in our goal to share the countless educational and artistic life options for them in this world. People are flying in from all over the country to participate. We're are grateful for all the rappers, chess masters and martial artists who have donated their time to teaching kids healthy alternatives to violence on the streets."

UFC's Rich Franlkin stated " I'm excited to a part of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation event. Anything that can help young people better their lives is worth it for me."

Fellow UFC vet Jeff Monson is eager to attend after missing last years event due to a car accident. "I look forward to coming out to the Chess Kings Invitational and teach the kids about staying focused and having fun" said Monson. "I want them to know that it is equally important to train your brain and body to get the most out of life."

To sign up for the tournament visit: http://www.hiphopchessfederation.org/kings2008

Partners for the Annual Chess Kings Invitational include Scion and Bay Area Chess. Other sponsors include JW Foundation, www.thechesspiece.com, www.onthemat.com, www.friendster.com and Cal Chess.org. To be a sponsor for this event or for more information on how to participate visit www.hiphopchessfederation.org/kings2008 today!

GeneChing

09-19-2008, 10:29 AM

The Cow Palace. My old 'hood.

UFC Fighters to Play Wu-Tang Clan at HHCF 2nd Annual Chess Kings Invitational
Chess Masters, Rappers and MMA Fighters Come Together for Charity Chess & Grappling
Sept. 15, 2008 - San Francisco, CA- The Hip-Hop Chess Federation is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Chess Kings Invitational. The Hip-Hop Chess Federation fuses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence. The Chess Kings Invitational is a charity chess tournament where celebrities and youth interact through a variety of avenues. Due to the popularity of the event, the HHCF will host the 2nd Annual Chess Kings Invitational at the San Francisco Cow Palace. Everyone is invited to join the team on Saturday October 11, 2008 starting with a scholastic tournament.
UFC Fighters Rich Franklin and Jeff Monson, RZA & GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, Rakaa from Dilated Peoples and pioneer female MC Roxanne Shante are just some of the stars participating in the celebrity tournament. Best selling author of The Art of Learning and chess master Josh Waitzkin, Rich Franklin, RZA and Ralek Gracie will participate on a panel called "Fitness of Body & Mind ". A second panel "Art and Education" will feature Roxanne Shante, Josh Waitzkin, author of children's book Chess Rumble Greg Neri and Def Poetry Jam's Amir Sulaiman.
There will be a standard scholastic chess competition for youth and adults. Additionally, four schools selected by the HHCF will play in the HHCF Scholarship Invitational for scholarship money. A Brazilian jiu jitsu exhibition by MMA fighter Ralek Gracie and Rakaa will also take place. There will be open free chess gaming all day and those who do not know how to play can learn the basics from HHCF chess mentors.
"We are enthusiastic and grateful to all the celebrities, kids and educators coming together for the Chess Kings Invitational" said CEO Adisa Banjoko. "This
Invitational is going to be an incredible event. These are tough times for many of America's youth. Nevertheless the HHCF remains unflinching in our goal to share the countless educational and artistic life options for them in this world. People are flying in from all over the country to participate. We're are grateful for all the rappers, chess masters and martial artists who have donated their time to teaching kids healthy alternatives to violence on the streets."
UFC's Rich Franlkin stated " I'm excited to a part of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation event. Anything that can help young people better their lives is worth it for me."
Fellow UFC vet Jeff Monson is eager to attend after missing last years event due to a car accident. "I look forward to coming out to the Chess Kings Invitational and teach the kids about staying focused and having fun" said Monson. "I want them to know that it is equally important to train your brain and body to get the most out of life."
To sign up for the tournament visit: http://www.hiphopchessfederation.org/kings2008
Partners for the 2nd Annual Chess Kings Invitational include Scion and Bay Area Chess. Other sponsors include JW Foundation, www.thechesspiece.com, www.onthemat.com, www.friendster.com and Cal Chess.org. To be a sponsor for this event or for more information on how to participate visit www.hiphopchessfederation.org/kings2008 today!

FLYERS:
http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/classof92/?action=view&current=hhcf_flyer_sideB_final2.jpg
http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m295/classof92/?action=view&current=hhcf_flyer_sideA_final2.jpg

GeneChing

10-07-2008, 10:12 AM

I just got a press release from the HHCF.

Annual Celebrity Invitational
Has moved from to Feb. 28, 2009
Oct 11th has been postponed to 2/28/2009

Mark your calendars

Many of you have already received personal emails from myself announcing the change in date for the Celebrity & Scholarship Invitational. Due to financial constraints for our monetary sponsors we have deceided to move the date of the event to Feb. 2009. This will allow our sponsors to provide services needed for the hundreds of youth that had applied for financial aid. All our celebrity guest were more than happy to wait until February, knowing the positive oppoutunities the new date will provide to hundreds of students.

We are working with our sponsors to ensure all current financial aid applications will be provided for as result of the date change. The HHCF is also looking forward to suppling more prizes for our scholarship & scholastic players. We will keep you updated, but watch for registration which will begin January 2009!

GeneChing

01-29-2009, 12:31 PM

HHCF's Mind Over Matter II is scheduled for Feb 28, 2009.

HHCF Presents: Mind Over Matter 2 feat. RZA & Rakaa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xidoQ-JLJcY)

GeneChing

02-16-2009, 04:40 PM

Good Morning America Weekend (http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6882154). Unfortunately I have a schedule conflict with HHCF's 2/28 event, but I encourage y'all to go.

GeneChing

02-25-2009, 05:41 PM

Feb 28th in SF: HHCF Mind Over Matter 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O5wuckjcQ8&feature=channel_page)

This weekend!

GeneChing

02-26-2009, 05:21 PM

And it's free to the public. All you S.F. locals who keep telling me you want to meet the RZA, here's your chance.

Mind Over Matter II (http://www.hiphopchessfederation.org/kings2008)
February 28, 2009
JOHN O'CONNELL HIGH SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
2355 Folsom Street (@19th Street), San Francisco, CA 94110

The HHCF presents Mind of Matter II. Last year over 500 guest from around the globe participated in a variety of events including the HHCF scholastic tournament & celebrity life strategies panel. This years event will offer even more prizes, celebrity guest and other special surprise. Due to high demand and the economic constraints of many students and their families, the HHCF has formatted this event to be free to the public.

Guest of the Mind Over Matter II event will enjoy a variety of events such as grappling exhibition feature UFC/MMA fighters, panels featuring RZA (who's credits include films such as American Gangster, Afro-Samurai and Grammy Award winning group Wu-Tang Clan) and many more special guest and events throughout the
day.

I won't be there personally this time because of a scheduling conflict, but there will be reps from Tiger Claw and KungFuMagazine.com.

GeneChing

02-27-2009, 10:47 AM

Remember, this event is FREE! Stop by and check it out.

Hip Hop Chess Federation Presents "Mind Over Matter II" (http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2009/02/hip_hop_chess_federation_prese.php)
By Eric Arnold in Arts, Free Tickets, Music
Thursday, Feb. 26 2009 @ 9:42AM

If you thought chess was a game for old dudes with goiters, Market Street hustlers, and nerdy four-eyes kids, think again. The South Bay-based Hip Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) has completely redefined the image chess by making it a kid-friendly, urban art form emphasizing life skills. Thanks to the HHC, chess is suddenly cool; they've brought a whole new dimension to the classic game of mathematic strategy. Past HHCF events have featured hip-hop luminaries such as Wu-Tang's RZA and GZA; Dilated Peoples' Rakaa; political emcees Paris and Immortal Technique; and a wealth of local stars, including Q-Bert, San Quinn, Balance, Casual, and filmmaker Kevin Epps. Chess champ and best-selling author Josh Waitzkin and MMA fighter Ralek Gracie have also been featured participants. The 64 squares are no longer just for squares, it seems.

Coming on the heels off recent appearances on "Good Morning America" and NBC 11 (the HHCF has also been featured in the New York Times and XXL), "Mind Over Matter II" combines a celebrity chess tournament (featuring RZA, Casual and poet Amir Sulaiman), a life strategies panel discussion, and jiu-jitsu exhibitions by Alan "Gumby" Marques from Heroes Martial Arts, Denny "300" Prokopos from 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, and rope dart master Don Kiolbassa. "Mind Over Matter II" happens February 28th at John O'Connell High School (2355 Folsom St.) from 11 am-5 pm, and is FREE to watch or participate.

GeneChing

03-06-2009, 12:31 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0H4cHGdlsk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0H4cHGdlsk)

Sorry I missed out. I hear it was a real good time...for a real good cause.

GeneChing

06-01-2009, 01:19 PM

Registration opens June 15th (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4mugcriKhU)

Strangely, I'm already booked for this day. :(

GeneChing

10-12-2009, 11:45 AM

...sadly I had to miss last weekend's event. It was a very busy weekend in S.F.

Hip-Hop Chess Federation Fuses Music, Chess And Martial Arts (http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/hiphopmediatraining/225324/hip-hop-chess-federation-fuses-music-chess-and-martial-arts/)
Posted Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:09am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Two hundred and fifty people expected to attend the Hip-Hop Chess Federation's West Coast Kings & Queens Tournament in San Francisco Saturday will learn about the real life persona behind the queen figure in the game of chess.

The influential fifteenth century queen Queen Isabella of Castile will be one of the topics discussed during the "All Queens Life Strategies" panel featured at the eighth HHCF tournament that fuses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy, and non-violence.

After Queen Isabella was crowned in 1475, the chess queen figure also gained a higher ranking, becoming the most powerful player in the game.

HHCF Founder and CEO Adisa Banjoko found Queen Isabella's story so encouraging that he wanted to address it at the free event taking place at John O'Connell High School from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Banjoko sought out "Birth of the Chess Queen" author Marilyn Yalom to sit on the "All Queens Life Strategies" panel alongside female rappers Conscious Daughters and Melina Jones, DJ Pam, as well as Jean Hoffman from the nonprofit chess educational organization 9 Queens.

"Marilyn's presence will help us fuse classical history and contemporary culture," Banjoko said about the senior scholar at Standford's Institute for Women and Gender. "The HHCF wants these girls to learn how to make thinking and acting like a queen a daily habit."

Other confirmed guests include Rakaa Iriscience from Dilated Peoples, Ray Luv, Traxamillion, Casual from Hieroglyphics, Balance and Big Rich, and KMEL Street Soldiers DJ Malcolm Marshall.

In addition to the traditional rated chess tournament, the day will also include celebrity chess matches, martial arts exhibitions, graffiti art battles, and b-boy ciphers.

Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA competed in the February tournament. The HHCF has launched the HHCF Europe in Romania and also opened an office in Norfolk, Virginia. It has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to contest winners.

GeneChing

07-20-2010, 02:57 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs103.ash2/38483_449671539362_135964689362_6080063_3761759_n. jpg

He's in training for a BJJ blue belt match. He said Rakaa (http://www.myspace.com/rakaa)'s new CD drops today and it has a lot of MMA influence. Rakaa is heavy into BJJ.

GeneChing

11-23-2010, 01:34 PM

Check out Assault & Battery: Rakaa Mixes Martial Arts & Masters Hip Hop (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=933) by Rahman Jamaal McCreadie

GeneChing

12-09-2011, 12:30 PM

Just hear about this...

Hip Hop Meets Chess to Combat Violence (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Hip-Hop-Meets-Chess-to-Combat--Violence-135327418.html)
Grab your chessboards if you love hip-hop!
By Scott Budman
| Friday, Dec 9, 2011 | Updated 10:55 AM PST

Grab your chessboards if you love hip-hop...

Once again, the Bay Area-based Hip-Hop Chess Federation is back with another one of its terrific events, blending cool music, scholarship, and the game of kings. Started by HHCF founder Adisa Banjoko, with help from rappers like Rza of Wu-Tang Clan, Raaka of Dilated Peoples, Casual from Hieroglyphics, and others, the event aims to bring kids together with their heroes to play chess.

It's that simple, but the results can be amazing. By playing chess, kids learn about alternatives to violence, and like the game itself, they learn the importance of patience, and thinking about the consequences of a move.

As Banjoko says, "The Bay has had a lot of violence and tension and we put this event together in hope of balancing the nagativity, with a wave of positivity."

If you're interested in playing or helping, the event is saturday the 10th at John O'Connell High School in San Francisco. It runs from 10am to 2pm.

Come for the DJ .. stay for the chess.

GeneChing

02-10-2012, 10:39 AM

Adisa made the cover of a chess mag recently. Saw it on his facebook.

Hip hop, chess and Jiu-Jitsu featured at free event in San Jose on Saturday (http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_19936023)
By Lisa Fernandez
lfernandez@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/10/2012 06:34:25 AM PST
Updated: 02/10/2012 08:41:28 AM PST

On any given weekend, attending a chess tournament, a hip hop fest, or a martial arts competition in the Bay Area wouldn't be that unusual.

Going to an event fusing all three is a different story.

And that's what's being touted Saturday at the Alum Rock Youth Center in San Jose: The 5th anniversary of the Hip Hop Chess Federation, the brainchild of a school security guard who teaches at-risk youth that these trio of activities use similar skills of combat, patience and logic.

"People laugh when they hear hip hop and chess in the same sentence," said Adisa "The Bishop" Banjoko, 42, of Fremont, the federation's founder. "That's because they think that people who do hip hop are ignorant. But when they see us playing chess, it messes with their brains and with their ideas of who we can be."

The event at the city of San Jose's youth center will boast an all-day chess tournament, where DJ Unexpected from San Jose and Jahi from Oakland will spin tunes, and free Ju-Jitsu workshops will be led by Alan "Gumby" Marques of Heroes Martial Arts in San Jose. The Bay Area Chess Club will officiate chess matches and a "life strategies panel" will be co-led by Asheru of Washington, D.C. best known for rapping on the Boondocks theme song.

The anniversary celebrates five years of hard work by Banjoko, who kicked off his first event in 2007 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in San Jose. Since then, Banjoko has taken his teachings all over, from a hip hop convention at Harvard University to San Francisco Juvenile Hall. His unusual approach to helping kids has garnered the attention of the New York Times and Good Morning America.

Banjoko keeps spreading his message anywhere he can. Last week, he showed up at Gunderson High School, where a social science teacher is a rap buddy of his. Over pizza, Banjoko aired YouTube videos of rappers GZA and T.I. who play chess or rap about chess in their videos.

"Pull those themes and principles of the chess board and live them out in real life," Banjoko told the students. His basic mantra is to do any of these three activities well, you must calm your body and mind.

"That was really cool,'' said Devin Macias, 16, afterward. "I wasn't expecting that." The presentation also brought together students who might actually never have lunch together otherwise: Shawn Mavunga, who is black and president of Gunderson's hip hop club, and Evan Mancuso, 15, who is white and a chess aficionado.

Banjoko has received support from stars from each of the activities, such as: Los Angeles MC Rakaa Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Brazilian-born Jiu-Jitsu artist Ralek Gracie of Southern California, and international chess master/martial arts competitor Joshua Waitzkin, the inspiration for the movie, "Searching for Bobby Fischer."

One of his hardest working volunteers is his wife, Meko Gaborski, who runs a cheerleading program, Raw Talents in Fremont, and who has watched her husband put as many hours into volunteering as he does his day job, being a security guard at John O'Connell High School in Francisco.

Banjoko acknowledges he is woefully "underemployed. " He has been living paycheck to paycheck to support his wife and three children. (He is an author, and used to work in public relations for some Silicon Valley startups until the economy went sour.)

Banjoko said he can relate to the troubles facing the students he teaches,

Born Jason Parker to a middle class family in San Francisco, he grew up loving to read. His father taught him how to play chess and to appreciate music. Taking pride in his African roots, he took the name Adisa Banjoko in the 1980s, and freelanced articles about hip hop to magazines such as Vibe, XXL and Bomb.

But Banjoko admitted he was a "loose cannon" and didn't take advantage of the opportunities open to him. He dropped out of high school in Pacifica, although he did later earned a GED.

His work with street kids is an outgrowth of those lost opportunities.

"I think I do this because I'm trying to be the person I wish I would have known in high school so I would have graduated and gone to college on time," he said.

Banjoko admits he sees many of the girls drinking too much and getting pregnant; he sees many of the guys dissing his chess games for gangs.

But he's gratified by the success stories.

One young San Francisco girl played in an all-girls tournament he set up. A few years later she was invited to a chess event in Texas. Afterward, she was recruited, he said, on full scholarship to Texas Tech. "I literally cried at my desk," he said.

Another young boy he knew was severely overweight and doing poorly in school. Banjoko gave him a diet, a workout chart and comic books to read. When the boy came back to school after the summer, he had lost 80 pounds. He now attends junior college.

"That's what I'm taking about," Banjoko said. "I'm just trying to help these kids navigate the streets."

GeneChing

01-14-2014, 09:39 AM

RZA Is Defending His Title As Chess Master On Valentine’s Day (http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/rza-is-defending-his-title-as-chess-master-on-valentines-day/)
JAN 13TH, '14 • NEWS • by CHRISTIAN BONOAN

http://www.xxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/rza_2.jpg
The RZA is ready to defend his throne as hip-hop’s head chess master at this year’s Hip Hop Chess Federation’s celebrity tournament. The Chess Kings Invitational will take place on Valentine’s Day in California. The proceeds will go toward starting after-school programs in South Central Los Angeles.

RZA, the company’s Director of Outreach, and HHCF’s founder, Adisa “Bishop” Banjoko, will each choose a high school to receive donations. The Shaolin native has yet to decide on an institution, while Adisa named local Santee High School as one of the fundraiser’s beneficiaries.

If you’re not a fan of pawns and rooks, the Hip Hop Chess Federation will also facilitate other educational events that day, including the Mind Over Matter Panel, which will feature martial artists, teachers and other celebrated chess masters spreading knowledge via a roundtable discussion.

In addition to raising funds, The Chess Kings Invitational hopes to promote hip-hop, chess and martial arts as outlets young people can use to unite and maintain a non-violent outlook on life.

The Wu-Tang Clan’s sonic mastermind was victorious at the event’s inaugural competition in 2007 and is looking forward to facing upcoming challengers, releasing an official statement saying: “I am looking forward to the upcoming chess battle at the HHCF Chess Kings Invitational in Los Angeles.”
Adisa texted me about this but I can't get away for Valentine's Day weekend. :(

GeneChing

08-15-2014, 10:58 AM

I promised Adisa I would stop by after the ITKFA Chinese Martial Arts Championship (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67960-ITKFA-Chinese-Martial-Arts-Championship). Hope to see some of you there!

Hip-Hop Chess Facility Opens In Fremont (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Hip-Hop-Chess-Facility-Opens-In-Fremont-271406561.html)
Music and chess to help young people
By Scott Budman

http://media.nbcbayarea.com/images/485*485/e18f0aac31f311e3835722000a1fbce58.jpg

Friday, Aug 15, 2014 • Updated at 9:52 AM PDT

"Wait a minute, and think about what you're going to do next. It might save your life."

I remember that line from an interview - it wasn't a firefighter at a disaster drill, though. It was from Rza, hip-hop icon from Wu Tang Clan, and he was talking about the game of chess.

Hip-Hop and chess have been linked for years, thanks largely to an organization launched in part by Rza, called the Hip-Hop Chess Federation. The HHCF has been taking at-risk youth, and sitting then down at chessboards for years. The results have been amazing.

And now HHCF, already active in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, is opening its newest facility saturday, in Fremont.

"The HHCF Community Education Center will help young people improve their grades, sense of purpose, and physical attributes," says organization founder Adisa Banjoko.

I've played chess with Banjoko. He's good, but never happier than when he's being beaten by a young person - or, better yet, when he sees a rapper (and many show up to play: Rza, Rakaa Iriscience, Immortal Technique, DJ QBert, and D Labrie are just a few of the Hip-Hop studs who play with young people, jaws dropping as they try to maneuver against their heroes) going against a young person.

If you're interested in a game, or in seeing lives being changed, saturday's opening starts at 1pm, at 3396 Seldon Court in Fremont. There will be music, lectures, martial arts, and of course, lots of chess.

As HHCF Director of Education Arash Daneshzadeh tells us, "The Center will give young people a place where their minds can thrive, free of judgement, and actualize their academic goals."

Chess used to be nerdy. Now, it's part of Hip-Hop culture, and that's cool.

Scott moves on Twitter: @scottbudman

GeneChing

08-18-2014, 11:54 AM

HHCF (http://hiphopchessfederation.org/) is now open.

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/l/t1.0-9/10385299_10152729395694363_648699437952103761_n.jp g?oh=d541da9e71f4e94e2f8f5634c5e1734d&oe=547B0C71

GeneChing

06-15-2015, 08:45 AM

Wonder if HHCF is hip to this...

Shaolin Chess Tournament: Register for Saturday's event (http://www.silive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/06/shaolin_chess_tournament_check.html)

http://imgick.silive.com/home/silive-media/width960/img/advance/photo/2015/06/12/-04f973cb10482ce7.jpg
7th-Annual Shaolin Chess Tournament takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of the Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Pl in St. George. The Shaolin Tournament is free and open to beginners, intermediate and advanced players. Registration and check in begins at 11 a.m. The boards will heat up at 11:30 a.m.
By Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com
on June 12, 2015 at 7:32 PM, updated June 13, 2015 at 2:23 AM

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Got game?

Prove it at the 7th-Annual Shaolin Chess Tournament from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, on the grounds of the Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place in St. George.

"Chess is a game of patience, a game of strategy," says Bobby Digi, who is again producing the event for his youth-unity-focused Island Voice nonprofit. "If they are able to learn the game, then they'll be able to apply it to their daily lives."

Digi also stresses that the free event offers "young and elderly folk a platform to have a positive exchange .. contributing to a healthier and safer community on S.I."

The Shaolin Tournament is free and open to beginners, intermediate and advanced players. Registration and check in begins at 11 a.m. The boards will heat up at 11:30 a.m.

Judge from Chess-In The Schools will be on hand —and invite you to reserve your spot in the competition right now at EventBrite.com.

Since 1986, Chess-in-the-Schools has taught, inspired and empowered more than 400,000 students in Title I New York City public schools. Through structured classroom, after-school, weekend and summer programs, the organization uses chess as an educational tool to promote learning and to help young people develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving.

Trophies are sponsored by Glen Mancuso's ALL STATE on Bay Street. Special prizes are donated by Chess Forum & Health Plus Amerigroup.

Plus: Staten Island's famous original Ralph's Ices and lunch provided by Brooklyn's Famous John's Deli.

Partner organizations and schools include: S.I. Museum, Make Your Move Chess & Checkers Program, Gerard Carter Community Center, St. Peter's Boys, Curtis High School Chess Club, I AM CULTURE, Middle School Sports and St. Phillips Baptist Church.

— For more information or to volunteer, email pr@islandvoice.org or Facebook.

MORE ABOUT ISLAND VOICE:

Mission: Island Voice has continued to engage civic, religious, political, community and business leaders to help develop and sustain a vibrant arts platform in support of the arts and culture on Staten Island; offer workshops, lectures and symposiums to facilitate increased knowledge in financial literacy and the fundamentals of personal finance; to encourage job training and education to benefit its constituents, especially the youths of Staten Island.

Company Overview: Island Voice, Inc. is an emerging non-profit organization based on Staten Island New York. The group's mission is to act as a resource in promoting community development by facilitating solutions to effect positive and lasting change in the lives of its constituents through Economic Empowerment opportunities, Youth Advocacy and Training and to cultivate a positive environment of cultural pride and unity amongst Staten islanders in General! with an initial focus on hard to reach African, African-American and Caribbean Communities of Staten Island in particular.

Description: We achieve our mission goals yearly by building on and developing platforms that bridge the divide in our diverse community through Educational symposiums, Youth Summits,voters drive, Historical events such as the First Staten island African heritage Day-Parade (Founded by Bobby Digi under Island Voice inc 2007) ,chess tournaments ,workshops, historical,Arts and cultural festivals community outreach ,public awareness campaign and also numerous collaborations with multiple organizations that share our mission Statement.

'Got game? (http://www.martialartsmart.com/95-034.html)' indeed!
http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-91116643660013/got-game-21.gif
:cool:

GeneChing

02-08-2017, 09:48 AM

Coming in 2 weeks.

https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F27410587%2F 199544956964%2F1%2Foriginal.jpg?w=800&rect=0%2C222%2C816%2C408&

DATE AND TIME
Sat, Feb 25, 2017, 11:00 AM –
Sun, Feb 26, 2017, 8:00 PM PST

LOCATION
42660 Christy Street
Suite B
Fremont, CA 94538

Unity in Diversity: Trends in Hip-Hop Ed, Art & Technology (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unity-in-diversity-trends-in-hip-hop-ed-art-technology-tickets-31246996608?aff=es2)
by Hip-Hop Chess
$10
Actions and Detail Panel

Event Information
DESCRIPTION
The Hip-Hop Chess Federation is hosting a 2 day event: Unity in Diversity: Hip-Hop Ed, Art & Technology. The purchase of ONE ticket gets you in for BOTH DAYS!! It is a two day event. Unity in Diversity is an event for teachers, parents and students to see the latest methods in which Hip-Hop, art and technology are helping get kids college ready and/or groomed for entreprenuership. How are people using Hip-Hop to educate? What are the best tech tools for your kids? What are the best methods for teachers to use Hip-Hop into the classroom. How are martia arts being used to help the local community?
Confirmed speakers/panelists include:
Confirmed Speakers/Panelists include: Dr. David Timony, Dr. Terri Givens, Dr. Charity Clay, Dr. Itoco Garcia, Dr. Elliot Gann, Scott Budman, Miki Noda, Milan Drake, Andrew Swank, Mazi Mutafa, Nate Nevado, Leroy Moore, Demone Carter, Dug Infinite, D'Juan Owens, Rahman Jamaal, T-KASH, Zion I, Paul Moran, Casey Wong, Alan "Gumby" Marques, Tom Callos, Eliot Kelly, Daniel Zarazua, Alia Sharrief, Vince Bayyan, Ras Ceylon, + Very special guests!
There will be four panels and a keynote for each day.
Unity in Diversity Inaugural Event Outline

Who: HHCF is hosting an education event for teachers and parents.

What: Unity in Diversity will give educators and parents seeking to get their kids into college a look at the latest innovative methodologies and digital tools in education, art and technology.

When: The event will be a 2 day event Feb 25-26 2017.

Where: It will take place at the HHCF facility 42660 Christy St. Suite B, Fremont, CA 94538 (Look for the door with 3 crowns!).

Why: Educators are often looking for ways to effectively infuse Hip-Hop and technology into the classroom. Parents are always looking for new ways to give their kids an edge academically. The rise of Hamilton and countless university courses on Hip-Hop across the world have given new credibility to what rap, dance and other forms of Hip-Hop art can do for American schools. This event will highlight the best practices and look at the latest trends with leaders from their respective fields.

Feb 25th:
11 AM Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders: Where Do We Get it Right and Where Do We Fall Short? Dr. Itoco Garcia (Cherryland Elementary), Leroy Moore ( Krip Hop Nation), Aliah Sharrief (Artist Activist), Ras Ceylon (Educator/Activist) Moderator, Daniel Zarazua (Founder Pochino Press/ Educator Unity High School)- Moderator- T-KASH (Student Parent Counselor UC Berkeley)
2 PM Panel Fight Philanthropy: How Martial Artists Give Back Panelists- Paul Moran (Founder Open Mat Radio/ Philanthropist), Casey Wong (Stanford Ed. PhD/Martial Artist), Rahman Jamaal (Rap Force Academy), Tom Callos (The 100/Philanthropist), Gumby (Heroes Martial Artst/Philanthropist), Eliot Kelly (Jiu-Jitsu Inst/Educator) Moderator- D’Juan Owens (Founder, Fight 4 Uganda)
4 PM Panel (1:15 min w/ 45 min intermission) Hip-Hop, Art, Technology and Gender Panelists- Dr. Charity Clay (Sociology Prof. Merritt College), Mya Canty (100% College), Miki Noda (5th Element), Moderator- Meek Gaborski, HHCF VP of Operations
6 Keynote: Real Genius or Artificial Intelligence? Dr. David Timony of Delaware Valley College

Feb 26th:
11 AM SPECIAL YOUTH PANEL- TBD (line-up announced soon)
2 PM Panel (1:15 min w/ 45 min intermission) The Hamiltonization of Hip-Hop: Is Commerce Killing The Culture? Panelists- Demone Carter (Future Arts Now), Doug Infinite (Producer of Common), Nate Nevado (Rock The School Bells), Mazi Mutafa (Words Beats & Life), Moderator- Vince Bayaan, Southeast Dir. for HHCF
4 PM Panel Technology, Science and Hip-Hop: Innovating Beyond the Code Panelists- Milan Drake (Yes We Code), Andrew Swank (UX Engineer, Google), Stephanie Lowe (The Dope Science Show), Sumi Banjoko (Coder/ Founder Fashion Cali) Moderator- Scott Budman, NBC News 11
6 Keynote Dr. Terri Givens (Provost Menlo College): College Readiness: Myth Vs. Reality

GeneChing

07-12-2017, 09:10 AM

http://museumca.org/sites/default/files/styles/exhibits-640x425/public/field/gallery/640x425_boombox.jpg?itok=NgJRGXvK

RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom (http://museumca.org/exhibit/respect-hip-hop-style-wisdom)
March 24–August 12, 2018

Hip-hop is one of the widest reaching cultural and social movements of the last 50 years. Discover the unexpected story of how hip-hop changed the world, starting from its roots on the streets, before rap, DJing, street art, breakdancing, and street fashion launched into mainstream popular culture. Learn about the West Coast’s and San Francisco Bay Area’s influences on this global phenomenon. Hear first-person accounts from artists and experts about how, beyond big business, hip-hop continues to provide a platform for creative expression, activism, youth development, and education.

There is a $4 charge for this special exhibition in addition to regular Museum admission.

Adisa reached out to me about this. Looking forward to it.

GeneChing

07-13-2017, 07:48 AM

I introduced Adisa to Master Mimi. They seemed like a good fit. She had me as a guest on her Culture Chat last month. (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70140-Man-at-Arms-Art-of-War-New-Original-Series-from-EL-REY-Network&p=1303603#post1303603)

https://www.culturechatpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Adisa_Banjoko2.jpg

CChat 24: Adisa Banjoko on blending hip hop, chess, and martial arts (https://www.culturechatpodcast.com/hiphopchess/)
July 11, 2017 by M Chan
Adisa Banjoko, founder of the Hip Hop Chess Federation, developed a unique approach to helping youth embrace and apply alternative strategies to obstacles in life by providing an engaging, interactive program that helps youth cultivate the necessary life skills for success. At his center, they teach a blend of chess, hip hop performing arts, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The center is open to all youths, but is especially programmed for those in violent neighborhoods. I had a fascinating conversation with Adisa about the intersection of hip hop, martial arts, and chess, and found the work he is doing to bring non-violence through these mediums remarkable.

GeneChing

02-06-2018, 10:21 AM

Exhibition
http://museumca.org/sites/default/files/styles/exhibits-640x425/public/field/gallery/RESPECT_OMCA_GoldHeadphones_web.jpg?itok=hDsHFJzs
Gold decorated headphones by FRIENDS x Dolce & Gabanna, featured in RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style and Wisdom at the Oakland Museum of California.

RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom (http://museumca.org/exhibit/respect-hip-hop-style-wisdom)
March 24–August 12, 2018

Hip-Hop is one of the widest reaching cultural and social movements of the last 50 years. Discover the unexpected story of how Hip-Hop changed the world, starting from its roots on the streets, before rap, DJing, street art, breakdancing, and street fashion launched into mainstream popular culture. Learn about the West Coast’s and San Francisco Bay Area’s influences on this global phenomenon. Hear first-person accounts from artists and experts about how, beyond big business, Hip-Hop continues to provide a platform for creative expression, activism, youth development, and education.

There is an additional $4 charge for this special exhibition in addition to regular Museum admission.

RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom is supported in part by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and members of the Donor Forum.

Oakland Museum Gives Hip-Hop the Respect it’s Earned (https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2017/12/20/oakland-museum-gives-hip-hop-the-respect-its-earned/)

https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/12/Dropreg-e1513737342333-768x433.jpg
A photo by artist Amanda Sade Salako, part of 'Respect,' the show coming in March to the Oakland Museum of California. (Photo: Amanda Sade Salako)

By Cy Musiker
DECEMBER 20, 2017

We’re looking ahead this week on The Do List to a few exhibitions we’re excited about in 2018, among them Respect: Hip-Hop Style and Wisdom, opening in March at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). Respect is part of a trend at the Oakland Museum and other institutions to take serious looks at pop culture. (OMCA presented a show about sneakers recently.)

“Hip-hop is misunderstood,” OMCA Senior Curator René de Guzman says, “that it’s all about gangsterism and misogyny. There are elements of that, just as there are negative elements in any cultural form or social group. The other misunderstanding is that hip-hop is simply a music genre, but it extends beyond that to include not only other art forms but principles, values and communities.”

https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/12/Young-Boys.-1981.-East-Flatbush-e1513782831717-800x692.jpg
Young Boys. 1981, East Flatbush. Image from OMCA’s upcoming show about hip-hop. (Photo: Jamel Shabazz/OMCA)

So the exhibit, de Guzman says, will dig deep into hip-hop’s message of authenticity and political activism, with input from Bay Area icons like Oakland rapper and scholar Mystic and the Hip-Hop Chess Federation’s Adisa Banjoko.

My colleague Gabe Meline notes that the show promises to cover the music “beyond big business.” So he’s keen to see how the exhibition covers hustling pioneers like Heiroglyphics and Too Short, who sold tapes out of their trunks in Oakland to build their empires.

I've been asked to participate in a panel discussion for this exhibit. More to come. :cool:

GeneChing

03-12-2018, 01:14 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqSw6I7q9Dk

GeneChing

03-12-2018, 01:15 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqZiLOV810

GeneChing

03-12-2018, 01:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGSvLrRKMmk

GeneChing

03-19-2018, 10:35 AM

It's time for that indie thread on this - copied the previous posts from our Hip-Hop Chess Federation (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41817-Hip-Hop-Chess-Federation) thread.

I'd say this deserves the indie thread just for the "Hip Hop Dojo", but like I said, I've been invited to speak on a panel about the influence of martial arts on Hip Hop. So there's that.

Exhibition

http://museumca.org/sites/default/files/styles/exhibits-640x425/public/field/gallery/RESPECT_OMCA_b-bodhisattva_still-2_web.jpg?itok=TY_7pSpv
A b-boy dancing on a floor painted with a mandala. Still from video Sanford Biggers, Mandala of the B-Bodhisattva II, 2000 featured in RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style and Wisdom at the Oakland Museum of California.

RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom (http://museumca.org/exhibit/respect-hip-hop-style-wisdom)
March 24–August 12, 2018

Hip-Hop is one of the widest reaching cultural and social movements of the last 50 years. Discover the under-recognized story of how Hip-Hop changed the world, starting from its roots on the streets before rap, DJing, graffiti, breakin’ (breakdancing), and street fashion launched into mainstream popular culture. Through photography, video, art, music, dance, fashion, and interactive gallery features, explore how Hip-Hop provides a platform for creative self-expression, activism, positive social change, youth development, entrepreneurialism, and education. Created in collaboration with and participation from numerous members of the Hip-Hop community, RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom tells a fresh story of the evolution of this global phenomenon, and includes a spotlight on Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area’s influence on Hip-Hop culture.

Experiment, practice, and perform in the Hip-Hop Dojo inside the RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom exhibition space, and view the Events calendar for upcoming public programs and workshops.

There is an additional $4 charge for this special exhibition in addition to regular Museum admission.

RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom is supported in part by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and members of the Donor Forum.

GeneChing

03-21-2018, 07:59 AM

https://static.highsnobiety.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/14115840/kung-fu-kenny-main-1200x800.jpg
Alexandre Moors / Good Company

The Real Story Behind Kendrick Lamar’s Kung-Fu Kenny (https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kendrick-lamar-kung-fu-kenny-origin/)
By Fabian Gorsler in Music 1 day ago

Kendrick Lamar has been touring the world in support of his Grammy award winning album ****., and anyone who’s been paying any attention will have seen that the rapper has been performing in front of a rather strange backdrop of short clips. The clips, which depict Kendrick Lamar as his martial arts alter ego Kung Fu Kenny, culminate in him finding what he describes as “the glow.”

When stitched together, the tour clips turn into a short film which has been dubbed The **** Legend of Kung Fu Kenny, which you can watch below. In it, Kendrick Lamar aka Kung Fu Kenny is a promising martial artist that is looking to master his skills. He ultimately does so by finding the glow – in a woman’s vagina no less.

Although a lot has been written about it, not much has been officially communicated about the actual origins of the Kung Fu Kenny act. Some speculate that the name was inspired by Don Cheadle’s character of the same name in Rush Hour 2. This piece by The Fader goes into detail about how Kendrick Lamar admitted to as much.

Lamar first invited his alter ego into the limelight during his “DNA.” music video featuring none other than – you guessed it – Don Cheadle. In the visuals Kung Fu Kenny is given free reign, rapping and simultaneously showing off his combat skills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZRYQMLDW4
continued next post

GeneChing

03-21-2018, 08:00 AM

Since then, Kung Fu Kenny has grown in stature, serving as influence for a pair of Kendrick Lamar x Nike Cortez sneakers and ultimately taking over the ‘****.’ Tour with the above short movie.

While there’s no reason to doubt that the name was taken from Rush Hour 2, there’s also more to Kung Fu Kenny’s journey than meets the eye.

The plot of The **** Legend of Kung Fu Kenny and the journey itself are almost certainly based on a cult martial arts movie called The Last Dragon, the trailer for which you can watch below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Crt4S1IZM

In the movie, a character named Leroy Green aka Bruce Leroy is on a quest to become as great a martial artist as his idol Bruce Lee. Living in New York City, Leroy’s master tells him he has reached the final level of martial arts accomplishment known as “The Last Dragon.”

Those who reach this level are said to be able to discover and harness the power of “the glow,” a mystical power that gives whoever controls it transcendent skill. Once Bruce Leroy has found the glow, he has reached his full potential as a martial artist.

For Kung Fu Kenny, finding the glow means mastering the art of rap and hip-hop. When Lamar’s alter ego finally finds the glow – in a woman’s vagina no less – it signifies that the rapper has reached his full potential as an artist and is at the top of his game.

Lamar’s short film ends with the words “Kung Fu Kenny Found the Motha****in’ Glow Hoe,” signifying that he believes he is one of the biggest hip hop acts around right now. He’s telling his audience he’s a master at his craft and that his artistry is second to none.

Basically, Kung Fu Kenny is the Bruce Leroy of hip-hop and the ****. tour is his journey. The hunt for the elusive glow is a clear reflection of Kendrick Lamar’s career so far, during which he has strived to become the best in his chosen field. And so, in turn, each of the short, pre-recorded clips are simultaneously a glimpse into Kenny’s quest, as well as Kendrick’s because – really – they are one and the same.

While the inspiration is now more or less clear, the motivation behind parodying The Last Dragon still paints a murky picture. The film was dubbed a critical disappointment upon its release in 1985, however, thanks to a passionate fanbase, became a financial success and, later, a cult classic.

As a cult classic set in New York and featuring a predominantly black cast, it makes sense for this movie’s plot to be the inspiration for Kung Fu Kenny’s quest. Hip hop and martial arts have a long and storied history, with more than a few notable songs clearly inspired by Asian culture.

Wu-Tang Clan is the first that jumps to mind. The group’s 1993 album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), was named after the 1978 film The 36th Chamber of the Shaolin. Naturally, when the rap group split up its members carried that influence over to their individual careers. RZA and GZA both released songs that either directly referenced fighting techniques in the title or spit bars like RZA’s “we use tai chi to deflect off our enemy” from his 2003 track “Chi Kung.”

continued next post

GeneChing

03-21-2018, 08:01 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RawqBx8NMGc

Going into more detail is Adisa Banjoko, founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation and author of the book Bobby, Bruce & the Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess. According to him, the connection between black youth and martial arts is as clear as day.

“People often forget that hip-hop was born out of the ashes of the civil rights movement, and so much of that was tied to a reclamation of black male dignity,” he says. “These films—Bruce Lee movies in particular, and a lot of the Shaw Brothers films—often dealt with one man going against an organization, or one man going against an unjust state. Because so much of this was done with just the hands, it was also a tool of the poor. You didn’t have to be rich to have these skills. You just had to be disciplined and be willing to work, and you could have it.

“That was one of the main reasons that the martial arts resonated with African-American males who, people conveniently forget, had all of their warrior traditions literally beaten out of them on slave plantations and in sharecropper/Jim Crow America. So these films were supremely inspirational to masses of black males who felt culturally robbed of their warrior spirit, and inspirational on a philosophical perspective, because of the responsibility that having the skills demanded.”

Another reason Kendrick Lamar might have chosen The Last Dragon as a reference is the fact that the movie was produced by Berry Gordy, best known as the founder of the famous Motown record label. Given that fact, it’s clear that the movie, billed as a martial arts film meets Motown musical, had a strong connection to the music industry from the get go.

Regardless of the motivations behind creating his alter ego and sending him on a journey in search of the glow, Kendrick Lamar’s Kung Fu Kenny shares a lot of similarities with Bruce Leroy of The Last Dragon.

What do you think, does Kung Fu Kenny’s quest have more to do with Bruce Leroy’s than previously thought? Let us know what you think in the comments.

This article references Rush Hour 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?5132-Black-guy-on-Crenshaw-blvd-in-Rush-Hour-2), The Last Dragon (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?63503-The-Last-Dragon), and Wu-Tang Clan (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49338-Wu-Forever!), but I'm only copying it to our The **** Legend of Kung Fu Kenny by Kendrick Lamar (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70234-The-****-Legend-of-Kung-Fu-Kenny-by-Kendrick-Lamar) thread and our Hip-Hop Chess Federation (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41817-Hip-Hop-Chess-Federation) thread. Adisa is an old friend and we've been working together on RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70736-RESPECT-Hip-Hop-Style-amp-Wisdom-Oakland-Museum-March-24%96August-12-2018), a special exhibit that opens in Oakland Museum this weekend.

NOTE: There's one more embedded vid that I couldn't cut&paste here.

GeneChing

12-01-2020, 12:18 PM

Just saw this on the HHCF instagram (https://www.instagram.com/realhiphopchess/)

realhiphopchess
All things have seasons. In 2006 with the help of co-founder #LeoLibiran aka #BlastOne our organization was born. Our goal from the beginning was to fuse music chess and martial arts to promote Unity strategy and non-violence in the Bay Area across America and the world.

We were dismissed by so many and laughed at publicly and privately by people from all three subcultures (chess, hip-hop and martial arts).

In time, people understood that not only what we were promoting was not a gimmick they understood that it had real legs that could reach back into ancient times.

Josh Waitzkin, @rza @therealgza and so many others supported our efforts. The results were both culturally impactful and historic. Breaking attendance records at the World Chess Hall of Fame, the RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom exhibit at #OMCA and others.

Not to mention juvenile hall events in SF, Oakland and Stl.

Plus #bobbybruceandthebronx still a FREE BOOK on www.hiphopchess.blogspot.com The #cloudscroll (my second book on jiu-jitsu techniques ) is up there too!!!

The #cloudscroll my first book jiu-jitsu book of techniques) is still up on www.ironhookebook.blogspot.com

As the American Resurgence of chess explodes today and all these different newspapers and magazines and TV shows and radio shows will look at how it happened NONE of them focus on the role that hip hop played in spreading the game from 1980s to now. But we will not be denied our contributions. They stand eternally in rhymes, skratches and bboy/bgirl moves. They are in graffiti around the world.

We can never thank our supporters, teachers, students, parents and jiu-jitsu representatives enough. Your contributions changed chess in America and the world. You are appreciated.

The endgame is done. Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts won. Domo arigato gozaimas...

GeneChing

12-08-2023, 09:59 AM

The Black Belt from the 47 Ronin Temple (https://medium.com/@AdisaBanjoko/the-black-belt-from-the-47-ronin-179e54fddffa)

Adisa Banjoko aka Bishop
·
Follow
8 min read
·
12 hours ago

A friends journey to Japan to get buy a black belt- gets crazy!
A few months ago, while teaching and training in the UK a friend from SF in The Bay Area. His name is Prof. Greg Watkins at Stanford University. We met through a friend of ours named Remi when Remi invited me to run a youth chess summer program a few summers back. Greg and I hit it off immediately. He teaches philosophy, he knows Shakespeare better than most, and he loved the UFC. How could we not be cool?! He also has a deep respect for Eastern philosophy. I learned a lot from him about Zhuang Zi, Socrates and so much more.
So while I was in the UK, I called him one day to catch up and he said “Hey I’m going to Japan with my wife, do you want me to grab you anything? I was blown away and I said “Please grab me a black belt while you are out there.” He said “OK” and lets say a month or so later he messaged me asking me where to send it.
I told him to send it to America because I was so scared something might happen to it. I did not want it to get lost in the mail, etc cetera. So he sent it to my parents place. This all happened about 4 months back. I came back in October, and my dad had set the belt out for me.
So, while at my parents recently I was talking to my lady on Whats App and I showed her some of the stuff in my old bedroom. I opened one drawer and it had some incense in a purple box with beautiful art and Japanese writing on it.

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*94GfJBUB3w32qIgP9BtgwQ.jpeg
My kuro obi at Segakuji Temple in Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkKqGPLkFsU&t=1100s
Adisa Banjoko lecturing on Stoic philosophy at the NXT 45 mens retreat in the United Kingdom.

The box was sealed. The thing is, my parents hate incense. When I was about 13 I bought insense and a little burner for my room. It was the 1983. My parents were like “Don’t try to cover up the smell of marijuana with incense, boy!!” I was such a nerd, I did not even know what weed looked like yet! But I loved the incense and I hated that my parent thought I was trying to smoke something I had never even seen before. I was mischievous though, and it was the 1984. In reflection, their attitude at the time made sense.
My point is, I knew they did not purchase it. But I wanted to burn the incense immediately. I asked her if she sent it before I arrived in the states. She said no but wondered if maybe my parents had bought it for me and maybe forgotten. Once my friend Dr. David Timony sent me some amazing incense. I could tell by the box that something else was happening. I ruled Dr. Timony, my parents and my lady out immediately, and I got off the phone.
As soon as we hung up I wondered if maybe Greg had sent it. I called him. He said “Yeah, that incense came from Sengakuji Temple of the 47 Ronin”. My jaw dropped. The 47 Ronin is one of the best old school samurai stories from the middle ages. It is also a true story. It deserves the popularity of the 300 Spartans.
Check this out:
The story of the 47 Ronin, also known as the Ako Incident, unfolds in 18th-century Japan. After their lord, Asano Naganori, is forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official. He was set up to fail by a rival lord named Kira. Asano was ordered to kill himself and his loyal samurai, were made ronin ( become masterless warriors) . Led by Oishi Kuranosuke, the 47 Ronin patiently bide their time, enduring various humiliations and acting as if they have abandoned their samurai code. They take on other jobs. One of Anano’s high level samurai was seen running around bars and lives the life of what some might call a drunken bum. However, their true intention was to avenge their Lord Asano’s unjust forced death. They waited patiently for two years. January 30, 1703 the reunited warriors stormed Kira’s stronghold in a carefully planned attack. After being found in a hidden room, they gave him an opportunity to kill himself with same blade Asano used for seppuku. Kira refused, so and was beheaded with the same blade. The 47 Ronin then turn themselves in to authorities, willingly accepting their fate of seppuku. The tale of the 47 Ronin is a legendary example of loyalty, honor, and their unwavering commitment to avenging a master’s honor- even at the cost of their own lives. They were laid to rest at Sengakuji [Mountain Forest] Temple.

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*yYZ_eCjxnAXOVFDUf8Gdfw.jpeg
Map of Sengakuji Temple grounds.

“So, you didn’t get the pictures?” Greg asked in a confused tone.
“What pictures”? I asked even slightly more confused.
“My wife and I bought your black belt at the Isami store and took it to Sengakuji Temple, where the 47 Ronin are buried. We sat the belt at the altar and burned some incense. We took it to the graves of the father and son who led the attack. Then we mailed it to you. We sent pictures of the belt at the altar and the incense together.”
My mind was blown *insert appropriate emoji here*!! continued next post

GeneChing

12-08-2023, 10:00 AM

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*5zG7Rvjuxi785fzUrw_Jeg.jpeg
A young man preparing incense for visitors to the temple of the courageous 47 Ronin.

I go back into the drawer and low and behold, I see the pictures. My heart soars and my eye tear up because I have loved the 47 Ronin for many years. When my son was a young teenager I gave him a very beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel (not bloody just incase parents were wondering). It is by Mike Richardson and illustrated flawlessly by Stan Sakai. I recommend it to anyone curious about the story. If your child is 12 or above it’s a good story about courage, loyalty and patience. I highly recommend it.
Stay away from the Keanu Reeves film (I love him as an actor but the writing for that was way more sci-fi than anything else). The Japanese old school film is great and its on YouTube, but I think it is too slow for modern moviegoers. Last Knight, is a European remake of the Japanese legend. Because it is a European remake, it falls far short of it’s potential. No film, has ever done the actual Ako Incident justice, sadly.
The crazy part is, a few weeks back I had given my belt to a kind friend, Jonny Oh (at the iconic Tiger Claw) who was getting my belt embroidered with the with the word: BANJOKO 7.21.21 on my belt. The numbers reflected the dated I got my belt. The thing was there was a big delay in getting my belt back. My friend Gene Ching explained that part it was because the Venerable Abbot of Shaolin, Shi Yongxin was visiting California. Jonny was overseeing his trip and because of it there would be a delay.
I told Gene, “I think it is the coolest thing that my belt is delayed because the Abbot of Shaolin is in California”. I had no problem being patient. I called Jonny as soon as I learned about the belt being taken to Sengakuji Temple. I reached out to Jonny the next day. He was super apologetic about the delay on my belt. Apparently he had fallen ill with the flu after The Abbot returned to Shaolin.
I explained that there was no apology necessary. Then I explained to him that the belt had been taken to the 47 Ronin Temple, and I wanted to have the 7.21.21. numbers replaced with BANJOKO 47. Jonny let me know that was possible. A gratitude beyond words filled my spiritual heart.
The morning after talking to Jonny, I went to the balcony, sat in the sun and burned incense from the temple. I did yoga and meditated. My focus that day, and this day is on gratitude and patience. I have two incense burners that were gifts to me. I use them often. One from my son, is long ceramic dragon with red eyes named Smaug (the dragon from The Hobbit) . The other is a smaller jade colored dragon I got from my second BJJ student nicknamed Skywalker. (the boy was nicknamed Skywalker). I named that dragon Bruce (after the iconic Bruce Lee).
On December 7th, 2023, my boy DeShawn swooped me over to the Tiger Claw HQ in Fremont, CA, to pick up my belt.

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*JLbhVMqRJYCKsQwXMm5mRg.jpeg
Jonny Oh President of Tiger Claw, and Adisa Banjoko with his new black belt.

Jonny greeted me with the belt in his hands, and we took a quick picture together. I walked out like a kid who got the big gift he wanted for his birthday. To celebrate, we went to eat at Vinum at New Park Mall. I had tea, veggie tempura, and the saba fish. Then we went to my homey King Kou’s house and caught up with him and Skywalker.

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*gHjCp68LGjavbHb1KOsGQw.jpeg
My Isami black belt straight from Japan! Jiu-jitsu gi by JREAM.

After I got home I put on my JREAM gi with my Heroes Martial Arts patch on the back. Then I put on The Belt from Sengakuji Temple, faced East and prayed. I thanked God for the honor of getting to the goal of achieving a kuro obi (black belt), and I thanked God for all of my teachers and training partners. I then prayed for the souls of the 47 Ronin. I asked that I be able to teach and compete honorably in the future with the same conviction they fought with.
The moral of the story: Sometimes the God/Universe does not give you what you want when you think you want it, so that something greater can be organized for you. If you attempt to force a thing into being, you can get it. However, what you got in a rushed manner, my not have been the best thing. With patience the positive conspiracies of divine order can be left to manifest their own beauty on your behalf. I am grateful to Greg and his wife Sue for getting the Isami belt and taking it to the Sengakuji Temple. I know they did not have to do any of that. I am grateful to Jonny Oh, Gene Ching and everyone at Tiger Claw in Fremont, CA for getting my belt embroidered immaculately.
This experience has expanded and instilled my sense of patience and acceptance of whatever comes to me in the future. I hope you, too, can get a sense of its value the next time you hit the mats or life hits you hard.
Adisa Banjoko is a BJJ black belt, award winning writer, speaker and documentary filmmaker. Adisa has lectured on martial arts history and philosophy at Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Oberlin and many other universities. He founded the ONLINE community, the Resilient Men’s Group to help men heal mentally, emotionally and physically.

Shout-out-to-Tiger-Claw (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?18651-Shout-out-to-Tiger-Claw)
Hip-Hop-Chess-Federation (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41817-Hip-Hop-Chess-Federation)
Abbot-Shi-Yongxin-s-2023-West-Coast-visit-amp-Shaolin-Kung-Fu-Games (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?72581-Abbot-Shi-Yongxin-s-2023-West-Coast-visit-amp-Shaolin-Kung-Fu-Games)
47-Ronin (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?52762-47-Ronin)