Look Out MMA World. Blocks 52 Is Back!
Total Pro Sports - Many of the fighters you see in the ring are trained in several different martial arts and fighting styles. Some prefer Muay Thai, others jiu-jitsu or wrestling. Even boxing has become part of the repertoire for MMA fighters these days. There are plenty of options out there now and another may soon be added to the mix.
It goes by many different names: Saito, jailhouse rock, the 52 hand blocks, 52 blocks, and sometimes just 52. Although it may soon be the next big thing in MMA fighting, it has been around for a long time. It was supposedly born from black prize fighting and developed on the streets and in prisons.
So what is the point of such fighting and what are its strengths? The New York Times describes as follows:
“They say offense wins fights but defense wins championships,” Mr. Burly said. He said the 52 Blocks’ great strength was what he saw as its ability to let the user control the pace of a fight, while avoiding being hit. When Mr. Burly moves, his compact frame easily slips around and away from punches and attempts to grab him. He blocks punches with the tips of his elbows and drops to a crouch to attack his opponent’s legs. [New York Times]
So how effective can 52 blocks be in the ring? Some fighters have been connected to the style, including "The Ultimate Fighter" season 10 contestant Kimbo Slice, and former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who describes it as "really practical boxing." Maybe some more 52 blocks training is the answer to regaining his belt from Lyoto Machida. I wonder how it defends against the flying knee or spinning backfist.
Hat Tip Video - [New York Times]
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I just wanted to add that the 52 has also been called the Comstock Shuffle; debatable because each of the names actually represents a different form of the style depending on where it originated (usually named after the prison it was developed in). The name “52″ itself can be a reference to the card game 52 pickup (simply meaning let the cards fall where they may), or it can refer to a number in The Nation of Gods and Earths. I also wanted to correct the name “saito” in the second paragraph. The name being referred to is actually “Stato”. Hope this helped.
Wes
Though it looks visual interesting, it would be almost useless in pro mma fights. Now before someone gets”in my face” about that comment let me elaborate- There’s a reason why we don’t see styles like wushu, tae kwon do or jeet kun do in the UFC or any other mma company, becuase unlike the old martial art movies your opponent will not stand there and let you hit him .All the other fighter has to do is take you down and hold you to the floor and those styles are useless. You can’t bob and weave or move like the video shows if your pinned between the floor and the other fighter and trust me… you will get taken down.
Almost every mma fighter stands there and let themselves get bet unneccessarily. jeet kune do is the perfect base to become successful in the mma world without taking preventable damage. you only get taken down if you want to its not a fact.