TINLEY PARK, Illinois—The 30th National Training Conference kicked off July 24-27 at the Tinley Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Illinois, with an atmosphere of pure energy and excitement.
Hundreds of participants attended from as far away as Jamaica and the U.K., as well as various cities throughout the U.S. The conference attracted martial arts practitioners, security professionals, and men, women and children for a weekend of physical, spiritual, and mental training.
Once again, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan attended the conference to the excitement and delight of participants.
During the opening plenary session on Friday, conference co-convener and owner of The United Schools of Survival Federation Dojo, Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad [formerly Grandmaster Anthony Muhammad], asked for a show of hands as to how many had attended the training conference for the last 5, 10, 20, or 30 years.
As the number of years grew larger, the show of hands grew smaller; however, there were still several in attendance who had attended every year since its inception.
Although one hand was not present in the room when he posed that question, Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad shared with The Final Call that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been in attendance every single year, including this 30th year. “I know he wants to be here; he sets himself up to be present every year,” he said.
As the conference has evolved, the training, over the course of two full days, has become more standardized and systematic in its approach. Friday featured an opening plenary session, presentations focusing on spiritual, mental and practical training concepts, Jumu’ah (Congregational) prayer service, and social activities in the evenings.
Saturday consisted of women and men only sessions, martial arts training for everyone, a master’s martial arts exhibition, words from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, a banquet and awards ceremony and other evening socials.
Throughout the weekend, there are also specialized trainings and certifications such as security check certification, dignitary protection training and two additional simultaneously occurring training conferences for youth ages 8 to 12 and youth ages 13+.
This year’s opening address, “Patience and Faith Under Trials,” was delivered by Nation of Islam (N.O.I.) Student National Secretary and Shura Executive Council member Sa’ad Alim Muhammad. In his remarks, Bro. Sa’ad emphasized that “tests,” which occur in controlled environments, prepare us for “trials,” which are things that we have no control over other than our response to them.
“So, the first thing in a trial that gets tested is not the skill that you may have, but it’s whether or not you’re going to run or fight. So, then there’s a test and a trial, which is, are you going to run or fight? But you have to think, you have to calculate it.
You have to use wisdom in the moment, because you might have all the skill, but if you don’t have the wisdom to use it, then you’re going to do more damage.
But even if you have the skill and you have the mind to think it through, you’re not going to be able to use it if you don’t have the heart to fight. So deep down inside, the question is, do you have the heart to fight?”
He encouraged attendees to be willing to accept the pain that accompanies testing for a belt and apply it in daily life and keep their eyes on the bigger goal. “The most confident warriors are those who Allah (God) has tested,” he concluded.
A special address was given by Student Supreme Captain and Shura Executive Council member, Mustapha Farrakhan, that focused on faith and family and the need to continually focus on self-improvement.
Additional presentations included “Triumph Over Trials: Emergency Response and Practical Applications” by Shura Executive Council member and National Auditing Coordinator A’ishah Muhammad, Bro. Emmanuel Muhammad, Bro. Michael B. X, Bro. Dr. Abdullah Hasan Pratt and was moderated by Bro. Calvin Muhammad.
“Fighting in Allah’s Way: The Power of Structure,” by N.O.I. Research Team member, Student Minister Ilia Rashad Muhammad; “Taking Charge of Your Post” by Bro. Celeritas Muhammad; “Survival:
God, The Woman and Land,” by Bro. Randy Muhammad, “Your Health is Your Wealth,” by Bro. Frank Kimbrough and Bro. Robert Ferguson, were some of the other workshop sessions that were presented.
Participants learned about surviving active shooter situations, securing their home and family, preparing emergency go bags, growing food as a means of self-defense and more.
A special Jumu’ah (Congregational) Prayer Service “Victory is Only from Allah,” was led by Student National Imam and Shura Executive Council member Sultan Rahman Muhammad.
Friday evening ended with multiple events, including a screening of “Answered: Battle in the Sky” produced by Student Minister Ilia Rashad Muhammad, an all-white party, a private martial arts master’s welcome event, and a world championship sparring seminar
Saturday activities included “Defensive and Offensive Driving: Motorcade Practical Application” by Bro. Steven Muhammad, “How to Recognize a Medical Emergency and How to Perform Hands-Only CPR” and “Ye are all Gods: Men’s Only Session,” by Student Minister Nuri Muhammad.
Other sessions included “Victim to Victor Series: A Nation can Rise No Higher Than Its Woman,” a women-only session featuring presenters Sis. Azziza Muhammad, conference co-convener and wife of Dr. Abdul Azziz and Student Southwest Regional M.G.T. Captain Maalikah Muhammad, Sis. Dr. Safiyya Shabazz,
Sis. Aamilah Muhammad and was moderated by Sis. Dr. Khalilah T. Muhammad and Sis. Tania Muhammad. Saturday activities also included children’s only martial arts, women’s only self-defense, general martial arts training, a master’s exhibition, and a 30th-year National Training Conference processional parade.
However, the number one highlight on Saturday was the presence of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan. The audience stopped, stood and applauded as Mother Farrakhan entered and then Minister Farrakhan.
Sis. Ramadi Muhammad, of Chicago, has attended the conference for the past seven years. She shared with The Final Call how she felt upon just seeing Minister Farrakhan at the conference.
“Just the [hearing] of his name, alone, it changes your mindset, it changes your spirit and then once you actually see his face, his smile …it’s so comforting to know that we have a man like this backing us so that we can strive to be better than we are and we get the understanding and the knowledge that we need as Black people and a community,” she said.
It is also Minister Farrakhan’s presence that is one of the reasons Sijo Thomas Gettling, who is one of the martial arts masters who has trained conference attendees for the past 10 years, continues to return. “He, in fact, is one of the last. You know, after him, there is no other,” he said, referring to Minister Farrakhan.
Sijo Gettling also spoke about what makes the National Training Conference so unique and special for him. He explained that he enjoys the fact that the complete aspects of an individual—physical, mental, and spiritual—are addressed at the gathering.
“I think it’s a monumental achievement, and all credit goes to Grandmaster Anthony [Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad,] for having the heart to do this for the people. I just think it’s wonderful, and it speaks so well of him.”
Saturday evening concluded with a grand banquet and awards ceremony, which also featured a spoken word performance by Sis. Yavonka Muhammad and a demonstration of high civilization, refinement, and culture from the N.O.I. Orchestral Ensemble, where attendees were treated to symphonic sounds and graceful waltzing. There was also a highly energized and packed youth social.
Bro. Elijah 2X, from North New Jersey, has been registered in the Nation of Islam since 2022, and this was his third training conference. He expressed that his biggest takeaway from the training was “Just how powerful the youth are when we come together.”
However, he said what he loved the most was the socialization. “It was just something to see us all come together in a righteous manner, and that we can still have fun and be young. We are doing the work and striving in the way of Allah, and we can still be social or friendly with one another.”
Sis. Rabiah Muhammad, 35, shared that she strives to work hard in her city of St. Louis, and feels that the extra training that she receives yearly at the National Training Conference is an added benefit for her. “I’m really just ready to get back at home and get the work,” she said, adding, to “apply what I learn and help my sisters.”
Vending by Muslim and Black-owned businesses provided attendees the opportunity to purchase various goods and products while supporting hardworking entrepreneurs.
The weekend closed with an all-day Scimitar Open martial arts tournament on Sunday, July 27, co-hosted by Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad and Master Daniel Muhammad, owner of Lion’s Paw Karate and Chess Academy.
The tournament featured martial arts practitioners of various styles and schools competing in kata (forms), martial arts weaponry and kumite (sparring) in a display of skill and sportsmanship.
