TINLEY PARK, Ill.—With concerns over the lack of protection for Black women and girls continuing to grow across the Black community, hundreds of women and girls from the nine regions of the Nation of Islam (N.O.I.) gathered in the Tinley Park Convention Center for an intensive training on self-defense, martial arts, and security mindfulness.
The training, which marked the 31st Annual International Training Conference led by Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad, Student Assistant Supreme Captain of the Nation of Islam and founder of V.S.K. Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, featured focused conditioning on adequately equipping women and girls with the tools needed to protect themselves from spiritual and physical danger.
There were specially crafted sessions for them during the convention, which was held July 23-26.
Student Eastern Regional M.G.T. Captain Johnna Muhammad, Student Southwest Regional M.G.T. Captain Maalikah Muhammad, and criminal defense attorney and N.O.I. security officer Sister Justice Muhammad, hosted a two-hour women’s-only session on the spiritual side of self-protection.
techniques
The session, titled “Victim to Victor,” opened with words from the Student National Auditing Coordinator and member of the N.O.I. Shura Executive Council of the Nation of Islam, Sister A’ishah Muhammad.
“We decided that we would approach this, not from the aspect of the pain and trauma that we all have, but [by providing] some tools and jewels that will help us in this darkening hour,” Sister A’ishah said to the women and girls of the Nation of Islam, expressing her appreciation for their presence.
The presenters, led by Sister Johnna, then went on to detail those tools and jewels, and their importance. Most significantly, they emphasized the importance of remaining faithful to Allah (God) as the ultimate key to providing themselves with the protection they desperately need, and of Him functioning as the true agent to activate the power within them to protect their lives.
“When you have a love for, a knowledge of and faith in Allah (God), that is the beginning of your release of power,” Sister Johnna told the audience.
Speaking to the need for Allah’s (God’s) Power, Sister Maalikah also took to the microphone to address the fully packed room of Black women and girls of various ages.
Annual International Training Conference, July 23- 26.
“This hour that we’re talking about demands courageous women,” she declared to the audience. “This world, this work, this mission, strengthening our faith … requires courageous women,” she continued.
The presenters described the way of strengthening faith in Allah (God) as being demonstrated in daily practices such as the observance of prayer, study, obedience and consistent activity in the mosque. These activities help remove dangerous elements from their lives that do not align with the way of Allah (God) and replace these dangers with what does align with Him.
“The way that we protect ourselves and make sure that we are the ones holding the flag, to make sure that we do not allow the Nation to fall, is that we make sure that we don’t attach ourselves to the things of Satan’s world,” Sister Justice told the audience.
Earning multiple standing ovations, countless applauses, and resounding cheers, the presentations were well-received by the audience members. Some expressed to The Final Call, their understanding of the significance of the spiritual aspect of self-defense and protection.
“I believe that the physical and mental aspects of protection stand hand in hand. So, if we’re mentally prepared to defend and protect ourselves, then the physical comes naturally,” Sister Vernica Muhammad from Detroit, Michigan, told The Final Call. She expressed great admiration for the spiritually rooted presentations.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Sister Lisa Muhammad, from Baltimore, Maryland, said, “It gives you a whole different perspective of protection when you get to hear about it on a spiritual level. There’s so much to learn and to grow from after this workshop.”
Still, despite the audience’s appreciation for the spiritual teachings on protection, the need to master the physical component did not go unnoticed. So, to move from the spiritual side of their training to the physical, the women and girls were then tasked with practical application of physical self-defense in another women’s-only session titled, “Self-Defense.”
Stepping into their physical power and onto the tatami mats, sisters were treated to the experience of learning and practicing various martial arts fighting and defensive techniques.
Such techniques included, but were not limited to, combinations of striking, kicking and jabbing, all of which the participants expressed great gratitude and appreciation for. Several noted that the training left them with a profound sense of security and protection.
“We are not exempt from being attacked, so we are not exempt from needing to know how to protect ourselves. … so it makes me feel safer to know these ways to defend myself in the event that an attack happens,” Sister Stacey Muhammad, from Hartford, Connecticut, told The Final Call.
Center. Photos: Abdul K. Muhammad and Haroon Rajaee
Similarly, Sister Angelina X, from Los Angeles, California, said, “Nowadays there are a lot of high-risk security threats for Black women, and we cannot wait on someone else to come and protect us. So, we have to be security-minded at all times and know how to protect ourselves. That’s what makes this training important; it is the biggest lifesaver.”
The women’s-only self-defense session was led by Grandmaster Dr. Abdul Azziz Muhammad, one of his instructors, Soke Lil’ John Davis, Sensei Kameren Ali, Professor Zahalea Anderson, and many others who are skilled in the disciplines of martial arts.
They led full-body workouts aimed at teaching vital self-defense skills and leverage techniques to protect against larger opponents, while also improving core strength and balance. The training also worked to foster inner calmness, intense focus and strong self-assurance, even when under extreme pressure.
“It gives me such a sense of pride to learn how to protect myself and seeing so many other Black women doing the same. I plan to take this training back home with me to help others locally,” Sister Sakeena Muhammad, from Phoenix, Arizona, told The Final Call.
The over two-hour self-defense session gave the women and girls a life-preserving opportunity to learn from the professionals and share with women and girls in their local cities looking to protect themselves and others, thereby helping make their communities safe and decent places to live.
