Jailhouse rock (fighting style)
| Focus | Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Date of formation | Either:
|
| Famous practitioners | Miguel Piñero Also, see notable practitioners below. |
| Parenthood | Western Boxing and Traditional Martial Arts |
Jailhouse rock (JHR), also known as 52 Hand Blocks or simply 52 Blocks, is a name used to describe a collection of fighting styles that were practiced or developed within black urban communities in the 1960s and 1970s.
The many different manifestations of JHR share a commonality in blending western boxing with other stylised martial arts techniques. The basic principle of these styles is constant improvisation, blocks and effectiveness in real-life situations - Particularly, very tight spaces like a prison cell or a dark alley.
52 Hand Blocks has been referenced numerous times by contemporary media including by journalist Douglas Century's Street Kingdom: Five Years Inside the Franklin Avenue Posse, as well as numerous Wu-Tang Clan songs and Ted Conover's book Newjack. Recently, celebrities including actor Larenz Tate and rapper Ludacris have taken up the fighting system for film roles and self-defense, shining a brighter light on this previously underground martial art.