ghetto blocks?

[elbows_and_knees]

If this is what I think it is, then it's actually a valid system - and a very good one. Remember the movie "lethal weapon"? the MA style mel gibson used was based partially on this style.

Actually, that was Gracie Jiu-jitsu in Lethal Weapon. Rorion Gracie (Royce's older brother and the then head of that style) choreographed the fights in the movie.

Read here:

http://www.gracieacademy.com/rorion_gracie.html (9th paragaph down)

&

http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=90

here is the section of that very long interview that I am referring to:

A production assistant for the movie "Lethal Weapon" had seen one of my fights against a kickboxer. The script had a big fighting scene and the director needed a fight coordinator. The man who had seen me told the director: "Look, you've got to meet this guy. He's the best." So the director hired me to choreograph the fight and teach Mel Gibson and Gary Busey for "Lethal Weapon I." A couple of years later I worked with Rene Russo on "Lethal Weapon 3." I not only trained her, but also when it came time for the fight scene, they hired me as a stunt man.

lk

If wasn't gjj. Only portions of it, like the armbar he used. The standup was JHR - The link I posted has a clip from a magazine article where they talked about it.

"The martial arts used throughout 'Lethal Weapon' are unusual forms, aren't they?"

"Yes, the whole idea was to have this guy using martial arts that had never been seen before... for example, one of them was called jailhouse rock..."

"What's that?"

"Yes, that's what I thought as well... What the hell is jailhouse rock? well, this little black guy, dennis newsome, he soon showed me what it was - he had some amazing stuff. This jailhouse rock was developed secretly by black american prisoners in the penitentaries over the years. It's for defending yourself in fighting in small confined areas like cells...apparently there are different regional styles, depending on where they originated, like san quentin style, comstock and so on. Phew... I'd never seen anything like it, and fast... I tell you, this little guy - he could really move. He was like a little ball of energy."

"Mel, was it for real... I mean, do you think it would've worked?"

"The way he did it... Oh Jesus, yes...to me he looked unstoppable...

He goes on to mention that he was also taught capoeira, gjj and some hand to hand from an ex military weapons and anti terrorist specialist.

This was published in fighting arts magazine. They even have a clip of him doing a capoeira move which resembles negativa... It's definitely NOT all gjj. The links you posted are from interviews with Rorion... Naturally, he will say it's all gjj - that is good marketing for him. The article I posted is an interview with gibson - he was the actor, so would have less bias.

Edited November 21, 2005 by elbows_and_knees

[Sensei Rick]

Man, i am always a day late with the good ideas. Jailhouse rock..... hmmm. Krav maga for the clink. this is just another clever package of stuff that's making the rounds. for those of you who doubt me, look at bell bottoms. I can't believe i've lived long enough to see them comeback. there probably wont be anything to darn exciting in there except maybe they film in a jail cell. wish i thought of it.

[elbows_and_knees]

This has been around for over 20 years... it's nothing new at all, it's just little known to the general public. Like I said, I haven't seen these tapes, so I dunno if he's teaching JHR, but from the sounds of it, he could be.

[patusai]

How many styles out there say or suggest that they are the ultimate fighting style? No too long ago karate itself was suggested as the ultimate fighting style. Fact is, be it karate, TKD, Kung Fu, or streetfighting that you give a fancy name to, it is only as good as the person using it and it is only a way of fighting. Nothing short of a "fighting" style taught by God himself (and He's not in that business) is the ultimate. No disrespect intended.

[shogeri]

taijiquan, back in the day, was known as the ultimate fighting style.

[PrideampPoise]

A little more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailhouse_rock

So the "art", or perhaps more accurately, fighting system, might be legit. But as elbows and knees said, who knows if this guy is legit. As always, I'd be wary of anybody who claims they can teach you a martial art with some tapes.