Share this on:
 E-mail
30
VIEWS
 
RECOMMENDS
1
SHARES
About this iReport
  • Not vetted for CNN

  • Click to view gaingreen88's profile
    Posted September 25, 2012 by
    gaingreen88
    Location
    Harlem, New York
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Photo essays: Your stories in pictures

    A Plea to Reduce the Violence

     
    Today Minister Louis Farrahkhan visited the famous Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem to speak to the families who were victims of the recent shootings that have been happening in Harlem and all over the city. Also in attendance were the Physical fitness self empowerment group called the Bartendaz: showing support and bringing awareness to the need of saving the youth in the urban communities.

    Bartendaz physical fitness program in your area. Bartendaz is a dynamic martial arts and physical training program engineered to bolster fitness, discipline, self-esteem and actualization for practitioners. A combination of military drills, calisthenics and break dancing, Bartendaz physical fitness practice does not only transform bodies; it transforms lives. In 1993, the Bartendaz founder, Hassan Yasin, was practicing his own unique fitness drills at a park in Harlem. Intrigued, a group of young men nearby began watching and asked for him to explain his technique.

    Within a few weeks, the number of followers was in the dozens. And within that five years the Bartendaz method was being instructed in over 20 New York City Public Schools. The most remarkable result of the program was not the increase in muscular strength and capacity but the dramatic turnaround in the lives of the students. In finding gratification and peer validation in fitness, many of the students chose to veer away from vice and delinquency and reshape their lives.

    Because of its foundation in hip-hop culture, Bartendaz has been extraordinarily popular with urban youth, and has been a huge success in the most high-risk schools. The Bartendaz program uses a down to earth approach, in 4 week to full semester courses integrating martial style discipline with dynamic rhythmic drills.

    This fusion is so engaging that it allows for seamless leadership training and public health education across age lines effectively reaching elementary to high school youth. As such, practitioners of Bartendaz not only advance in their physical fitness, they advance towards their actualization and life goals.

    In his address to the public who were in and around the park he made many references to the Quran and The Bible saying how we should take a look at ourselves and see that we were made in the image of our creator; that we are greater than the violence that has been begotten. He also made a great reference to the late great Michael Jackson quoting his verse from the song "Man in the Mirror" "If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change"

    Photos were taken by Shomari Green of Gain-Green Productionz and Darryl "The Harlem Hitman" Howard for Harlem Pix

    What do you think of this story?

    Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
    Be and editor! Choose an option below:
      Awesome! Put this on TV! Almost! Needs work. This submission violates iReport's community guidelines.

    Comments

    Log in to comment

    iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.

    Add your Story Add your Story