[Tease T Tickle]

Since this thread is about differing opinions (at least the title says it is), I think the 52 blocks phenomenon is more hype over something new and novel than something really worth considering.

When I see articles or discussions about guys who can really fight, my reaction isn't, "what do they train in?" My reaction is, "What is this guy trying to sell?" Anyone can do some demos and look good doing it. Anyone can train movie actors to look tough. Anyone can open a school and convince students they know what's up.

As it is, 52 Blocks looks like another "no nonsense, kick ass in 30 days or less, REALITY martial art" just like those ads in Black Belt about arts that are too lethal for the FBI to use and makes the Navy SEALs squirm they're so violent. The prison system pedigree doesn't impress me, because as 8Limbs said in the other thread on this topic, survival in the prison system isn't based on knowing some techniques it's about knowing people who will protect you from gangrape and a late night shanking.

Stylistically, I've heard descriptions along the lines of tight movements designed with the cramped prison environment in mind. And that it is brutally efficient at ending fights. So, it's small circle krav maga, fantastic.

When somebody comes along and really blows this style up, I mean makes it as popular as, say, Systema is now, then we can see what it's worth. For now, I think it's all hearsay and marketing and I think that if there's anything at all to the claims, when it does become more accessible to the masses it'll fizzle out like all hyped up super-arts do.