The Hip-Hop Chess Federation Blog

UFC Champ GSP Plays Chess

2009-07-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Super female martial artist and journalist Phoenix Carnevale wrote an amazing piece on UFC champ George St. Pierre....He gave a glimpse into his super strategic mind. Among other things, he talks about chess. Enjoy!!

-Adisa

***
George St. Pierre and Thiago Alves aren't talking any trash about each other. They don't have too! Thisfight hype is based on skill! This fight hype is based on the CHESS match that great fights are made of.

If you were to Google the word Competition, wikipedia will tell you that the etymology of the word is "to seek together or to strive together". The better your opponent the better you have to become.

Competition gives high incentive for self-improvement. Without question George St. Pierre has dealt with some hefty competition so he hands. Thiago Alves a huge complement when he says Alves is his toughest fight yet.

George begins to tell me during a Phone interview last week. "He brings to the table a lot of stuff that I haven't seen before. He's a great striker. Very good on the ground He's very well rounded. I haven't fought someone as dangerous and as strong as big as him, But then again he's never fought a guy like me before either. We're both gonna fight a guy like we've never fought before'

Thiago has shown excellent take down defense in his recent fights with Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes. If the game of fighting has taught anyone anything its that an opponent should never be taken lightly.

"He's the number 1 contender so there's not to many holes in his game. But I can see there's some things he's not as strong at'". When George trains he losses the ego. The strategy is somewhat like get your butt handed to you in training so you don't get it kicked on fight night.

" I train with jui jutsu with better guy than I. Muay Thai with better Thai fighters than I. I box with better guys boxers than I"

In his search for the best of the best he found one of the best Muay Thai coaches in the business Kru Phil Nurse, owner and head trainer of The WAT gym in NYC. George heard about Phil through word of mouth while he was training at the Gracie Academy in NYC. Phil says he's adjusted his Muay Thai for MMA and that's made the Art fresh, new and exciting for him. This is the reason top UFC fighter like Rasheed Evans and Roger Huerta have sought Phil out to train them.

When Phil trains with GSP he tries to come at George with strong strategies. I was lucky to also get Phil on the phone that week to talk to him about what its like training with our current welterweight champion. "I try to do things to him that his opponent might try, to make him react and defend". Phil says. "We're always pushing the boundaries. "

Muay Thai is known to be stand-up art of choice for mixed martial artists. Knowing that George also has a Kyokushin background I ask him what is the main difference between Kyokushin Karate and Muay Thai. "The focus on Karate is a lot of footwork. Thai Box has some amazingly lethal kicks and elbows. They are both great arts but different. It's important to know that only one martial arts is not enough. You need more than one."

Phil Nurse talked openly about George's as he student of the fighting arts. "The thing about George is he's always evolving. He's a true athlete that's always learning new things. I could show him something today a few times and the next day he will come in and pull it off on some of my best guys. That quick adaptability is very hard for people to do"

George knows that he has to constantly expand and adjust. George's method and strategy for training changes for every opponent."Every fight I learn new stuff. I always fight my opponent where he's the weakest. I study tapes. But I know he's gonna be a better version of who he was in his last fight. It's a big problem but I believe I can solve it."George says with confidence." I'm not gonna fight Alves the same way I would fight Hughes and BJ Penn'

Another strategy contributing to GSPs well roundedness is his breaking his training up into segments and then ties it all together. "I do a lot of different disciplines but the closer that I get to the fight I train MMA."

Phil Nurse talked to me about GSPs diversity of Martial arts knowledge.
"All of his other styles are not gone. He has all of that older stuff in his arsenal. He just keeps adding on."

I read somewhere that there are no superior martial arts. Only superior martial artists. George is known for mixing it up. I was curious to know why it was so important for him break up his training.

"I do believe that you cannot train MMA. To be in an MMA fighter you have to specialize in something. If you don't specifically work on certain skills you will try to do everything but it wont be sharp."

Everyone is always talking about what a physical specimen GSP is. He's graced the cover of many Men's Health and Fitness Magazines. But what does he do to keep in good mental shape as the stakes get higher and higher?

" I do a lot of imagery. I started doing a lot more recently. I see myself winning I see myself getting out a bad position and coming out on top.
It's all mental. Every day I do imagery. And its something I think in training is very under rated."

All this talk about the mind and strategy made me think about CHESS, I ask George, Do you play? "I do play chess. But I don't have anyone good to play with right now. I'm a pretty humble guy but I've beaten everyone in my entourage"

I laugh and say "kinda like how you've beaten everyone in your welterweight division. If you get through Thiago are you considering testing the waters at middleweight? A Super fight Anderson Silva would certainly be the biggest fight in MMA history!"

"Well right now my primary focus is Alves. So it's the only thing I am focusing on."

George is such a tease!! Well a girl can dream can't she! Speaking of girls, I ask GSP what he thinks of women in the sport?" I love to see women training! And a women who's in shape is a women who looks good and I like that" George says playfully.

"Right now there are more men then women but I think its gonna be like boxing and they're will be more and more girls! And that's awesome!"

George has watched the UFC since the beginning days of Royce Gracie and here he is and here we are ready to watch his next and biggest battle at UFC 100!

"It's a great honor for me because there's always a significant meaning to the number 100"

The significance of the number 100 is the number associated with perfection. And to a lot of People George is that perfect athlete. Needless to say but I think GSP and Thiago Alves will be giving 100 percent of themselves on July 11th for the milestone event UFC 100 .

Phoenix Carnevale is a NYC based Fitness Expert, Martial Artist, Writer and On-Air Personality. She has been featured on CW11, Spike tv, Lifetime TV,Fox 5 and American Latino TV.

Phoenix currenlty teaches group fitness for New York Health and Racquet Club and Equinox Fitness Clubs. She regularly conrtibutes to Latina Magazine, fightingarts.com, wfighter.com and Latina.com. As on camera host and producer she is regulary featured on INSIDE MARTIAL ARTS (www.insidemartialarts.tv)

HHCF Presents: West Coast Kings & Queens Tournament, Oct. 10th 2009!

2009-05-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 15TH 2009!! This will be our biggest event EVER.

HHCF Teaches Virginia publisher to play chess

2009-05-22T16:10:00.000-07:00

Posted by L. Suhay, HHCF Va.

NORFOLK, VA. -- Maurice Jones, publisher of The Virginian-Pilot Newspaper, has been a Rhodes Scholar, corporate lawyer and a Governor's right hand man, but until he learned how to play chess he didn't have the full respect of a room full of Teenagers.

"Dude's got it now," said A.J. Evans, who took a turn coaching Jones in his first game of a lifetime against his new chess teacher, Lovone Wynn. "Think he's going to be alright."

The visit was part of a pre-graduation pick-me-up for a graduating class of 13 students here who have been through some tough economic and emotional times. Throughout those times, chess has been the beacon. Passing the torch, teaching others to play, at any age, is the final act of this class hoping to graduate May 29the.

The other unifying action HHCF Ryan has taken this week is the creation of the Kim martin Hip-Hop Chess memorial scholarship fund. Mrs. Martin, whose sons Fred and Kyle are graduating HHCF Life Strategies players, died of breast cancer January 5 of this year.

The fund, backed by the HHCF, will primarily be used for tuition assistance first for this graduating class and hopefully to aid many HHCF high school seniors in the years to come.

The HHCF Life Strategies Senior class of Norfolk, Virginia are the first Board of Directors:

Matthew Anderson
Michael Applegate
Devyn Becker
Joseph Cusic
Alexander James(A.J.)Evans
VanNak Khorn
Dirk Nguyen
Fred Martin
Kyle Martin
Meagan Morse
Kelcee O'Neal
Raven Niles
Lovonne Wynn

Thank you Mr. Jones for caring enough to share your time and spirit with our players. By being willing to learn from these students you empowered them as teachers and players. What a fitting graduation gift.

Interivew with Dr. Peter Goldman on Benefits of Zone Healing for Martial Artists

2009-05-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

Healing the Warrior
By: Adisa Banjoko

As the sport of MMA and the grappling arts continue to spread across the globe, so do the injuries associated with the training. Lucky for us, medical professionals have been creating more innovative ways to help athletes heal. Dr. Peter Goldman, has worked with many MMA and jiu jitsu stars including BJ Penn and the Machado brothers using a technique called Zone Healing. Here we speak with Dr. Goldman about common injuries, solutions and preventative measure you can take to be a healthier grappler.

HHCF: How did you get to become a chiropractor?

PG: I was raised in Brooklyn, NY in a very naturally oriented family as far as health goes. I was getting chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis since I was a little kid and always loved it. At some point, I decided that I really wanted to help people and thought that becoming a chiropractor would be a great way to do that.

HHCF: When did you start working with MMA fighters and what specifically is your approach to helping them heal and perform at optimal levels?

PG: From the beginning, I always had a lot of martial arts clients. Once I helped BJ Penn with his neck, the other top MMA fighters started pouring in. I believe that a fighter with a balanced mind and body has a great chance of staying healthy and performing well, so I try to help fighters achieve balance.

HHCF: What are some of the most common injuries you see from MMA and BJJ practitioners? Also, what preventative measures can these guys take?

PG: Knees, neck, arm, upper back,etc. Being warmed up physically before fighting and training. Having a clear mind and being in the moment during fighting and training.

HHCF: Can you tell me more about the philosophy of Zone Healing?

PG: There are six main systems/zones in the body: glandular, eliminative, nerve, digestive, muscular, and circulatory. It is important for these systems to be balanced. That is on a physical level. On another level, the emotions have a huge effect on the body. Experiences between the ages of birth and about 7 have a big effect on the subconscious mind.

HHCF: Now, I understand you are a martial arts practitioner as well. Tell me about your personal journey in the arts.

PG: I trained directly under Soshu Shigeru Oyama in Manhattan in the early 90's. I achieved a black belt under him and fought for his elite team nationally and internationally on a world class level. I have a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from John Machado. Currently, I train in Jiu Jitsu, Thai Boxing and a few other arts.

HHCF: Anything to add?

PG: Yes. Patients come to see me from all over the world, so if you are reading this and want to come to San Francisco to work on something with me, feel free to call or email me. SFGOLDMAN.COM has all the contact info.

VIDEO of HHCF @ Ben & Jerrys in SF!! Massive fun!!

2009-04-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hip-Hop Chess Teams w/ Ben & Jerrys for FREE CONE DAY, TODAY IN SF!!!

2009-04-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

Come hang out, play some chess and get FREE ICE CREAM!!

BTW, its gonna be hot, so, ummmmmm- no excuses...

Also, we may need some extra volunteers to serve the cones from 4-8....So, if you got the time, we need ya!! Seeeeee you there....

-Adisa

HHCF Founder Lectures @ SF State: Protect Your Queens

2009-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Adisa Banjoko Lectures @ SF State University on Chess and Non-violence

2009-04-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Focus on the Oneness

2009-04-10T21:20:00.001-07:00

HHCF Chess Chronicles Vol. 3: Walk A Mile In Our Shoes

2009-04-10T08:50:00.001-07:00

Much thanks to the good people at Timberland.

-Adisa

HHCF Chess Chronicles Vol. 2: Think Like A King

2009-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Honoring Queens in Our Life Strategy

2009-04-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

If you got 'em then get 'em in play. Often, it's the men who take an interest in chess while the moms seem to sit on the sidelines feeling like it's too hard to learn. What kind of example is that? Also, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, foster moms, all need the stress relief and empowerment, because many times as the queen goes, so goes the game of life. Here is a new video from Ryan Academy's HHCF Life Strategies Teacher. It's the next in a coordinated east-meets west coast HHCF pilot school profile series Adisa started. In the Norfolk, Virginia HHCF pilot school we are all too aware of of the absence of family ties hurts our game in life.

Little by little, we have gotten the moms and dads to come out with their sons and daughters every Tuesday night to play with us at the Tidewater Chess Club at Beth Messiah temple here in Norfolk, Virginia. First they watched, then they kibbitzed and now they're playing with us.

The strategy is working. We are getting stronger. We have something in common empowering the women in the lives of our HHCF students. These women, after a lifetime of work and worry, needed to remember their power and the fierce joy that comes with mastering a new skill.

HHCF Chess Chronicles Vol. 1: The Greatest Gift

2009-04-02T05:50:00.000-07:00

-Adisa

HHCF Life Strategies Teacher Lisa Suhay on the Radio!!! MUST LISTEN

2009-03-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

The incredibly bold and bright Lisa Suhay on Crockett & Waters Radio show!! A must listen...

Pt. 2

Shes awesome aint she?

-Adisa

After many losses, another victory @ WuChess!!

2009-03-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

-Adisa

Accept the ways of others...

2009-03-26T20:36:00.001-07:00

Very important on the boards and in life.

-HHCF

VOTE for chess at The White House online NOW

2009-03-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

Please, everyone, go to The White House's online meeting now http://www.whitehouse.gov/openforquestions/

STEP 1: Create a sign-in.
STEP 2: Type the word "chess" into the search field. It's posted under education.
STEP 3: Vote YES for our question to be answered by the President in tonight's live chat.

Not allowed many words so question reads:
"Our Hip-Hop school chess program has created change you can help sustain. Violence is down: grades and unity are up. Mr. President, will you host the kids at The White House for chess demonstrations, so they can raise their own college funds?"
Lisa Suhay, Norfolk, Va - Education

Today on 98.5 The Peak Radio Pennsylvania

2009-03-25T03:19:00.000-07:00

Hip-Hop Chess makes another cross-over. Radio Hosts Crockett and Waters taped a phone interview with HHCF Life Strategies Teacher from Ryan Academy High School during her journalism class to talk about the HHCF White House Chess request.
http://www.thepeak985.com/ListenLive.aspx

Here's a note from the hosts:

Lisa!

Again, many, many thanks to you & your students for taking the time out of your busy day to spend with us up here in York, PA! I'm sure our listeners are going to be most interested in your program, and as such, there wasn't a whole lot of things we could "take out" of our interview. Therefore, we're doing something we've never done in the 5 years we've been a morning show...we're breaking the interview down into two segments.

The first will air at about 8:05 or 8:35-ish tomorrow morning...the second, about 10 minutes later. We'll also likely rebroadcast the segments on Thursday or Monday in the 6am hour (either 6:05-ish & 6:15-is OR 6:35-ish and 6:45-ish).

In addition, our listeners will likely be lucky enough to hear you again later in the year in one of our many Year-End special segments...hopefully with an update on how a member of the Obama administration graced your classroom for a friendly game...

We are always excited to see creative energy used in a productive manner, and are just thrilled at how you've been able to so successfully implement this program & change the lives of your students! Congratulations to you and your students...and, again, thanks for everything!

Yours,

Crockett and Waters

Never Listen to the Critics, Live Your Life...

2009-03-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Alan "Gumby" Marques of Heroes Martial Arts and Adisa Banjoko doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Mind Over Matter II

PHOTO BY: Keba Armand Konte

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt

The White House chess invitation: endgame traps

2009-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lisa Suhay HHCF Life Strategies teacher,
Ryan Academy, Norfolk, Va.

I am learning fast that the danger of using the words white + house in a sentence, or the name Obama, is that some people immediately look for something negative to say. Seeing blogs turn from the issue of kids using chess to learn how to thrive and survive, getting twisted into ugly things about politicians is a built-in trap. Let's recognize the trap and make some smart moves.

This is about love, strength, diversity and economic survival through unity. Adisa Banjoko and the HHCF taught us to view chess as our tool for letting go of hate, anger and to avoid making bad decisions by thinking a few moves ahead.

We have to let the hate and fear attached to the economy and politics wash over us. We must swim through it to our island of hope, that is The White House, and a chess match that can help us raise the money we need to keep educating these children.

The Hip-Hop Chess Federation and our students in the Life Strategies Program:Ryan Academy, Norolk, Va. and John O'Connell School, Ca. are too busy trying to survive the economy and daily life to take sides. We are non-partisan and I just want to get that out there for everyone to take note and a deep breath. We aren't trying to make anyone look bad. We need our futures to look better.

We are just teachers and students trying to find a strategy to survive this economy with our spirits, dignity and minds in tact.

We are not politicians. Most of these students just learned to play chess in September, so we are not grandmasters. We are the CHANGE come to life, trying to cling to that new life in an environment where, often, it seems everything around us is trying hard to snuff us out.

Like the first queen placed on the chessboard in the days of Eleanore of Aquitaine, we are the variant, that crops up and is so versatile, strong, lively and interesting that we find the power to become the new game. We are the new game.

Like that first queen, "The Mad Queen" we need everyone, all sides, all races, religions, nations, parties and people to find the love and appreciation to support our acceptance into this game. So yes, we started with a King.

My students are fond of saying "We began this game as pawns." But they will not remain so because these kids are headed for promotion to more powerful pieces who can retain their dignity, sustain their personal change and spread the power that has been placed in their hands every time they lay them on a chess piece.

This train is bound for D.C. All A-board!

FAX your support to The White House now: 1 (202)456-2461

HHCF EXCLUSIVE: The Art of War

2009-03-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

One of the many amazing photos from Octagon, by Kevin Lynch

The Art of War
By: Adisa Banjoko

History is a powerful thing. Those who make it history, inspire others to be great. But those who make it, cannot convey it without the historian. Some laugh at those who write or take photographs. But, if it were not for them, humanity would be millions of years behind where we are today. Without those to capture the art of the warrior, life would be much less exciting.

When Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) began to rise in North America, it was written off by many as a joke. Today we recognize it as one of the most important sports of our time. Photographer Kevin Lynch put together what is arguably the best photo book on MMA ever, entitled Octagon. It features amazing shots of BJ Penn, Kenny Florian, George St. Pierre, Jeff Monson, Quinton Jackson, Rich Franklin, Joe Stevenson, Ken Shamrock, Josh Koscheck, Nick Diaz, Michael Bisping, Matt Serra and many others. Octagon captures the courage, heart and soul of the UFC. No other book has captured the humanity of the modern martial artist. Octagon may be one of the most important books in the history of MMA. Here, he talks about what it took to capture the art of war, so he could push an underground sport from out of the shadows.

HHCF: Tell me about the creation of this book, its awesome.

Kevin Lynch: About five years ago I was doing some commercial work for the UFC. Dana had flown me to Vegas to help design a billboard for their upcoming event, Ken Shamrock Vs. Tito Ortiz. In the process, I saw a great opportunity. I was was unfamiliar with the sport, to be honest with you. But I wanted to show what these fighters really go through. Some of these guys walk in being young and inexperienced. After three rounds, they walk out a man. They go through so many emotions. The way they relate to their opponent.

So, one thing I wanted to do was shoot them right before they went out, and right after they come back. But you also see what they go through. Are they prepared or unprepared? The after shots show more of elation, or the despair of defeat. It gives you a pretty strong portrait of an Ultimate Fighter.

We just had a big show in NY with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. Everybody flew in for this event. We also recently took the book to an art fair in London. The whole intent was to show the artistry, and get some good PR for the UFC.

HHCF: MMA and BJJ have really exploded in large part because of Dana White's marketing brilliance. This book represents another jewel in his crown, so to speak. Tell me about some of the stories behind the photos in Octagon. Tell me something you learned while shooting it?

Forrest Griffin and his famous flying knee.

Kevin Lynch: The first thing I can say is respect. They all took the time to have their portrait taken, when they really don't want to stop. They are nto in the mood to pretend they are somebody else. You are who you are. Thats why these pictures are so honest. You can really tell a lot about who these fighters are. I think most of it is first of all, the admiration I have for the dedication and sophistication of the sport over the last five years. Thats a huge transformation in itself.

These fighters have become much more refined and the sport has become much more predictable. Which makes it more exciting! Of course the guidance from Dana White and the people in the organization has been instrumental. His heart and soul is in the UFC. So the fighters have to look up to him. Theres a lot of leadership here. Plus, accessibility to the people. Thats another thing these fighters have.

In boxing, they have an entourage of 20 people. You wonder why, because a boxer can defend himself. They are so guarded. In the UFC, the regular people who are actually gettin' hurt, a person who's not a wrestler pretending to fight...He's a real person, with a lot of intelligence. Thats a sophisticated athlete we're talking about.

In the beginning Matt Hughes and Pat Milletech thought I Was a nuisance. Today we are good friends. They thought I was taking advantage of them by taking their picture when they were hurt. They thought I was taking it for my own personal gain. When it was really about rewarding the public, by giving them insight to whats really happening behind the scenes. They saw there was a lot of heart and dedication on my part. Now I've become friends with most fighters.

So I shoot the before, I go to the event. I see them right there. Then I'd run back to get the after photo and get the before shot of the next fight. This goes on all night long. As well as other shots I'd take from above the Octagon. It was a four year process. The book took another year to complete and edit. Whats unique about it was having access as one photographer from all these different areas.

HHCF: What are your 5 favorite photos and why?

Kevin Lynch: One is a compilation of 400 images put together as one wall. It one image I love. One is a photo of Matt Hughes with the flag. It shows him as who is is. A young American guy from the mid-west, a farmer. It really reflects his patriotism. The other is the Chuck Liddell victory image. He's up on the Octagon after he won his first title. An image of the Octagon after 16 events. Its very abstract. The before and after of Chuck, after he fought Randy Couture in UFC 43. Chuck was famous, but he was still excited to pose, even though he lost the fight. That gave a lot of other fighters, incentive to work with me in the future events. Another was in Miramar, after the UFC dedicated a fight to the Marines. I shot a panorama of 3000 Marines standing at attention to the flag. It was a very touching moment for me. One is of Ken Shamrock all by himself in the Octagon. It represents the idea that once the gate shuts, you cant get out, nobody can get in. You are on your own. BJ Penn, I did a trio image with him and you see the artistry of his actions and the passion in his heart. Also, Forrest and Bonnar when they both ave their hands raised after being inducted to the TUF finale. Probably the most important moment in UFC history. From that moment, the UFC sort of exploded into a phenomenon.

See more images on Octagon here: http://octagon-book.com/

Please come play with us on TWITTER!!

2009-03-22T09:24:00.001-07:00

HEAR YEE, HEAR YEE AND ALL THAT!! YA KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?!?!?

www.twitter.com/hiphopchess is where you can get all the latest HHCF updates! See you soon...

-Adisa

Check? Maybe, but not checkmate

2009-03-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Editorial staff removed two key elements from this piece the name of my school (Ryan Academy, Norfolk, Va.) and the HHCF! Instead of banging my head against the wall (which I only do because it feel so good when I stop) the piece is posting here to complete the broken circuit. We all know who we are anyway at this point and soon Mr. Obama will too.

I NEVER DREAMED the economy would get this bad; then, I never dreamed I would be happy after the economy forced me to give up being a children’s author and journalist to become a private high school teacher making less than $16,000 a year before taxes.
Teaching turned out to be the dream I didn’t know I had. However, with this dream comes much responsibility for those I teach and the dreams the economy is yanking out from beneath them.
Most people perceive private schools as fully-loaded finishing schools — big budgets, flashy classrooms. Too often, particularly here in the South, where many schools boomed in the days after Massive Resistance and went low at the heel when our public schools came back to life, the truth is many small, private schools exist to serve and protect those who could not thrive in pub lic school.
Teaching in the sometimes rigid and rushed, underpaid and understaffed, overworked and overcrowded environment of public schools can break students as quickly as make them.
This is not a slam on public schools, teachers or students. It’s a fact. Education has been first to cut and last/ least to fund for too long. We are in hothouses teaching snowflakes, each unique and needy in a special way. We try and race onward to fulfill standards and excel on tests, all the while trying desperately to leave no snowflake behind to melt away through the cracks in the system.
Some students, no matter how bright, melt down in public schools for a variety of reasons, and blue-collar parents take multiple jobs to give them the chance to get a privateschool education. The economy has taken a flamethrower to our scholastic icehouses; while public schools might get relief, private schools are scorched earth.
Each day I scan the tiny classroom and pray for them all to be in attendance, because I know parents have fallen behind in payments, and schools — having bent over backward — have absolutely no other choice, after months of not being able to meet meager payrolls and burgeoning bills, but to put kids out of the classroom until the tuition is paid. When the student is months from graduation, it is devastating. Two of my students have been accepted to college but have been unable to obtain scholarships or loans.
My students, who have learned to play chess and held onto the game of kings as a life raft in the perfect storm, have asked me to help them figure out how to keep afloat spiritually. Banding together, they have opted for strategy over surrender.
Two weeks ago, we all wrote the White House to challenge the president and his staff to a round of chess. We even sent one of our sets. Students have made a sponsorship form, like for a walk-a-thon, and will ask folks to pledge “change for change” — a quarter or 50 cents for every move they make against a White House opponent. Who knows? We might start a Chess Scholars Fund. Last week, the U.S. Chess Federation and U.S. Chess Trust announced their support for our Sustain the Change White House Challenge on their Web sites.
The overall strategy is to find a mate at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., so that even if some of my students fail in this economic battle, they can always have that one miraculous victory of belonging — not because they are grandmasters, famous, wealthy or PhDs, but because they refused to forfeit their hope or stalemate their dreams.
Lisa Suhay, of Norfolk, is an author and high school teacher. Contact
her at lsuhays2@cox.net.
Published in The Virginian-Pilot - Sunday, March 22, 2009

Victory in Wu Valley...again

2009-03-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

I get killed all the time. Those who know me know I never give up....So, I won one!!! This is my first win in a while :)

-Adisa

C file 8th rank, ship sank...

2009-03-21T10:42:00.001-07:00

So cold....

Cats never saw what was coming...

GZA is ill on the mic and the 64 squares...

-Adisa