Techniques of African Martial Arts: Interview with Da'Mon Stith (Part 1)
Da’Mon Stith is an African American martial artist, researcher, and innovator.
Born in 1975 in Austin, Texas, his love for the martial arts began at the age of six when his father gave him a toy sword. From that day on the ‘way of warrior’ became his path and passion.
His journey as a martial artist began in the art of Shorin ryu Karate which he had the privilege of studying in Okinawa as a teenager. It was in this environment seeped in martial tradition that he became exposed to the philosophies of Miyamoto Musashi and Bruce Lee and through cross training began to explore martial arts as a form of self expression. Eventually he began studying Jeet Kune Do and developed a strong interest in the arts of South East Asia (Kali, Silat, and Muay Thai). These arts combined deadly fighting techniques with rituals that involved music, dance, and spirituality. As well as were used as a means to instill pride and respect in their respective cultures.
In 1994 with the release of the movie ‘Only the Strong’ Da’Mon began studying the African/Brazilian art of Capoeira. Attracted to its movement, music, history, and philosophy Da’Mon devoted his life to the practice and preservation of Capoeira After a few years of training he created his own Capoeira group and began researching the fighting arts of Africa and its Diaspora such as: Esgrima con Machete (Colombia), Tire Machet (Haiti), Al Matreg (Algeria), 52 Blocks (USA) Morengy Boxing (Madagascar.
He is the founder and president of HAMAA (Historical African Martial Arts Association) an organization dedicated to research and reconstruction of historical and cultural martial arts of Africa and the African Diaspora.