A Martial Arts Pioneer

Honoring the late great Grand Master Abdul Mussawir (aka: Monroe Marrow), a Pioneer  of Martial Arts and the Healing Art of Tai Chi Chaun.

It was during the 1970's that I became aware of  Grand Master Abdul Mussawir  when I was a teenager studying Shotokan Karate with Grand Master Lamarr Thornton, at the Wesbster Avenue Police Athletic League in the Bronx. The Webster Avenue PAL was one of the premeir gyms for karate and boxing in the 1970's and 1980's in New York City. GM Mussawir would visit the Webster Avenue PAL  occasionally to meet with GM Thornton. GM Mussawir was very unassuming, would always arrive alone, and moved and walked like a cat, gracefully, with a piercing gaze. Over the years, I would see GM Mussawir around the New York City area in the Bronx and Harlem community. It wasn't until the early 1980's, after the urging of the late Grand Master Phillip McCrae, one of my karate instructors and also a student of GM Mussawir, that I became a student of GM Mussawir. Knowing how awsome GM Mussawir was and how very fond I was of Bruce Lee, GM McCrae would often refer to GM Mussawir as the "Black Bruce Lee!"

(GM''s left to right) Don Nagle, Abdul Mussawir, Ron Van Clief, Jimmy Santiago, Frank Ruiz, and Aaron Banks (Circa 1969)

GM Abdul Mussawir on the top far right of photo and GM Ming Kyu Pai in the top center  (Circa 1969)

My relationship with GM Mussawir as a student and life long friend began at the Harlem Institute of Karate, owned and operated by the late GM Earnest Hyman. GM Ernest Hyman was the top student of legendary martial artist and promoter, GM Aaron Banks. GM Banks was the promoter of the first televised annual world renowned martial arts show, "Oriental World of Self-Defense," held at the world famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Harlem Institute of Karate was also the location for the martial arts school of "Bruce Leroy," of the occult classic film, "The Last Dragon." Having already earned a 2nd degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, I would begin training at the institute in master classes in Shotokan Karate and learning the healing art of Tai Chi Chaun. As a student of GM Mussawir, over time, I would learn of the many contributions he made as a pioneer in the world of martial arts and health.

GM Abdul Mussawir and Sensei Marcus Salgado demonstrating to the sound of the drum, Shotokan Kata: Bassai Dai at The Harlem Tai Chi Chaun Society's martial arts demonstration, honoring Master Jou Tsung Hwa, at the Harlem Institute of Karate

GM  Abdul Mussawir, demonstrating the Chen Style Tai-Chi Form to the sound of the drum, at The Harlem Tai Chi Chaun Society's honoring of Master Jou Tsung Hwa

GM Abdul Mussawir and Sensei Marcus Salgado at The Harlem Tai Chi Chaun Society's martial arts demonstration, honoring Master Jou Tsung Hwa

GM Jou Tsung Hwa demonstrates Tai-Chi Push Hands at The Harlem Tai Chi Chaun Society's martial arts demonstration

During the 1960's and 1970's, GM Mussawir was an incredible fighter and karate competitor, who had won many championships. He was part of the golden age of karate teachers and competitors who helped to popularize the martial arts in the United States. GM Mussawir is one of the honoree's in the book, Al Weiss': The Official History Of Karate In America, The Golden Age: 1968-1986. GM Mussawir was the student of such legendary masters: Remy Hannibal, Moses Powell, Ming Kyu Pai, and Jou Tsung Hwa. GM Mussawir was one of the first instructors to teach Shotokan Karate in the Bronx, at the Shotokan Karate Club. He would also own and operate another school in  the Bronx, Dynamic Dojo. Along with his many accomplishments, GM Mussawir would become known as a master teacher, who taught a countless number of talented students. However, three students that come to mind, who would go onto to winning many national and international titles are: the late GM Phillip McCrae, GM Sijo Abdul Mutakabbir, and GM Errol Bennett.

The Bronx 183rd Street Wesbster Avenue Police Athletic League