Yehoshua Sofer
Encyclopedia
Yehoshua Sofer an Israeli hip hop musician and martial artist. Yehoshua Sofer was born into a Breslover Hasidim family in Jamaica
. His family moved to Los Angeles
in 1963 where he studied Tang Soo Do
, receiving a black belt by 1968, aged ten. He studied Kuk Sool Won
from 1974, advancing to 6th dan, and worked as a trainer and bodyguard during the 1970s and 1980s.
He moved to Israel
in 1989, and in 1993, he recorded a minor Israeli hip hop
hit in Hebrew, Humus Metamtem ("Humus Makes You Stupid"). In 2000, he ran a Kuk Sool Won school at the International Convention
, Jerusalem.
In 2002, he founded the Abir Warrior Arts Association of Israel, teaching his own style of "Abir-Abir-Qesheth Hebrew Warrior Arts" in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, claiming an unbroken tradition dating to Israelite antiquity preserved by an underground school of "Bani Abir" in Habban, Yemen, and styling himself Aluf Abir "Grandmaster of Abir".
The word abir in Modern Hebrew
means "knight
", interpreted as an acronym ,
for ("Our Lord, our Creator, our Maker, our Healer").
The school's logo spells the word in the Phoenician alphabet
as ; the letter shapes are significant because of Abir's "Aleph-Beth Fighting System" where "Abir practitioners learn to assume the forms of the twenty-two Hebrew letters in all of their seven types of combat applications." The addition qeshet means "bow
, arch" and refers to a method of "always striking with an arched limb in a looping, elliptical, or circular manner".
Although Sofer advocates his style as a "kosher" martial art people from all walks of life and religious commitment are welcome to train. The style does incorporate prayer and the reading of texts because "Abir is a religious practice which includes Torah
studies," but it does not mandate what a practitioner's personal choices are outside of the dojo. Abir was recognized as a martial arts discipline by the Israeli Wingate College of Sport Sciences in 2008.
History of the Jews in Jamaica
-Modern times:By religious bloodlines and not practicing of the Jewish faith, it is estimated that nearly 424,000 Jamaicans have Sephardi Jewish ancestry, due to the Spanish Inquisition.-Notable people:*Monty Alexander - Jazz Pianist...
. His family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1963 where he studied Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
, receiving a black belt by 1968, aged ten. He studied Kuk Sool Won
Kuk Sool Won
Kuk Sool Won is a Korean martial arts system founded by Suh In-Hyuk |Grandmaster]]) in 1958. The name Kuk Sool Won translates to "National Martial Art Association" and despite often being shortened to 'Kuk Sool,' the name kuk sool is a non-trade marked name used to denote similar Korean martial...
from 1974, advancing to 6th dan, and worked as a trainer and bodyguard during the 1970s and 1980s.
He moved to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1989, and in 1993, he recorded a minor Israeli hip hop
Israeli hip hop
-History:Although Native Hebrew hip hop gained popularity only during the 1990s, stemming from global influences, traces of it could been found during the mid 1980s. Yair Nitzani, then a member of the Israeli rock group, "Tislam", released an old school hip hop parody album under the name "Hashem...
hit in Hebrew, Humus Metamtem ("Humus Makes You Stupid"). In 2000, he ran a Kuk Sool Won school at the International Convention
International Convention Center (Jerusalem)
The International Convention Centre , commonly known as Binyenei HaUma , is a concert hall and conventional center in Giv'at Ram in Jerusalem, Israel. It is the largest convention center in the Middle East...
, Jerusalem.
In 2002, he founded the Abir Warrior Arts Association of Israel, teaching his own style of "Abir-Abir-Qesheth Hebrew Warrior Arts" in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, claiming an unbroken tradition dating to Israelite antiquity preserved by an underground school of "Bani Abir" in Habban, Yemen, and styling himself Aluf Abir "Grandmaster of Abir".
The word abir in Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
means "knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
", interpreted as an acronym ,
for ("Our Lord, our Creator, our Maker, our Healer").
The school's logo spells the word in the Phoenician alphabet
Phoenician alphabet
The Phoenician alphabet, called by convention the Proto-Canaanite alphabet for inscriptions older than around 1050 BC, was a non-pictographic consonantal alphabet, or abjad. It was used for the writing of Phoenician, a Northern Semitic language, used by the civilization of Phoenicia...
as ; the letter shapes are significant because of Abir's "Aleph-Beth Fighting System" where "Abir practitioners learn to assume the forms of the twenty-two Hebrew letters in all of their seven types of combat applications." The addition qeshet means "bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
, arch" and refers to a method of "always striking with an arched limb in a looping, elliptical, or circular manner".
Although Sofer advocates his style as a "kosher" martial art people from all walks of life and religious commitment are welcome to train. The style does incorporate prayer and the reading of texts because "Abir is a religious practice which includes Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
studies," but it does not mandate what a practitioner's personal choices are outside of the dojo. Abir was recognized as a martial arts discipline by the Israeli Wingate College of Sport Sciences in 2008.
External links
- http://www.abirwarriorarts.com