Defending Farrakhan, mind, body and spirit at National Training Seminar

By Donna Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Aug 14, 2019 - 10:16:19 AM

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”— Psalms 94:16

Youth participated in conference for ages 13-20 as part of National Training seminar.

ST. CHARLES, Ill.—This was one of the scriptures lifted by Student Minister Demetric Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 55 and member of the Nation of Islam Research Group during a plenary session entitled “Defending Farrakhan,” which set the tone for the 24th Annual National Training Conference organized by Assistant Supreme Captain and Martial Arts Grandmaster Abdul Azziz Muhammad (formerly Anthony Muhammad).

Defending Farrakhan quickly became the overarching theme of this year’s highly anticipated seminar as hundreds of participants from around the U.S., London, Barbados and Jamaica engaged in intensive physical, mental and spiritual training over the course of two days at the Pheasant Run Resort, July 12-13 and culminating with the second annual VSK Olympics on July 14. This year also included a youth conference for ages 13-20.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan greets martial arts master, Soke Lil Jon Davis.

Student Min. Demetric provided participants with spiritual and historical tools in the Defense of Farrakhan. Lifting verses from Bible and the Holy Qur’an, he provided scriptural evidence of the need to defend the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the truth that he speaks, along with headlines and articles from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad printed in the Muhammad Speaks Newspaper.

“Throughout our history, defense of the truth has been a common theme, you see it as headlines on the Muhammad Speaks newspaper. You can read articles that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad talks about the need and the requirement to defend the truth. Really, even though it is not a part of the five pillars or any of what you would consider as the basic tenets of Islam, but if you read the Bible and the Qur’an, you would come to the conclusion that the defense of the faith is a requirement of the faith,” he said. “You can’t expect to practice and promote righteousness in a world of Satan unless you are prepared to defend and fight for the righteousness that you see.”

Student Min. Demetric Muhammad

The spirit of Defending Farrakhan, truth and righteousness permeated throughout the remainder of the day’s training as participants showed dedication and desire with many beginning their days as early as 3:00 a.m. to receive specialized training in areas of dignitary protection, check post certification, threat assessment, while also receiving vital information on health and wellness by Dr. Patrice Muhammad of Chicago.

Sister A’ishah Muhammad, student national auditing coordinator of the Nation of Islam, encouraged participants to examine their hearts and root out any feelings of envy that may impede progress. Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan spoke on the importance of loving one another. “We have to use these opportunities to love one another. We have to use these opportunities because it’s our time, not now, but right now. You have no other time, because tomorrow is not gifted to none of us, but while we’re here today, we can love one another today!”

One of the highlighted workshops on the opening day was the interactive search and rescue component conducted by Student MGT Captain Christina Muhammad of Austin, Texas and the 10,000 Fearless First Responders Team.

The team was developed in response to Min. Farrakhan’s call for 10,000 Fearless men and women and in the wake of seeing the suffering of victims of Hurricane Katrina. The workshop provided simulated real life scenarios with assigned teams, tasked with getting people to safety.

As a result of the work of the 10,000 Fearless First Responders, the team was awarded a Proclamation from the State of Louisiana for its work with Hurricane Harvey in Houston, the California wildfires and the recent tornados in Weston, Louisiana.

Christina Muhammad presented a copy of the proclamation to Min. Farrakhan on July 13. “We are not asking for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) as we know it in America but we’re changing FEMA because now FEMA stands for Farrakhan, Elijah, Muhammad, and Allah altogether,” she said.

“We were presented a proclamation from Louisiana to show that we love you and your words do not go in vain. We are workers in the cause.”

Upon receiving the proclamation, the Minister said, “When love is at the center of your thinking and your doing, love will tell you what to do according to the needs of those who need. You didn’t need instruction, you just needed to love more and you showed it. 10,000 Fearless. See, when you’re a lover, you’re not going to be afraid.”

The weekend also included a special Friday jumu’ah prayer service directed by Imam Sultan Muhammad which concluded with a special presentation from Student Minister Abdul Hakeem Muhammad, European Representative of the Nation of Islam. He and a delegation of five FOI traveled to the training for the first time from London.

Saturday’s workshops included a mix of theory and practical application. A women’s only session was entitled “From Victim to Victor.” Participants then ‘got on the mat’ for the ‘each one teach one’ martial art and self-defense training with special sessions for men, women and children, and demonstrations from martial arts masters: Lil Jon Soke; Tai Chou (Captain) Robert Hibbert of Jamaica; Master Robert “Sugar” Cosson; Shihan Lemuel Muhammad; Grandmaster Bill McCloud; Grandmaster Oso Tayari Casel; Professor Tom Curry; Shihan Zahalea Anderson; Professor Christopher Muhammad and more. July 13 also included an awards banquet ceremony.

During a simultaneous two-day youth conference, over 90 participants aged 13-20 received their own training in workshops designed specifically for them by a youth steering committee comprised of their peers and facilitated by Project Y.O.U. Founders and Executive Directors Clifton Muhammad and Lisa R. Muhammad. Every session was engaging, interactive and highly spirited, fueled by the participants’

great desire to learn to master themselves, while also defending Min. Farrakhan. Youth were immersed in hands-on workshops all designed to empower them with confidence in representing the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, while also examining and developing their own talents and skills to benefit the growth of the Nation and attract other youth. Youth workshops included Mastering Communication and Personal Development, Health and Wellness, Defending Farrakhan, Entrepreneurship and Making Money Make Sense; Learning by Building; Personal Safety and Protection; Arts, Culture and Value the Artist; and Operation Boots on the Ground: Town Hall Call to Action which focused on making our communities a safe and decent place to live.

The sessions were presented by a diverse group of adult and youth panelists from around the country.

Specifically invited by the youth steering committee, Jesse Muhammad, social media strategist addressed the proper way to be on the offense and defense for Min. Farrakhan on social media.

At the close of the session, youth shared their ideas on effective strategies and to share with their peers throughout the Nation.

The youth conference closed out the weekend’s events with a youth formal and social.

As some participants prepared to make their way to their respective cities, many remained on Sunday to be a part of the 2nd Annual VSK Olympics, where youth and adults demonstrated and competed in their various levels of mastery in their areas.

Student MGT Captain Keri Ann Muhammad of Charlotte, North Carolina attended the National Training Seminar for the third year in a row and brought a busload of mostly youth, with her. “I think that if we are going to keep alive the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s words, as far as passing the torch, then we have to do something for the youth to give them an opportunity for that platform,” she said.

Abdul-Rahman Muhammad, 16, originally from England, and currently residing in Barbados, attended the training for the first time, along with his mother and cousin. “I already do martial arts and I already loved doing martial arts and I used to love seeing the E-Team on the stage with the Minister, so that already inspired me, personally and to see the motorcade and cars going by, that inspired me a lot.” (Asia Muhammad contributed to this report)

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