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ORIGINS OF COMBA-TAI


Comba-Tai is derived from the words combatterie (struggle) and Tai (Grand), hence the world translates the grandstruggle.Comba-Tai's name points to its Philosophy and practice as a holistic Martial_art. Comba-Tai is an American Eclectic system of Martial_arts that is said to be an evolution of a supposed ancient Nubian Martial_art known as Geziret el Malik. The origins of the name Geziret el Malik are unclear; however to Arabic speaking Nubians , the word translates “Island of the King.” When examining a contemporary history of Comba-Tai we find it was also influenced and developed by U.S.Military members in the Armed Forces stationed in the U.S. and overseas (1981-1987). But according to students,the Origins of Comba-Tai began with the military art form Geziret el Malik.


When did Geziret el Malik begin?

This is a question that can not be answered with absolute certainty. The uncertainty results from decades and perhaps even centuries of mystery that shrouded this fighting system. Hence, the lines in this era of the past may never be clearly defined. Much of what was learned about Geziret el Malik was handed down in legend and secrecy by word of mouth. Oral tradition purports that an Abyssinian religious Royal Order, The Knights of the Order_of_St._Anthony and their families escaped to America in 1855 during the Ethiopian Dynastic wars known as the Zamana Masafent, also know as the Era_of_the_Princes . It is claimed that they took up residence in a multiethnic Maroon_ in Jones_County,_Mississippi . The Legend of the Knights in this area of Mississippi is also connected to the popular lore of The Free_state_of_jones . In the Piney Woods of Jones County, legend has it that the Knights were frequently called to use their military skills against slave raiders, confederate soldiers and later the Ku_Klux_Klan during the Reconstruction ReconstructionEra. It is said that people of many races lived in Jones County at this time and were trained by the imigrant knights. Today their is a family Jones country today that has maintained the name Ras since the time of the American_Civil_War. The connection of the Ethiopian Royal military title of Ras_ is not clear. However it is known that Ras_was the highest Ethiopian royal rank that could be bestowed on someone not of royal birth.


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Note*The Order of St. Anthony was founded as a religious Order, it is believed to be older than the Knights_Templar, one of the first Orders of Chivalry in Europe. The Order was probably established in the Sudan at Meroe in 370 A.D. Some say the Order was established by a King known as John, others say KingEzana_of_Axum established the Order following the death of St. Anthony the Hermit. Many of Anthony’s disciples began to follow their masters foot steps into Monasticism. According to: Of the Religious Orders of Knighthood. Chap. II, pages 62-63: “It is said, that about the year of our Lord 370, John Emperor of Ethiopia (probably Nubia proper) commonly called Prester John erected these Monks into a Religious Order of Knighthood, under the Title and protection of St. Anthony, Patron of His Empires and bestowed upon them great Revenues and many Privileges. And thus being instituted Knights, they received the aforesaid Rule of St. Basil, and submitted to his constitution.” It is believed that this Order used the military skill of their Medjay ancestors.
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The late Dr. Rev. S. A. Jones (1989-1995) former pastor of “Greater Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church” in New Orleans, LA, reported that the wrestling form of Geziret el Malik had become a popular community sport in the Mississippi Hills until he left Laurel,_Mississippi in 1919. Comba-Tai is an off shoot of Geziret el Malik continued by Alonzo M. Jones who began his life long learning in the military arts under the tutelage of his grandfather, Dr. Rev. S.A. Jones who was a native of Laurel Mississippi. Geziret el Malik is said to be similar in movement and practice to Nuba forms of striking, stick fighting and wrestling. According to Marisa Larson of the National Geographic magazine team, the Nubas of southern Kordofan are probably the decedents of the ancient Nubian warriors according to many Archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians. There is a element of boxing in Geziret el malik that is unsimilar to Nuba forms of sport Combat and dissimilar to western Boxing as well.

Geziret el Malik first phase of eclectic development occurred during street confrontations in New Orleans and South Central Los Angles and exposure to western Boxing , Kenpo , Arnis_de_mano and Capoeira (1978). During military travels in 1981, Geziret el Malik continued to evolve as it was exposed to other forms of martial arts. In addition military medical training in anatomy and physiology, at the School of Health Care Sciences, at Wichita Fall Texas and Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio Texas, greatly influenced Geziret el Malik’s striking, strangulation, nerve attack and joint manipulation strategies as recorded in the unpublished work called the Majesty of Comba-Tai (copyright-1987). In 1983, Comba-Tai became the official name of the military art form that had completely developed into an eclectic system.


In 1983 to 1984 United States Air force members begin using the martial art strategies of Comba-Tai and won titles in the Philippine American Martial Arts Championships (1983), Interservice Pacific Wide Championships (Okinawa,1983- Philippine, 1984), Asian World Full Contact Martial art Championships at the Philippine University in Angeles City (1984).


In 1984 a United States Air Force Sergeant, Grandmaster Leamon Tillmon helped to found the World Combat Academy Institute of Martial arts. Grandmaster Leamon Tillmon was very influential on the philosophical development of Comba-Tai and its direction to serve people. Thus Comba-Tai further evolved into more of a philosophical concept that incorporated a holistic approach known as S.T.A.R. (Strength, Timing, Agility and Resourcefulness). Comba-Tai continued its Christian beliefs from the legends of he early Christian Knights from Ethiopia that brought fighting forms to America that were said to be dedicated to being a blessing to all the families of the earth, regardless of religion. Comba-Tai also teaches that whoever trains in Comba-Tai should be a blessing to others. As such in the early 90’s various programs were developed on military bases to support this mission free of charge:


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