Moses Powell: The Grandmaster Who Took Black Martial Arts to the World Stage
A Black History Minute Deep Dive
Welcome back to Black History Minute — the place where we honor the known and the unknown giants of our story. Today, we spotlight a man whose influence stretches across martial arts, law enforcement, international demonstrations, and the minds of icons like Bruce Lee.
A man whose name deserves to be said with respect:
"Doc" Moses Powell.
Also known to many as “Musa.”
Most people talking martial arts today have no idea they’re standing on the shoulders of a Black martial arts legend who built a system from the ground up — a system born from skill, discipline, and a lifetime of study.
Let’s get into it.
FROM BOXING STUDENT TO MARTIAL ARTS MASTER
Before the world knew him as Doc Powell, he was a young man studying boxing — learning movement, timing, footwork, and the fundamentals of combat. But like the greats who came before him, he never stopped evolving.
His journey led him to Vee-Jitsu Ryu, the combat system created by Professor Florendo Visitacion (commonly called “Professor Vee”). Under this intense, street-oriented martial arts training, Moses Powell sharpened his understanding of self-defense, redirection of force, and close-quarters combat.
But he didn’t stop there.
He built something new.
Something powerful.
Something rooted in discipline, culture, and self-mastery.
THE CREATION OF Sanuces Ryu Jiu-Jitsu
Through decades of training, pressure-testing, and refining techniques, Powell created Sanuces Ryu Jiu-Jitsu — a martial arts system blending:
jiu-jitsu
judo
karate
boxing
street survival tactics
The system became known for its directness:
No fluff. No fancy choreography.
Just effective self-defense.
His one-finger rollout technique — yes, one finger — became legendary for its precision, speed, and ability to transition between defensive and offensive movements instantly.
Students who witnessed it in person still talk about it like a myth made real.
A GLOBAL IMPACT: PERFORMING AT THE UNITED NATIONS
According to CMG Worldwide, Dr. Moses Powell did something few martial artists — Black or otherwise — ever accomplished:
In 1971, he was invited to demonstrate his martial arts system at the United Nations.
Think about that.
A Black man from Harlem showcasing his self-defense system on an international world stage in front of diplomats, leaders, and global observers.
That alone cements him as a historical figure.
But he wasn’t done.
HONORED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BENIN
In 1973, Moses Powell was recognized and awarded by the Government of Benin — a major honor connecting him to African martial traditions and acknowledging his contributions to combat arts and discipline.
This connection carried tremendous cultural weight. For a Black martial artist in America during that era, being honored by an African nation wasn’t just symbolic — it was ancestral recognition.
THE TEACHER BEHIND THE BADGES: FBI, DEA & MORE
Several of Powell’s students have revealed something most people never knew:
He trained the FBI, the DEA, and other “alphabet boys.”
When federal agencies need real world, no-nonsense self-defense training — they look for the best. And his Sanuces Ryu system was exactly that.
This means American law enforcement benefitted from a system created by a Black martial arts genius — another contribution rarely acknowledged in mainstream conversations.
THE BRUCE LEE CONNECTION
One moment in his life stands out as a cultural crossover:
After demonstrating his art in New York City, Bruce Lee — the global martial arts icon — showed interest in training with him.
That is huge.
Because Bruce Lee didn’t just work with anybody.
For Bruce to show interest meant he saw something innovative, powerful, and philosophically deep in Dr. Powell’s system.
That encounter alone tells you everything about the caliber of martial artist Dr. Powell was.
A LEGACY BUILT ON DISCIPLINE, CULTURE & FULL SELF-MASTERY
Moses Powell wasn’t just a fighter.
He was an innovator, a teacher, a philosopher, and a trailblazer for Black martial artists worldwide.
His influence lives on through:
his students
law enforcement training programs
martial arts schools
modern self-defense systems
and the cultural impact of a Black man creating a complete martial discipline
He proved that we, as Black people, can master any field — even one historically dominated by others — and take it to global levels.
THE BLACK FACTS
"Doc" Moses Powell, also known as Musa, created Sanuces Ryu Jiu-Jitsu.
He began his journey through boxing and later developed martial skills under Vee-Jitsu Ryu.
He demonstrated his system at the United Nations in 1971.
He was awarded by the Government of Benin in 1973.
According to students, he trained multiple federal agencies, including the FBI and DEA.
His famous one-finger rollout technique was known for its effectiveness in offense and defense.
After a demonstration in New York, Bruce Lee expressed interest in training with him.
His legacy remains foundational in the world of Black martial arts and self-defense.