Nijel Binns

Nijel
Background information
Birth name	Nigel Lloyd Binns
Born	July 1, 1956 (1956-07-01) (age 55)
Origin	Battersea, England, UK
Occupations	sculptor, martial artist, actor, writer, painter
Years active	1975–present

Nigel Lloyd Binns (born July 1, 1956) is an American artist. He creates and performs under the mononym of Nijel, but has also been known by various other names such as Nijel BPG, Nijel Binns, and Nigel Binns.

An English born writer of philosophy, theater and the martial arts, his first international work was contributing as researcher, ghost writer and illustrator of the book Championship Kenpo.^[1] This martial arts instructional book was written with Kenpo Grandmaster Steve (Sanders) Muhammad and Donnie Williams who both appeared in the 1973 martial arts film classic, Enter The Dragon^[2] starring Bruce Lee.

In 1990 Nijel wrote and self published a study about the Nuba Wrestling tradition of antiquity titled Nuba Wrestling™: The Original Art.^[3] This treatise explores the ancient martial arts of empty hand combat, weaponry, fortification, and military strategy that was practiced by the Nuba in Kemet (Egypt) over 2,899 BC. This book has been largely responsible for a re-examination of the martial arts as originating in Africa rather than Asia as previously believed. In 1998, Nijel presented his findings on the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) television documentary The Martial Arts^[4] which was narrated by actor George Takei, best known for his role as "Mr. Sulu" in the television series Star Trek. Nijel's research material was later requested for inclusion as part of a college course offered by Scholargy, Inc, in Temple, Arizona in 2001.

As a leading authority on the martial arts of 12th Dynasty Kemet, Nijel, a member of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization (ASCAC), frequently travels throughout the country presenting lectures on the subject. In 1999 Binns served as Editor for CFW Enterprises magazine BKF - The Black Karate Federation Magazine in which his article Nuba Wrestling™ - The African Origins of the Martial Arts Revealed!^[5] was published. That magazine was followed by BKF Kenpo: History and Advanced Strategic Principles^[6] in 2002, his second book with Kenpo Grandmasters Steve Muhammad and Donnie Williams.

Nijel's writings have also included literature for young people such as his creation of PARALLAX-The Third Wave^[7], a group of multi-ethnic superheroes dedicated to saving the planet under the guidance and leadership of the extra-terrestrial "Starchild". The comic book featured cover art and illustrations by renowned comic book artist and illustrator Dell Barras. It debut in a 1989 as a cover story featured in Tales of the Ninja Warriors. Then in 1995 he published the Story of the Moors^[8] coloring and activities book that was co-authored with Robert L. Watt and designed to introduce children to the remarkable legacy of the African Moors in Spain from 711 AD to the year 1492.

As an internationally renowned artist and head of the fine art sculpting firm, Nijart International, Nijel is a master sculptor and craftsman of bronze monumental and life-sized statues in the realist tradition. His 16 foot tall "Mother of Humanity™"[1] bronze monument is a Los Angeles landmark.

Nijel's sculptures have been commissioned by The Los Angeles Urban League, Fox Studios, Sony, The Great Blacks in Wax museum and other organizations. His masterworks are owned by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Jackie Chan, Nelson Mandela, Denzel Washington, Celia Cruz, and a growing list of luminaries.

Nijel has been a practitioner of the martial arts since 1968 and has been featured in many articles appearing in Inside Kung-Fu, Inside Karate, and Black Belt magazines. Nijel is also a member of the Screen Actor's Guild and has worked closely as a stuntman, stunt coordinator and actor under the tutelage of Enter The Dragon director Robert Clouse in the films The Big Brawl, Force Five, and China O'Brien 1 and 2. Nijel has also worked with veteran stunt coordinators Pat Johnson and Terry Leonard on Karate Kid 11 and Imposter which starred Gary Sinese.

Early life

Nijel was born in Battersea, England where he grew up until age five. He left England and traveled with his parents to Jamaica, West Indies and went to school there before immigrating to the United States in 1968. Moving to Newark, New Jersey, Nijel attended first Burnett Street School and then St. Augustine grammar school in Newark. While in the seventh grade Nijel was accepted as a member of the Newark, New Jersey Symphony Boys Chorus under the direction of James McCarthy, where he sang alto for a few years. It was during this time of performing in the New York, Newark area that Nijel developed an appreciation for classical European choral and symphonic music. Also during this time, Nijel's artistic abilities were taking shape. He won first prize in a locally sponsored art contest at age 14 for which he was featured in the Newark Daily Newspaper.

Nijel was accepted into St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, as a Freshman in 1970. He was active in social issues at his school and helped to organize the African-American students to form the Third World Organization. St. Benedict's Prep closed temporarily which resulted in Nijel continuing high school at Seton Hall Preparatory School in Orange, New Jersey, from where he graduated in 1974.

Sculpture and Monuments

• Alexander Pushkin (clay), 1920
• Dorothy Dandridge (clay), 1989
• The Michael Jackson bust (clay with gold overlay), 1985
• Lena Horne (clay), 1987
• The Maasai Princess (bronze), 1990
• The Mother of Humanity™ monument (bronze), 1996
• The Shirley Temple monument (bronze), 2002
• The John W. Mack Monument (bronze), 2005
• The John W. Mack Bas Relief (mixed media), 2008
• The Nate Holden Monument (bronze), 2009
• The Charmette Bonpua Skate Park Monument (bronze), 2010

Award Designs

• The Dance Alive Award, 1987
• The Top Selling Artist of the Decade Award (bronze sculpture), 1990
• The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award,
• The Celia Cruz Gold Standard Medallion,
• The Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Fan Award, 2005
• The Los Angeles Urban League's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award (re-design), 2007

Literature

• Championship Kenpo, 1983
• PARALLAX-The Third Wave, 1989
• Nuba Wrestling™: The Original Art, 1990
• Story of the Moors, 1995
• BKF Kenpo - History and Advanced Strategic Principles, 2002

Film, Plays, Dance

• The Big Brawl, 1980
• Force-Five, 1985
• Karate Kid II, 1986
• China O'Brien, 1998
• China O'Brien II, 1998
• Imposter, 2001

References

1. ^ Sanders and Williams. ' ' Championship Kenpo ' '. Ohara Publications, 1983, ISBN 0-89750-094-6
2. ^ Robert Clouse, Bruce Lee, Enter The Dragon, Warner Bros., 1973, motion picture
3. ^ Binns. Nuba Wrestling™: The Original Art. Trans-Continental Network Productions, 1990, ISBN 1-928935-02-8
4. ^ A&E. The Martial Arts. A&E Television Networks, 1998, Documentary AAE-73113
5. ^ CFW Enterprises. BKF - The Black Karate Federation Magazine CFW Enterprises, Inc., 1999, ISSN 1092-7972
6. ^ Binns, Muhammad, Williams. BKF Kenpo: History and Advanced Strategic Principles. CFW Enterprises, Inc., 2002, ISBN 0-86568-218-6
7. ^ CFW Enterprises, Inc., 1989
8. ^ Binns and Watt. Story of the Moors. Story of the Moors Productions, 1995, ISBN 0-9647820-0-6

External links

• The Big Brawl at the Internet Movie Database
• The Karate Kid, Part II at the Internet Movie Database
• China O'Brien at the Internet Movie Database
• Imposter at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Binns, Nijel
Alternative names	Nijel BPG
Short description
Date of birth	July 1, 1956
Place of birth	Battersea, England
Date of death
Place of death