Ep. 118-The crucible of survival—my conversation with Ken “Shadow” Goodman

For this episode, I sat down with Brooklyn native Ken “Shadow” Goodman, founder and chief combatives coach of 52 Blocks VTK (Violent Tactics Knowledge). We talk in depth about what it was like growing up in Bed-Stuy and trying to navigate the pull of the streets. He learned early on from elders in the community, but street life eventually got the best of him, and he ended up spending over twenty-five years inside the New York State prison system. It was there that he honed his skills as a 52 blocks practitioner. Our conversation ends with Shadow discussing his new path in life, giving back to his community in a positive way. Since his release from prison in December 2014, he’s used martial arts as a tool for healing, fostering resilience, and finding the will to prevail in the midst of chaos.