To Master or Not to Master
What type of Filipino martial artist are you? How far do you want to take this thing? What are your goals in the arts? Is it necessary to complete curriculums, teach the art, fight in matches, cross...
View ArticleMy Thoughts on Rousey-Nunes (and Cross Training)
Let’s take a break from our discussion of FMAs and turn our attention towards MMA for a second. Because of the nature of the modern FMA man’s martial philosophy–one of “learn what works, discard what...
View ArticlePersonal Combat Styles
If you’ve been around for a while on the non-seminar side of the FMAs, you may be familiar with this term, the “Personal Combat” style. Other terms you may hear are something like “Combat Arnis”,...
View ArticleTime for an FMA Revolution, Part II
This is a continuation of an article I wrote last year introducing a few suggestions about an “FMA Revolution” I thought should take place. If you hadn’t read it, follow this link and take a look. I...
View ArticleThe Devastation of Eskrima’s #1 Strike
Most styles of Eskrima have as their #1 strike an out to in strike to the temple or a downward strike to the crown, nose or collarbone. Both of these strikes, in my opinion are underrated and can be...
View ArticleMastery and Innovation
In the path to mastery of the martial arts, including especially fighting arts such as Eskrima and Arnis–one must have a certain degree of innovativeness. While not absolutely necessary, for most...
View ArticleThe Wayward Branch
“Listen 10 times, ponder 1,000 times–speak once.” –Turkish proverb One recurring theme you will see repeated on this blog is the idea that martial artists too often fail to think for themselves. Over...
View ArticleMissing Pieces of Modern Eskrima Practice, pt II
I am the world’s biggest procrastinator, I swear… So I’m doing a little maintenance to the site, which I haven’t done in a few year actually, and I come across my folder of unfinished “articles”. I put...
View ArticleFMA Practitioners vs Eskrimadors & Arnisadors
The best of us can learn something new, regardless of how advance or knowledgeable we believe we are. For growth in the martial arts, it is important to be highly competent, highly competitive, highly...
View ArticleThree Paths Up the FMA Mountain (for Jason Spotts)
I’ve recently relocated back to the Philippines; so good to be back! Aside from getting reacquainted with long-seen family–some cousins I hadn’t seen since childhood–and seeing how the many towns and...
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