Filipino Martial Arts on a Mook Jong
I have previously written about some of the drills in the below video that I practice on the Mook Jong in the basement. If you are not able to view this video, click here. Those drills are designed to develop the check hand for stick…
GM Bobby Taboada/Master Chuck Gauss Seminar
On Saturday, April 26th, Bamboo Spirit and Pugad Lawin Martial Arts hosted a successful joint seminar between Balintawak GM Bobby Taboada and Master of Tapi Tapi Chuck Gauss. This seminar was months in the making and involved much outreach. I’ve had Master Chuck in the…
Meeting GM Bobby Taboada
On Sunday, April 26, 2009, after I arrived at Ike Sepulveda’s house, along with Terence, I was introduced by Ike to GM Bobby Taboada, who received my handshake warmly and with a friendly smile. I said, “it’s an honor to meet you.” We all sat…
Timing, Speed and Rhythm
In the past year, I have pondered how to teach my students speed, timing, and rhythm. I have noticed the tendency of many to be “clocklike” in their timing and rhythm. This makes them predictable. In other words, their technique is usually “ONE-TWO, ONE-TWO, ONE-TWO.”…
The Modern Arnis 2 vs 1 Drill
My favourite developmental drill is the Modern Arnis 2 vs 1 drill I learned from Master Chuck Gauss. Through this drill, one can develop tremendous skills needed for single-stick fighting. At a basic level, a practitioner will learn how to develop ambidexterity. Major concepts of…
The Study of Modern Arnis
As has been alluded to before, Modern Arnis has a very broad knowledge base and can be broken down into parts to be studied as follows: In addition to all this, one must not forget “the flow” and the concept of “counter for counter.” Modern…
The Modern Arnis Reunion Camp
I attended the Modern Arnis Reunion Camp in Buffalo, New York this past weekend. It was billed as a family reunion camp intended to bring together various senior instructors from different Modern Arnis organizations for the first time since Professor Presas’s untimely death of 10…
The Check Hand
Professor Presas said, “Do not get hypnotized by the stick.” He meant that people would get too caught up using their canes and forget about their empty hand. Sometimes, it is called the “alive” hand as it keeps you alive. If you are not able…
Workshop at Canada Bakbakan Headquarters
Recently, Guro Ramon Villardo invited me to conduct a two-hour Modern Arnis workshop at the Canada Bakbakan HQ. The workshop took place last Saturday, February 5th. 10 eager students attended the workshop. At the workshop, I focused on single sinawali techniques, a common root between…
Espada Y Daga
I have been pondering the topic of “Espada y Daga” for a while. Why? Professor Presas’ family style included the crossada and palis palis version of Espada y Daga, as demonstrated in his 1980s instructional videos. In addition to his knowledge of his family…
