Welcome to my site!
I teach Modern Arnis and it is an AMAZING martial art. I LOVE teaching it!
Modern Arnis is a global martial art with Filipino, Japanese, Chinese and American influences. An unbelievable melting pot!
Available to residents of the Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa)!
Students will learn effective self-defence from me, based on my 30+ years of experience in martial arts. I believe each student can achieve a high level of proficiency in this mind-blowing martial art.
What could be more fun than sticks, knives and empty hands?!
To find out more, scroll down for information about my children's classes and adult private lessons.
Explore the rest of the site, click HERE.
LET'S HAVE FUN while learning this life changing martial art!
Modern Arnis is perfect for those with limited mobility or disabilities because it is so adaptable. I have experience teaching self-defence at the Abilities Centre in Whitby as well as private clients.
In training with me, I will draw upon my 30+ years of experience to find self-defence solutions that fit YOU regardless of size and ability level.
Modern Arnis, is an exciting and challenging martial art consisting of sticks, knives and empty hand material. You will learn primarily through flow drills which are then broken down into combative applications. Interested? Contact me!
September 8, 2023 UPDATE: I have resumed teaching weekly classes at the A.B.S. Training Centre. They take place on Thursday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please contact me or the ABS Training Centre for further details!
In addition to weekly group classes at the A.B.S Training Centre, I am also available for private or semi-private lessons to those residing in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
The private lessons are loads of fun and educational!
If you are interested in learning Modern Arnis/Filipino Martial Arts or becoming a superhero like Jason Bourne, SMASH the button below!
In addition to group classes at the A.B.S Training Centre, I am also available for private lessons. They are a great way to learn self-defence on an accelerated schedule.
Private lessons can be done in 30, 45, or 60-minute increments. I am currently available for those residing in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
The private lessons' content can be adjusted for your individual needs, whether it be self-defence, weapons attacks, or learning Modern Arnis. Regardless of skill level, you will gain a great amount of knowledge in no time! Private lessons can be one-on-one or in a semi-private setting.
Interested? Please contact me for more details.
By training with me, I will take you to martial heights that you never dreamed of! My primary vehicle is Modern Arnis, a Filipino Martial Art. Modern Arnis is a practical self-defence system and a mind-bending experience! Here, you will find none of the chest-thumping nonsense prevalent in the martial arts world.
I am highly adaptable and believe everyone can excel in martial arts. I take your journey as a martial artist seriously and believe that great practice leads to a great life.
My first priority is your well-being. This means that safety is the highest priority in my classes and private lessons.
In our art, we need training partners to learn. We have a welcoming school and love connecting with others in the class.
While I teach one group class per week and several classes at Durham College, my private lesson is flexible. However, spots are limited. Interested in private lessons? Contact me to schedule a free half-hour introductory private lesson!
I have over 35 years of martial arts experience including Kung Fu, Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Vee Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo Karate, and Modern Arnis. For the last 20 years, I have been teaching Modern Arnis and self-defence in Oshawa, Ajax and Pickering. I am passionate about helping others overcome barriers, obstacles, and insecurities. In addition to teaching Modern Arnis, I have also taught women’s self-defence at UOIT/Durham College. In addition, I have also taught self-defence courses for developmentally delayed adults at the Abilities Centre in Whitby.
My Modern Arnis classes are fun, safe, and unique! You will learn how to go with the flow in any self-defence situation.
What’s more fun than playing with sticks and knives?
The Importance of Repetitions Talk to any martial arts Grandmaster or an all-time great, and you will hear about the importance of repetitions for any technique or concept. Repetition is a critical aspect of training and development for martial artists at any level. I tell…
Yesterday, I attended a Triple Threat seminar in London, Ontario, featuring Professors Steve Stewart, Ken Smith, and Leon Jay. During the day, each instructor took turns teaching their respective arts. Professor Ken Smith used me as uke to share his Modern Arnis expertise, demonstrating a…
One key component of Filipino martial arts (FMA) is the use of disarms. Disarming an opponent involves leverage, positioning, and footwork. Modern Arnis emphasizes one disarm per angle. Thus, we have 12 basic disarms plus various other disarms. I love that these basic disarms are…
When I teach disarms, I first emphasize the importance of leverage. I will discuss hitting and positioning for disarms in future posts. For now, let’s start with leverage for disarms. One of the elements in disarming an opponent is the concept of leverage. Here’s why…
Strengthening the legs is essential for martial arts because it enhances stability, power, and explosiveness. Strong legs provide a solid foundation, enabling practitioners to maintain balance and control while executing self-defense techniques. Lastly, increased leg endurance allows for sustained performance during training and sparring, reducing…
Every so often, a student or a client will ask me for solo training tips. I often advise them to try solo sinawali training, focusing on the angles of attack. As I demonstrate in the video below, the key to solo sinawali training is paying…
In Modern Arnis, pulling is crucial for breaking an opponent’s posture. This makes executing various strikes and manipulations easier. After pulling, practitioners can capitalize on their opponent’s broken posture, turning defensive movements into offensive counters. Hehehehe. Hence, pulling should be part of your toolbox. Further,…
Hello everybody! This blog is on hold for a week for several reasons. First, I’m out of town for a week on a much-needed break. Secondly, my 8-year-old MacBook Pro is on its last legs. The battery is shot, and the keyboard is getting glitchy….
Whether I teach a high or low energy private lesson depends on the client’s energy level. One of my clients (Rosh) drove this point home during our lesson last week. He had gone to bed early the night before exhausted and admitted that he had…
Tulak is a Tagalog word for pushing or shoving. In the video below, I demonstrate the pushing/tulak concept against my student, Troy. Tulak is prevalent in Modern Arnis. This concept involves pushing or shoving an opponent, vital for creating distance or disrupting their balance. Pushing/tulak…
Dun dun! Like many people, I enjoy cop shows. Over the years, my favorites have been NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life on the Street, Murdoch Mysteries, and the various Law and Order shows. Imagine my delight when I discovered that a Toronto version of Law and…
Lately, I’ve noticed many articles on home invasions in the Greater Toronto Area. I was wondering if they had increased recently. A gut feeling is one thing. Seeing statistics is another. I decided to see if the Durham Region Police Service had any statistics on…
In this post, the author shares insights on translating Modern Arnis stick techniques to empty hands, exemplified by the slap-off/pull-off drill, emphasizing the importance of center line and footwork. The post outlines a three-step approach to learning this translation and asks for donations to support the website’s expenses.
As many have heard, 57-year-old Mike Tyson will fight 27-year-old YouTube celebrity Jake Paul in July. For me, this will be a story of youth vs experience. Both being born showmen, this fight is getting a lot of hype and speculation as its outcome. For…
Awareness of and mastering the center line is crucial for any martial artist. Quick aside: This is the last video available to the public. Starting next week, only subscribers can access these videos after this initial period. As such, if you want to view future…
The six-month countdown to my 60th birthday began on March 10th. I’m excited and looking forward to meeting my fitness goals by September 10th! My wife told me the other day, “Wow, you’re really focused on your 60th birthday!” I replied that I like to…
In the video below, I outline some martial arts footwork rules to guide beginners. As I stated in the previous post, footwork is the number one issue among my private clients. Proper footwork is essential for agility, mobility, and stability. In addition, it allows you…
What can I say about last week’s Houston Modern Arnis Camp? I had a phenomenal time training and teaching. The last time I went to Houston was pre-COVID-19. In addition, I missed last year’s camp since it took place three weeks after my right hip…
Last week, I focused on the driving side of the equation and stressed that, for driving purposes, one should have the same side foot forward according to the hand holding the stick. In other words, holding the stick in the right hand, you should have…
Here we go! This is my first actual video blog post. I’m sure there will be some kinks/trouble-shooting to work on. This should be an exciting experiment! As mentioned in the video, I will make this available to the public for the first 3 or…
Sensei Jesse Enkamp has a great video on the issue of sparring versus free play. It’s a worthwhile watch. Martial artists often discuss the concepts of free play and sparring. On the one hand, free play, characterized by a less structured and more exploratory form…
Introduction With the rise of digital learning, martial arts enthusiasts have unprecedented access to a wealth of instructional videos. Nowadays, we can access videos through online platforms, streaming videos and DVDs. I have a huge collection of videos dating back to the 1980s. Over time,…
Whenever folks ask me about my favorite boxing movies, I tell them I have two in mind. The first is “Rocky II.” My other all-time favorite boxing movie is “Raging Bull” starring Robert DeNiro. Below is the trailer for “Raging Bull.” In my mind, this…
There are five great ways to get Popeye’s forearms without lifting weights. You only need sticks for the exercises demonstrated below. The following methods will leave you feeling like you have Popeye’s forearms! (1) Squeeze the sticks One exercise is to do the controlled version…
Some of you know I am a huge football fan in addition to martial arts. After all, it’s hard to avoid watching football in Ohio. I have clear memories of watching the 1970 Cotton Bowl game between Notre Dame and Texas with my father. I…
Conversation with a School Teacher A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a school teacher who will be retiring this year. She teaches the younger grades. I don’t want to reveal too much about her to protect her identity. During our conversation, I…
No, I’m not talking about futuristic scenarios such as the rise of Skynet. I believe that AI’s short to medium-term threat is a bit more ordinary. The threat of violence from AI comes from its potentially destabilizing nature. If you are not able to view…
Happy New Year to all of you! As I said to my wife last night, “Wow, I can’t believe that we have rolled into 2024, the year of my 60th birthday!” She shook her head, perhaps not believing I’d hit 60 in nine months. Jeebus!…
Well, this has been an eventful year for my wife and I. Fortunately, the year is ending on a good note. Hip Replacement As many of you know, my right hip was replaced in January. The day of the surgery was a bit crazy. My…
As many of you know, one of my goals for my 60th birthday is to perform 60 push-ups on that day. To that end, I’ve been doing test push-ups. Until yesterday, I was progressing. Unfortunately, I regressed, going from 38 last month to 36 yesterday….
As readers of this blog know, I will occasionally comment about violent incidents caught on video. I aim to glean lessons from the video and pass along my observations. Such is the case with a video of a violent mall attack. Recently, a violent attack…
How many of you are okay with incremental gains from gym or martial arts workouts? Surprisingly, at 59, I’m fine with the idea of small gains. Like most folks, I was unsatisfied with mere incremental gains in my younger days. It was either substantial gains…
Do you expect to train on the same martial material year-round? That approach will lead to burnout and stagnation. The intelligent approach is to vary your training throughout the year. Changing routines is relatively easy for martial arts competitors. For example, they can spend the…
If you are not able to view the video, go here. In short, I highly recommend this video. This video starts with Jesse demonstrating Naihanchi/Tekki Shodan and explaining that it contains elements of Wing Chun. Beginning with that kata, Sensei Jesse and Sifu Kevin Lee…
A number of my Padawans play video games. That’s not exactly shocking to you, is it? However, I have often wondered how it translates to their FMA training or, more importantly, how it informs my teaching approach. Minecraft is one of the most popular video…
Teaching martial arts involves more than just physical techniques. One must teach structure along with techniques. I have found that teaching structure is much more challenging than a martial art’s physical techniques. But what is structure? Structure includes stances, footwork, positioning, body posture and much…
October 30th marked the 49th anniversary of the “Rumble In The Jungle,” one of the most famous fights in boxing history. There is no doubt in my mind that the 50th anniversary next year will result in numerous articles about this fight. In this epic…
Not everyone is inside the martial arts bubble. A recent self-defence class at Durham College/Ontario Tech University drove this home. I was teaching a basic ground defence to the participants to a group of 5 to 6 students. I explained to the participants that, after…
As many of you know, I returned to the gym in June after sufficiently recovering from my hip replacement surgery. First, my sessions at the gym from June to August were experimental in the sense that I tried out different lifting routines. I finally settled…
Wow, what can I say about the 25th ArnisFest, which occurred this past weekend in Mooresville, Indiana? It was a phenomenal event filled with great instruction, training, friendships, and making new friends. In short, I’ve been blessed to have attended two great camps this year….
I’ve long believed that any loss, setback, or problem usually involves you. A quick caveat: I recognize that some losses or setbacks can be traced to external factors. But let’s set that caveat aside. Any time I’ve had a setback, loss or bad experience, I…
In short, too much backstabbing, negative energy, and other bullshit percolating on these forums. I’ve seen some of this behavior in person and online. I became cautious about participating in these forums several years ago and have not participated much. Until recently, I posted on…
Several years ago, I attended a mini-reunion of some of my deaf friends at the Clarke School for the Deaf. While conversing with a couple of friends, I inquired about one classmate of mine. I had not seen or heard from this classmate for 40…
Quick background: Sonny Sison produced the well-known FMA documentary “Bladed Hand” several years ago, which was widely acclaimed. He has long been involved in the entertainment industry. As evidenced by the interview below, he has studied various styles of FMAs. The interview touches on topics…
When we thought martial arts schools could rest easy after the pandemic, we now realize that potentially tough times are ahead. Jeebus, what now? In short, interest rate hikes. First, before we discuss interest rate hikes, there are already some troubling signs for consumers in…
In this video, GM Rodel Dagooc demonstrates some of his flow drills/sequences. Please note that I do not know his flow drills or training sequences. This is the first time I’ve seen him do those flow sequences. I enjoyed watching GM Rodel’s brief demonstration of…
In this day and age of the McDonald’s drive-through instant gratification culture, I feel the importance of grinding our way through life has been lost in the shuffle. To be clear, I believe in grinding through any problem, obstacle or challenge. To me, it’s the…
Disarms play a significant role in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). By mastering disarms, practitioners develop a deep understanding of range, timing, leverage, and body mechanics. Moreover, this skill teaches students the inherent danger of facing an armed attacker, fostering respect for the devastating potential of…
I recently watched a martial arts video on YouTube where an instructor demonstrated a rather complicated drill. In this post, I discuss the downside of overly complicated drills. I understand that I don’t have all the information about the video. The instructor may have performed…
Muttering to myself: “Damn it! I can’t execute this technique. I suck!” Newsflash: Nearly all of us have struggled with martial arts for various reasons. Maybe it’s a technique. Or it’s a difficult training partner. Work interferes with your training. If so, watch the below…
This will be a short post as I returned from our annual cottage week a few days ago. Check out the beautiful scenery in the short video below. As usual, I had a great time there. I read a few books, hung out with family…
Modern Arnis is well known for its different locks and techniques using sticks and empty hands. Locking is used to break a joint, control another person, or set up a hit. Since applying a joint lock in a live situation is difficult, I think more…
It’s time to return to FMA videos. To this end, I recently found an interesting interview with GM Rodel “Smoking Sticks” Dagooc. He talks about his journey from karate to Filipino Martial Arts. While the interview is not in-depth, it does provide interesting information about…
I recently decided to switch things up and revamp my lifting routine for my 400-day challenge. I wanted to emphasize targeting different muscle groups and improving my martial arts performance. One of the key changes I made was focusing more on pushing and pulling movements….
If you’re not able to view the video, go here. I decided to go with a non-martial arts-related podcast. Cameron Hanes is a hard-core athlete who likes to run, lift and is an expert archer. You should see his archery feats on Instagram. Impressive stuff!…
This weekend, I attended the Annual Michigan Modern Arnis Camp in Southgate (outside of Detroit). I had a phenomenal time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, and of course, the training was phenomenal. I went into this camp wondering how my hip would…
The 400-day countdown to my 60th birthday begins on August 7, 2023. Some may ask, “Why on earth are you doing this?” and “What are you doing during this countdown?” The simple answer is that I am goal-oriented and need a goal RIGHT NOW. The…
Given the overwhelming gravity of yesterday’s post, I’ve concluded that today’s post requires a touch of humour. So, brace yourselves for a hilarious ride! Check out the video below! If you are not able to view this video, go to here. Captain James T. Kirk,…
Some people who study how countries interact with each other have noticed a connection between a country having fewer people and the chances of war. They believe that a country is more likely to start a war if: 1. It is going through a catastrophic…
If you are not able to view this video, go to here. Sensei Ando begins this video with a highly entertaining story from his teenage days. Based on this episode, he learned several life lessons. All are wise lessons that originate from an act of…
A long-time cliche in boxing is that “the legs are the first thing to go.” And so it is for martial arts and life in general. While we can’t fight against Father Time, we can slow aging by regularly exercising our legs. Martial arts combine…
Okay, okay, okay (in Joe Pesci voice), I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a podcast or video recommendation. The readers of this blog are familiar with what I’ve gone through in the last year or so. Anyway, it’s time to post my…
Hard-earned lessons are the ones that stick with us the most. They are often born out of mistakes, failures, or stupidity. These lessons are typically difficult to learn and often require a lot of effort, time, and energy to understand and process. Hard-earned lessons can…
Introduction I have been wearing cochlear implants since 2013. They are amazing and a vast improvement over hearing aids. But they are not the be-all and end-all. I often can’t hear people coming up behind me, and when I’m walking, I often don’t hear cars…
Introduction While their stick, knife or machete hypnotizes many students, they often overlook the importance of footwork. In this blog post, I will explore the importance of footwork in FMA. Further, I explain how FMA footwork is my main barrier to returning to teaching. In…
Let’s start with this Instagram video as I walked inside the gym last night. Before my hip replacement surgery and my mother-in-law’s last few months of her life, I had regularly worked out at the local gym. These workouts were an essential supplement to my…
Many martial artists focus on either proficiency in the ring or self-defence techniques. Some others concentrate on advancing through the ranks. Still, others focus on character development. All those are good ways to be warriors. When many martial artists post technique or self-defence videos, they…
Martial arts training demands unwavering dedication, akin to committing to a lifelong contract. It entails an arduous journey whereby martial artists meticulously refine their skills, contorting their bodies into extraordinary poses through years of practice. Moreover, they skillfully navigate the delicate balance between training, work,…
What are the benefits of solo training? Well, read on! Martial arts training can improve physical fitness, mental focus, and self-defence skills. While many prefer to train with partners or in class, solo training offers numerous benefits. In this blog post, I’ll explore four reasons…
Hip replacement surgery is a major procedure that requires a significant amount of recovery time. As many know, this is a very common procedure for martial artists. I’ve lost count of the number of martial arts colleagues who have had their hips replaced. It is…
Happy New Year to all of you! I know that it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. As some of you know, my wife and I moved into my mother-in-law’s house three years ago. While she is still quite independent, she occasionally needs our assistance….
This past weekend, I conducted a three-hour grading for several students. All of them are private clients. That is, they all have trained with me one-on-one since March 2020. For many, this was the first time they had seen each other since the beginning of…
My wife and I recently binge-watched Season 5 of “Cobra Kai” and immensely enjoyed it. I loved every bit of it! It looks like Season 6 is possible, although Netflix, as of this post, has not committed to it. Realistically, I think this show’s writers…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. This machete attack occurred about a month ago in Brampton, a Toronto suburb. Joti Singh Mann, the victim, is a media personality, and the speculation in the local press is that he was attacked…
Before I discuss the change of direction for my YouTube Channel, I should mention that this will be a short post. I’ve been busy lately setting up my fall schedule. I will teach self-defence classes at Durham College for the first time since March 2020….
A Relaxing Week! This will be a short post as I just returned from my vacation a couple of days ago. If you are not able to view this video, click here. Honestly, I needed the break, and this location is perfect. I read a…
How many of you have described a task as “a pain in the ass?” When confronted with an unwanted task, people often approach it in one of two ways: Disclosure: I have been guilty of buying into the above excuses. It’s human nature. But what…
“You are your own worst enemy” is a lesson I learned in the 8th grade. While in the 8th grade (1978), I played for the U.L. Light Junior High School football team in Barberton, Ohio, a town of 28,000. Our rival, Highland Junior High School,…
You see a mousetrap; I see free cheese and a f*****g challenge! -Scroobius Pip Pretty funny! However, Mr. Pip does have a point though. Life is full of challenges, and a mousetrap may seem an irresistible challenge to an adventurous mouse. In looking back at my life,…
Intro Many martial arts school owners stress the importance of “awareness” to their students. Often, they refer to situational or environmental awareness. One example of “environmental awareness” is the presence of broken or non-functioning lights in a parking lot. We all prefer well-lit areas. I…
I attended the annual Michigan Camp in Monroe, Michigan this past weekend. To say that I had a blast is an understatement. I had not seen many of my friends since the 2019 Arnisfest in Chicago. The US-Canada border was closed from March 2020 until…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. A couple of weeks ago, I published a video called “Hunting for Disarm #2.” In that video, I identified six spots to execute disarm #2. I tell you that this was a fun experiment!…
I have encountered martial artists who like to focus on the differences between martial arts. This focus is often done to prove their art’s superiority over others. Unfortunately, this thought process is detrimental to their martial progress. If you are not able to view this video, click…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. In last week’s post, Where’s Disarm #1? I covered the first basic Modern Arnis disarm and demonstrated how to find it within Flow Drill #2. I do the same thing in the above video…
Learning stick disarms is an essential part of training in Filipino martial arts. In Modern Arnis, there is one basic disarm per angle. One can then apply this to any angle. The current progression that I teach is: Repeating the same basic 12 stick disarms…
In the old days, martial arts grandmasters taught only certain “secrets” of their art to their most trusted students. In other words, one trained for years to gain entry into the “inner circle” of trusted students. And only then would you learn the “deadly secrets”…
Last Friday, I had back-to-back private lessons with a pair of brothers. As always, I was active with them, pushing them hard and expanding their martial horizons. I had a lot of fun with them. However, the aftermath was brutal. My right hip became quite…
Do you vary your martial arts training seasons? For instance, summer and fall have tended to be the “camp and seminar” seasons. You pick up what you learn at these sessions and integrate it into your repertoire. “Oh! That’s a fantastic technique! Let’s work on…
Heeeeyo! Ontario announced today that they would ease capacity restrictions starting Thursday (February 17th) and abolish proof of vaccination requirements. However, Ontario has not said whether they will still require masks to be worn indoors. We should learn more in the next few days. In…
How many of you have been in a martial arts class and felt your partner was perfect? Or that a classmate seemed to have it all together? I would wager that we have had those thoughts about another person. But, as most of us know…
First, I am writing about the martial arts industry/schools. But, of course, you can also apply this to the small business community. As I have written, martial arts schools have been devastated in the last two years by the various restrictions and lockdowns resulting from…
As many know, Season 4 of “Cobra Kai” dropped on New Year’s Eve. My wife and I decided to wait before we delved into the new season. We took our time, watching the entire series in three nights. What a delight! Having previously written about…
We are on Day 7 of a three-week lockdown as of this writing. To paraphrase the Rolling Stones: “Lock Me Up!” Omicron has run wild up here, like anywhere else in the world. Hospitalizations have risen an unbelievable 182% since New Year’s Eve, pushing the…
Happy New Year to all! I hope 2022 brings health, prosperity, success, and happiness to all of you! Let’s hope this year is better than the last two years! 2020 and 2021 were trainwrecks on a societal level. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that the Omicron…
Looking Back What a crazy year it has been! Here is a quick recap. Ontario went into an initially moderate lockdown (December 2020 to the end of March) and then morphed into a hard lockdown (April to mid-June of this year). As a result, I…
The Most Recent Video Tough times are ahead AGAIN, with the emergence of the Omicron variant. In these times, we need to look out for each other, especially for those prone to depression. Many are dealing with pandemic fatigue. Look out for those as well….
This Week’s Video I focused on single sinawali applications in this short video. I kept the video concise rather than a detailed breakdown of one or two sinawali techniques. Instead, I demonstrated several applications of single sinawali. I hope you find the video helpful and…
Rut Roh As of this writing, there is mounting concern about a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa called “Omicron.” Based on early data, scientists believe this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant. In response to these concerns, Europe, Canada, and the…
The Craziness on the 401 For those not living in the Toronto area, the 401 is the central expressway cutting through Toronto and is considered one of the busiest highways in North America. I often drive the 401 from Ajax to different points of the…
RIP Dean Stockwell One of my favourite actors, Dean Stockwell, passed away two days ago. While he was great in several roles, I especially liked him in “Quantum Leap” one of my favourite TV shows ever. This show ran from 1989 to 1993, which was…
Yet Another Project! One project I have undertaken lately involves my practice of the Modern Arnis Empty Hand Anyos. Like most martial arts, we perform our anyos in a more or less standard way. While the execution of the forms may differ, there are similarities….
Uncertainty No one can predict with any certainty what may happen this coming winter. I think that one can safely say that, as far as Canada is concerned, there will probably not be another COVID-19 wave due to the high vaccination rates. On the other…
As I make clear in the video, some focus so much on the stick that they forget they have a check hand! The check hand can do so much, ranging from pushing, pulling, disarming, grabbing, hitting and displacing an opponent. How can you not use…
Yes, you read that right! I’m back to teaching! I apologize for not blogging since mid-July due to summertime activities and hosting various family members. Most of you know I had to dissolve Bamboo Spirit as a business entity. I don’t want to go into…
So, private lessons have slowly ramped up in the last couple of weeks. None of my clients have trained in 6 months. One said, “I haven’t picked up my stick since December.” From the get-go, their rustiness has been apparent. As a result, I have…
The fact that accumulated knowledge, over time, tends to grow exponentially is accepted. For many of us, this fact is obvious. However, we need to look no further at the exponential growth rate of technology in the last 20 years. The smartphone of 2008 pales…
My hopes of ramping up my private lesson teaching schedule from 0 to 60mph ran into reality last week. In a way, this mirrors the North American and European economies. Both are sputtering back to life after a year of COVID-related lockdowns. Rebooting economies isn’t…
Man, am I happy or what? I am back in action by teaching private lessons for the first time since December! As soon as Ontario entered Step One of its re-opening plan, I emailed my clients, offering them the opportunity to start training again. Several…
Ontario announced today that they would start re-opening the economy on Friday, June 11th. Based on my reading of the provincial guidelines, I can teach private lessons. IT’S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! LET’S GO! Because the province is beginning to distribute 2nd doses, last fall’s…
“Wow, are we inching toward normal life?” That thought was running through my head while I taught last night’s Zoom class. As readers of this blog know, I’ve been teaching Zoom classes for nearly a year. After a long winter and spring, it was time…
How do you set up an opponent? There are several methods of setting up your opponent for a finishing shot. In the video below, I demonstrate four ways of setting up your opponent. If you are not able to view this video, click here. In…
This is a short one, clocking in at 11 minutes or so. This video does a fantastic job of discussing live training and some associated myths. Sensei Iain is straightforward and non-judgmental on this topic. If you are not able to view this video, click…
Just a few days after I ranted about the absurd ban on outdoor recreational activity, Ontario announced its re-opening plan. First, the ban on outdoor recreational activities was lifted effective Saturday, May 22nd. Yay! Is this the light at the end of the tunnel? Public…
How many of you have run into martial artists who acted as though they knew it all? The hell with them, right? While that may be a justifiable reaction, many of us have gone through a period where we knew it all. This terrific podcast…
One of the absurdities of the current “stay at home” order in Ontario is a ban on outdoor recreational activities. This flies in the face of the current COVID-19 science. The risk of being infected with COVID-19 is much lower outdoors than indoors. Ontario’s medical…
Pandemic Solo Training? Hell, yes, it can be done! While it is true that FMAs are geared toward partner training, there are also tons of solo training possibilities during this pandemic. Forms and stick shadowboxing (carenza) come to mind. However, I have more than those…
If you are not able to watch this video, click here. This is a nice complement/counterpart to my blog post earlier this week. What do you think when you hear “McDojo?” Most of us consider this to mean martial arts schools that are unworthy by…
I’ve been pondering the importance of ignoring what Professor Presas once called “the barking dogs.” He often said, “Ignore the barking dogs and do your thing.” There are many naysayers out there who espouse absolutism. They fail to recognize what is true for themselves, and…
This is a fantastic interview between Dean France and Maija Soderholm. If you are not able to view this video, click here. I am usually reluctant to recommend lengthy podcasts. Between family and work, most readers won’t have time to digest a 2-hour podcast. I…
On the day Derek Chauvin was convicted on all three charges, a Columbus, Ohio, police officer shot and killed 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant. The bodycam footage reveals a wildly chaotic scene before the tragic shooting occurred. The bodycam footage shows that Ms. Bryant was holding a…
Due to a massive surge in cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilator numbers, Ontario tightened the COVID-related restrictions three weeks ago. This is an extension of varying degrees of a lockdown since December. Despite that, the trend did not change. The province then imposed a…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. This terrific podcast interview with Rickson Gracie is revealing. He speaks of his life philosophy that stems from his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career. At one point in the podcast, he expounded on the meaning of…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. A YouTube viewer asked, “How do you counter a punyo feed?” In this video, I responded to this query and demonstrated three examples of countering a punyo feed. Firstly, I instruct beginner students to…
One of the keys to mastery of FMAs is knowing how to translate a movement across different platforms. A good example of this is “gunting.” This is a scissors-like movement, characterized by the left hand parrying an attack while the right hand defangs or cuts…
Intro The martial arts industry has been upended as we have gone through this pandemic. Several martial arts schools in the vicinity of where I live have closed. One school was in its location for 30 years only to be brought down by the pandemic…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. Sensei Jesse Enkamp and MMA Coach Ramsey Dewey pack quite a bit into this 10-minute discussion. The exchange between the two veers away from the video’s title. For this post, I’d like to focus…
One of the tenets of Modern Arnis is practicing with both the right and left hand. While I am right-hand dominant, I have fun playing with my left hand. I believe it is vital for overall martial development to practice both sides. However, there is…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. While this podcast is three years old, it’s terrific. A little background on the interviewer. His name is Rokas, and he lives in Lithuania. He taught Aikido for several years and became disenchanted with…
If you are not able to view this video, go here: The abanico corto drill demonstrated is a one-person flow drill. This requires the other partner to comply and respond with angle 1 and 2 attacks. As a developmental drill, I love this one. The…
Before you delve into Sensei Ando’s 25-minute podcast about Bruce Lee’s famous quote, let’s refresh your memory first by watching this clip. If you are not able to view this video, click here. I have to admit that I have always been a big fan…
As some of you know, I’ve been teaching Modern Arnis/Filipino Martial Arts classes and private lessons on Zoom for the past year or so. I’ll be the first to admit that it does not replace live teaching in any way, shape, or form. That said,…
In December, I came across this podcast by Iain Abernethy, in which he discusses the differences between martial arts, fighting, and self-protection. He posits that losing the distinction among the three leads martial arts instructors astray. If you are not able to view this video,…
Recently, I read through a martial arts forum where a discussion on secret techniques was taking place. I did not join in the discussion as I was busy with errands. Also, I did not want to go down the rabbit hole with those convinced of…
Starting today, I will recommend interesting podcasts, articles, and videos for interested readers. This will be a weekly endeavour. Most will relate to Filipino Martial Arts and may touch upon other areas. My first recommendation is a podcast interview between Guy Windsor and Majia Soderholm….
The “Amazing Palis Palis Drill” post showcased a simple drill against angles 1 and 2. We will explore the low high version of this drill. Before we go any further, the basic premise of any flow drill is: don’t get hit. Now, there are several…
Yes, you read that right! I am writing an e-book on martial arts training tips and FMA concepts. At some point, it will be self-published and sold through Gumroad. How did I decide to do this? Before the pandemic, I was teaching Modern Arnis classes…
Let’s face it. Drills are a heck of a lot of fun! In my opinion, flow drills are a step up from the one-step method. Don’t get me wrong, the one-step method is a great way to learn the building blocks of a martial art….
During a lesson with Caiden, I pontificated on the importance of “K.I.S.S.” I explained to him that was shorthand for “Keep it simple, stupid!” The kid laughed, thinking that was the greatest quote he had ever heard. For the duration of the lesson, he repeated…
For those in lockdown situations and looking for solo training ideas, I recommend the Redonda Drill, a mainstay of Filipino Martial Arts. The Redonda drill strengthens the forearms, lays the foundations for multiple applications, and does not require a partner! You can do this on…
A few years ago, I posted “Three Reasons Why Filipino Martial Arts Suck.” I decided to update this post to include an additional reason and tweaked some sections in the original post. Those uninformed about Filipino Martial Arts often say the following: (1) “All they do…
The first Karate Kid movie introduced us to Cobra Kai’s “Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy” slogan. While seeming over the top, upon reflection, there is depth to this slogan. Recently, my wife and I binge-watched Season 3 of Cobra Kai. We both loved it…
I’ve known over the years that nearly all of my younger students play video games. Minecraft is one popular game among the video game generation. Among popular games with my younger students (ranging from 8 to 15 years of age) are Super Mario, Fortnite, Street…
What now? 2020 has been quite the year. Ontario went on a months-long lockdown from March through the end of August. At that time, the province started to relax COVID-19 restrictions in various regions, based on case numbers. Unfortunately and this was foreseeable, cases started…
As previously mentioned, I have transitioned from teaching group classes to private lessons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last few months, the tenor and format of the private lessons have changed quite a bit compared to the pre-pandemic private lessons. Before the pandemic,…
When folks roll on the mat or do stick free play, why do so many focus on “winning” or “losing?” The fact of the matter is that you’re going to win some and lose some. Instead of getting hung up on who prevailed, just focus…
As readers of this blog know, I have switched from group classes to private lessons during these unprecedented times. One consequence of this move concerns testing my students for rank. In the past, I have tested my students in a group setting. However, in these…
Over the last few months, I’ve been teaching five Zoom classes per week. The attendees consist mostly of students from the 6Tigers Academy and occasionally Bamboo Spirit students. The seeds of my Zoom class experiences are due to a group of siblings, originally from Ottawa…
Over the years, I have observed that those who love learning are often the most enjoyable folks to teach in private lessons. Like many, I have been captivated by Nandi Bushell, a phenomenally talented 10-year-old drummer in the U.K. whose videos have gone viral due…
I recently posted on Facebook that I had updated my list of “Bamboo Spirit Concepts” to include two more, expanding the list from 20 to 22. I also reordered the list so that it makes more sense. Surprisingly, the response was robust; many requested a…
I know that it’s been a while since I posted. I don’t have much in the way of excuses. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have transitioned from group classes to private lessons in the past couple of months. As we all know, we are…
The story of how I came up with the “Attacking Combinations” video! While I miss teaching classes and private lessons, one of the upsides of the lockdown is that I have had mucho time on my hands to figure out variations of solo workouts. Hence,…
To my martial arts friends, how have you kept your martial arts training since the lockdowns started? Here is a list of what I’ve done: How about you? What kind of training are you doing? Is anything different from my list? Now, some of my…
During these unprecedented times, martial arts instructors have to think about their short term futures, after the lockdowns are gradually eased, and we return to teaching. But, first, what is the definition of “short term future” in the context of these times? For me, the…
Many of us cannot train with our martial arts classmates and friends during these extraordinary times. Since I have confined myself at home, I have done a fair bit of solo training, including, but not limited to, bodyweight and martial exercises, solo stick exercises, Shotokan…
Earlier this month, I published a post entitled “Under Lockdown.” I have to confess that it was a thought exercise and I honestly did not think we would be in the situation we are in today. Since that post, Ontario has imposed social distancing and…
I learned on Saturday morning that one of my favourite private clients, Alan, passed away at 84. I first met him through a senior citizens’ self-defence course I taught for the City of Oshawa in 2008. The classes were held at the Legends Community Centre….
Note: I wrote this on March 2nd, which seems so long ago. A lockdown has been imposed. Still, much of what I wrote below still applies. Well, these are wild times. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’re likely aware of the coronavirus. As…
As many of you know, I like teaching flow drills. I find it a practical and fun way to introduce the concepts of Modern Arnis. I find this a useful addition to a student’s learning cycle. The concepts range from abanico corto, palis palis, disarms,…
Often, martial artists stay in their comfort zone and practice the same form or workout routine daily. They perform their favourite kata the same way several times a week. As a result, some get stuck in a rut. Why not challenge yourself? Why not get…
Several years ago, one of my students, who was in his mid 70s, stopped by my class and announced that he had decided to quit. I asked him for a reason, expecting him to cite a health or age-related issue. He surprised me by responding,…
While perusing various videos on The Modern Martial Artist YouTube channel, I came across this fascinating video and loved the footwork analysis! If you are not able to view this video, click here. Quick background: Willie Pep is considered, pound for pound, among the top…
A month ago, I had an exciting front-row seat to a near-road rage incident on a residential street. Let me tell you, the two drivers involved were dumber than dirt. This incident involved an angry and crazy driver and a stupid driver. There are lots…
I have often been asked, “Which technique is best?” for any given situation. The result of those questions was the above video. The long and short of it is “it depends on the angle of attack coming at you.” But it gets more complicated, as…
Recently, I came across a fantastic YouTube channel called The Modern Martial Artist. This channel has tons of videos analyzing many boxers and martial artists. The technical breakdowns are often superb. I have found several videos explaining techniques that are amazingly similar to martial arts that…
Which is more important, dedication or talent? From an instructor’s perspective, dedication wins hands down. Like many instructors, I have students who are talented and “natural.” I also have students who are not “natural” in martial arts. Oddly enough, and generally speaking, the less talented…
“Banda y banda” is a term used in Filipino martial arts to describe a side-to-side motion commonly practiced. It is one of the first “traditionals” that the late Professor Remy A. Presas taught his students, along with movements such as figure 8, reverse figure 8,…
While teaching the self-defence classes at the Abilities Centre a couple of weeks ago, I discussed the concepts of setting boundaries, assertiveness, and self-permission. One of the exercises during this particular class involved one person invading their partner’s personal space. The defender had to assert…
I know that it’s been a while since I’ve done a blog post. It’s been a busy few months. For one thing, the website has been going through a re-design, complete with a new logo that I hope reflects my martial arts business personality. More…
Welcome to the new revamped Bamboo Spirit Website and a new beginning! First, I would like to thank Jason Fletcher for his original Bamboo Spirit logo design. It was a great design that served Bamboo Spirit well for nearly a decade. However, as the martial…
Recently, I came across this video on Facebook, and it stood out to me. Take 10 minutes of your time and watch the whole thing. Some saw it as a metaphor for death regarding confronting the fear of the unknown. Some saw it in more…
Stealing the lead is a term often discussed in tapi tapi. It means that one player has reversed the momentum of the other and is driving on the other. In other words, one player has gone from a defensive mode to being on the offensive…
Recently, Kai Morgan published a thought-provoking post on the state of the martial arts industry. It has made me think about the Filipino martial arts industry. Read her article here. In relevant part, the post states: The traditional martial arts are often said to be suffering. Many (although by…
Sinawali practice is an integral part of Filipino Martial Arts. I am amazed to see how little some understand the value of sinawali. Some don’t get beyond the double stick practice of the patterns or the “pattycake” empty-hand version. There is much to be mined…
Teaching one-step techniques and flow drills alone is not enough. One-step techniques are a great gateway to teaching more complex techniques, and flow drills serve as an introduction to “the flow.” However, neither, by themselves, sufficiently teaches sensitivity. What do I mean by sensitivity? In…
“How do you do these counters to the disarms?” “It’s easy; you must relax and practice them repeatedly.” During one class, I taught some counters to the #1 disarm taught in Modern Arnis. I taught these counters in the context of some principles I wanted…
A year ago, my MacBook needed to be repaired at the local Best Buy. To keep my social media efforts going, I ordered a Chromebook from Amazon. This was delivered within a couple of days. The purchase came with one terabyte of free memory on…
Over the years I’ve taught Modern Arnis, I have flipped back and forth between teaching the art through techniques and flow drills. Lately, I have begun to emphasize flow drills more. Why? While teaching one-step techniques has its place, there are limitations to this method….
I often see students judge themselves harshly after they have messed up a technique or cannot instantly master a new technique. Their facial expressions often betray their internal thinking process. “God, I’m so stuuuupid!” When this happens, I tell them “stop judging yourself!” If you…
Recently, a prospective student attended a trial class. She had some previous martial arts experience, consisting of karate. I taught her the 12 angles of attack and other Modern Arnis basics. She absorbed the material quickly and enthusiastically. After the class ended, I asked her…
Learning the difference between reaction and anticipation is challenging for a beginner student. In the beginning, students will often anticipate their opponent’s next move, often leading to bad outcomes. Over time, with guidance and experience, they will learn that reading and reacting is a better…
I am pleased to present a guest post from my good friend, RoseAnne Mussar. She hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and trains in Modern Arnis at the 6Tigers Academy in Barrhaven (Ottawa) under Renshi Janet Heffernan. She also trains in the American Cane System, often traveling to…
Recently, I was working on one of the Bamboo Spirit flow drills with one of the newer students in a class. Consequently, he had little idea how to relax during the flow drill. While going through the flow drill, he struggled to remember the sequence….
Last week, I wrote about 3 Ways To Grab The Cane in which I offered ideas on opportune times to grab your opponent’s cane in the context of tapi tapi play. Grabbing the cane is often referred to as “stealing the lead” in some Filipino Martial Arts circles….
One of the major concepts of Modern Arnis is “stealing the lead.” If the opponent presents his stick, you can steal the lead, usually by grabbing the stick. This is illustrated by the video below when I grab Alex’s stick and counter him. Learning to grab…
I am pleased to present a guest post from my good friend, RoseAnne Mussar. She hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and trains in Modern Arnis at the 6Tigers Academy in Barrhaven (Ottawa) under Renshi Janet Heffernan. She also trains in the American Cane System, often traveling to…
It always seems possible until it’s done. – Nelson Mandela. Last night, the sports world gave us yet another potent reminder that what is seemingly impossible IS possible. Before this year, no team in the history of the NBA had ever come back from a…
A stereotype sometimes associated with Asian Martial Art Grandmasters, either because of their lack of proficiency in English or being from Asia, is that they are uneducated or lack formal education. For example, Balintawak Founder and Grandmaster Venancio “Anciong” Bacon was reported not to have…
I’ve been experimenting with teaching classes with and without breakout groups. I think that breakout groups arranged by rank/skill level can be beneficial in a class setting. However, lately, I’ve begun to reconsider whether breakout groups are all that beneficial from an instructor’s perspective. Teaching…
When I teach class, I often will cover two or three topics/techniques or concepts. In other words, I am blitz teaching. The idea is that the students will have sufficient time to practice each technique or concept. If you are not able to view the…
Resetting is a method by which partners engage in a technique sequence to a finite end. At this point, they reset back to the beginning to repeat the sequence. This occurs most often in partner training or one-step sparring. In this post, I discuss this…
Recently, I was teaching a semi-private lesson with a couple of students. We were working on a new technique that took them a while to learn. They then asked me, “How do you counter this technique?” My answer was that there were several counters like…
I’m pleased to present to you a guest post from Kai Morgan. In this post, she talks about how she used martial arts training to deal with grief. Kai Morgan is a blogger who focuses on how we can become better people through martial arts…
Guest Blogger Cathy Chapaty is the author of No Pouting in the Dojo: The Imperfect Journey of Teaching Children Character through Martial Arts. A veteran martial artist, Chapaty has been respected as an empowering, positive teacher with a knack for helping children of all ages and abilities…
I have encountered martial artists who like to focus on the differences between martial arts. I think these martial artists are done to distinguish their martial art from the “other” martial art. Often, it serves as the premise of an argument proving the superiority of their martial…
The “wet noodle” version of feeding a training partner is a fairly common problem encountered by martial arts instructors. I have seen variations of this problem among children and adults. In this post, I discuss the causes behind poor feeding and offer solutions on how…
Instructors and advanced students can benefit greatly from teaching beginners. Unfortunately, too many instructors have their junior or senior students working with beginners. Senior students often prefer to work with classmates of the same rank. While there is nothing wrong with working with fellow senior…
I am pleased to present a guest post from my good friend, RoseAnne Mussar. She hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and trains in Modern Arnis at the 6Tigers Academy in Barrhaven under Renshi Janet Heffernan. She also trains in the American Cane System, often traveling to New…
In the last post, I discussed three great reasons for one-step sparring. As noted in that post, this topic has been debated. While there are benefits to one-step sparring, some have argued that this training method has downsides. In this post, I will explore the problems…
Many martial arts, such as karate and tae kwon do, employ a training method called “one-step sparring.” This training method has been the subject of a fair bit of debate. Some advocate it, while others deride it as impractical and unsuited to the realities of…
For years, I felt beset by a constant feeling of inadequacy, mainly due to being nearly deaf in an overwhelmingly hearing society. It’s easier said than done, but at some point, you will need to “just let go of this shit.” It can be difficult…
Recently, my wife and I downsized from our house in Oshawa to a townhouse in Ajax. The new place has half the square footage of our former house. This entailed a massive amount of purging before the move, starting in October and we are still going…
I taught the inaugural class at the Harmony Martial Arts Center in Pickering on Friday night. For a Friday night time slot of 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, I had a turnout of 7. Not bad at all. After getting some housekeeping out of the way,…
Private lesson videos can tremendously aid your martial development if you have the instructor’s permission. Below, I discuss how to watch private lesson videos based on my experiences. Those who practice martial arts have different preferences regarding retaining material from a private lesson. Some prefer…
Many martial arts incorporate the concept of centerline. Wing Chun is well known for its emphasis on the centerline theory. As seen in the phenomenal video below, even boxing incorporates this as well. Teaching the centerline is often easy and difficult at the same time. If you…
A surefire counter to most techniques is simply hitting your opponent, either with the cane or with your check/alive hand. If you are not able to view the video, click here. The above video illustrates a simple way to prevent an opponent from grabbing your…
Just focus on your progress. That’s it! Instead of focusing on the fact that you “can’t keep up with others,” you should only focus on your progress. If the others have gotten the 12 angles of attack down immediately and you don’t, DON’T WORRY! Practice…
The biggest challenge in teaching kids is footwork. Good footwork is crucial to self-defence and particularly so for Filipino Martial Arts. Want to avoid getting hit, slashed or stabbed? Move your feet. At the most basic level, one should be able to step up at a…
You’ve seen those lists. “The 10 Best Martial Arts For Self Defense,” “The Best Martial Arts Styles for Self Defense,” or “The 10 Most Lethal Martial Arts.” They’re eye-catching and often informative. I have the utmost respect for the martial arts listed. I believe that…
Over the years, I’ve heard several reasons calling into question the effectiveness of Filipino Martial Arts. Not surprisingly, the opinions often come from those who have not trained in Filipino Martial Arts and, consequently, are uninformed. Those uninformed about Filipino Martial Arts often say the following:…
Upon receiving the proposed date of the next cochlear implant surgery, I had only one thought: “Let’s Get It On!” As many of you know, I had cochlear implant surgery in the left ear in December of 2013 and have had amazing results. Then I…
Is sinawali training practical? Are there any benefits to this kind of training? Some believe that the practice of sinawali is useless. From collecting or learning as many patterns, engaging in patty cake play may be useless. I have seen folks with impressive sinawali skills….
I’m pleased to have a guest post from Cathy Chapaty, a veteran martial artist and author of a terrific book (No Pouting In the Dojo). If you teach children, this is a must-buy available at Amazon. She has previously guest-posted on the mental aspects of teaching…
Some believe children should not be taught a “violent” activity like Filipino Martial Arts. I’ve encountered those who believe FMAs are inappropriate for children because they involve swinging a stick or two. Ahem. While risks are inherent in swinging sticks, many age-appropriate ways to teach Filipino…
Regarding kids and martial arts, a fair bit of time is spent differentiating between the good and bad guys. It seems pretty easy since we’re dealing with schoolyard bullies, various stranger scenarios, and practicing self-defence moves. It all seems pretty cut and dried until you…
The late Professor Remy A. Presas was left-hand dominant yet was just as proficient with his right. He felt strongly enough about ambidexterity that he insisted that we learn to train both right and left-handed. Sometimes, he had right-hand dominant students train with their left…
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo DaVinci. Simplicity is the key to brilliance. – Bruce Lee. My first formal introduction to Arnis/Eskrima was during a private lesson with Professor Florendo Visitacion, otherwise known as Professor Vee in the fall of 1989. I travelled to…
The “Mad Scotsman” and “The Burmese Strangler” are fun nicknames that I’ve given to two great gentlemen, Alan and Noel. Alan is an 80-year-old Scotsman; Noel is 78 years old and was born in Burma. I first met Alan in 2009 through a Senior Citizens…
Now I have your attention. Let’s talk. And yes, there is a discussion about bikinis and Filipino Martial Arts in this post. In this post, I discuss a problem that I see over and over: sexism in the martial arts industry. This is a result of…
This post will discuss the most dangerous angles in Filipino Martial Arts to defend against. Not discussed in this post are the difficulties of defending against some “traditional” striking styles, such as banda y banda, abanico double action, double zero, etc. The focus is on…
“Which way do you step against angle 5 or angle 12?” is a question I often hear from my students. If you are not able to view this Fix it Friday video, click here. The left vs. right defence against the #5 thrust can be…
In this post, I discuss the Redonda drill, one of the core drills of Modern Arnis and many Filipino martial arts. Heaven Sinawali I teach Heaven Sinawali before teaching Redonda as both overlap movement-wise. As demonstrated in the above video, the sticks are always pointing up….
Regardless of technique, if you see signs of flailing, you know something is wrong! If you are not able to view the video, click here. As with many of my Fix-It Friday videos, bad structure is at the root of terrible techniques. The video shows…
The twelve angles of attack are among the first things learned when starting Filipino Martial Arts. Many Filipino Martial Arts use their version of the twelve angles of attack. The Modern Arnis 12 angles of attack are as follows: Regardless of which FMA you are studying,…
In this post, I discuss the slap-off/pull-off* in Filipino martial arts. These moves are also common in other arts. The slap-off/pull-off drill is a mainstay of Modern Arnis training groups and classes. Professor Presas spent time on this drill in every camp I attended while…
In this post, I discuss defending against angle 12, which is typically an overhead strike. If you are not able to view this video, click here. The 12 strike is a powerful caveman-type strike. The power comes from two factors: (1) the attacker’s intent; and…
Double sinawali comprises one of the four basic sinawalis taught in Modern Arnis (single, redonda and reverse) and, for a beginner, takes a fair bit of coordination. If you are not able to view this video, click here. There are several benefits to training any…
The concept behind this “Fix It Friday” episode is pretty simple. Any time you have a thrust or a stab coming at you, it is wise to avoid the tip by moving out of the way. Additionally, you can parry the tip. If you are…
You must go slow! Slow is the mother of skill!- Professor Remy Presas. The professor used to admonish us who rushed into new techniques. He wanted us to have good form and structure before worrying about speed—wise words. I often train slowly for smoothness and…
A couple of caveats: This is not about WHAT I teach, or WHY I teach children. This covers HOW I teach Filipino Martial Arts to children, and this post mainly focuses on the 5 to 8-year-old age range. Moreover, I will focus on the technical aspects of teaching children based on…
“It’s the Stick, buddy!” refers to grabbing your opponent’s cane instead of his hand or wrist, as illustrated in the video below. If you are not able to view this video, click here. As pointed out in this video, a common mistake among beginners is…
It has been said often that the stick expedites the development of your natural attributes such as speed, power, coordination, timing, reaction speed, perceptual speed, spatial relationships, angle recognition, and footwork. Another benefit of stick training is that punches look slower to the FMA practitioner. How so?…
This post delves briefly into what to expect in your first class and applies equally to children and adults. For starters, you can expect a hell of a lot of fun! You can expect to start on a fascinating journey through Filipino Martial Arts, which are full…
The “wrong” way to do a snake disarm, as illustrated in the first part of this video, is a common mistake. This kind of disarm tends to pit muscle against muscle. If you are not able to view this video, click here. Why work so hard?…
In many private lessons and classes, I have taught over the years, I have noticed that poor footwork will often negate good stick technique. Sub-optimal footwork has reared its head enough that new students are introduced to this topic on day one. I will go through some…
“In learning, you will teach. In teaching, you will learn.” – Phil Collins. I have previously discussed reasons to take private lessons and how to get the most out of private lessons. Both of these posts were written from the student’s perspective. Fun reads, weren’t they? In this…
In this “Fix It Friday” video, I address a common error when executing the pull-off. If you are not able to view this video, click here. This error involves reaching across the centerline to execute the pull off. Making this mistake leaves one vulnerable to…
In 1905, Albert Einstein published his “Theory of Special Relativity,” stating that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers. Further, the speed of light in a vacuum was independent of the motion of all observers. According to Wikipedia, “Special relativity says that every person…
Sensei Rachael Lawless is a lifelong martial artist diagnosed with ADHD and various sensory sensitivities. She remains unmedicated and has experienced firsthand the therapeutic effects of the martial arts, and the vast benefits they can have on success in school/work/life in general. Rachael has taught…
I’ve been teaching Modern Arnis seminars at the Stronger You Martial Arts and Fitness dojo since August of 2008 when I first met Renshi Janet Lawless. Since then, I’ve been going to Ottawa 6 to 8 times a year to teach seminars and private lessons to those…
I posted “It’s Real and Spectacular” a week ago on a martial arts discussion board. I discussed the topic of teaching Filipino Martial Arts to young children. Some martial artists raised concerns about my students’ young age and liability issues. One writer indicated his belief…
A quote that bugs me the most: “It has to be done this way.” In martial arts, an instructor usually says this in the context of a prescribed self-defence technique or sequence. Again, it depends on the context. If this statement relates to proper structure, then…
Often, I see folks executing techniques without moving their feet in class, seminars, and camps. You cannot reasonably expect an effective technique or defence without moving your feet. There are great reasons to move your feet! How do you expect to hit the other person…
Often, I’ll tell my students, “Change partners!” during class. Why? Because it’s good for all of us. This article lists seven benefits of changing and working with different partners. I’ve meant to post about the importance of changing and working with different martial arts partners in…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. Eons ago when I was starting in martial arts, I was so taken up with techniques that I thought in terms of “collecting techniques.” The more techniques I collected, or so I thought, would…
Some in the Modern Arnis community give short shrift to the practice of the Modern Arnis Anyos in favour of stick and knife work. I love the anyos! I think that the stances from the anyos have a lot of value. That’s understandable, as stick…
Previously, I’ve posted about the 7 Killer Reasons to Take Private Lessons. Once you start getting into private lessons, how do you maximize them? In this article, I discuss how to supercharge your private lessons. If you have the opportunity to pursue a private lesson or…
Professor Presas often admonished his students, “Go with the flow!” This quote is foremost in my mind when discussing the flow drills I teach to the Bamboo Spirit students. I have posted previously about these flow drills. I have mentioned that they are not combative. Instead,…
One of the things that I enjoyed over the years was taking break falls. Unfortunately, my break fall career has come to an end. I first started learning serious break falls as a freshman at Notre Dame, specifically as a member of the Notre Dame…
“It’s real and it’s spectacular” is, of a course, a slight riff of a famous line in the 1990s comedy series “Seinfeld.” In this post, I discuss a recent remark by a martial artist about me teaching a children’s Modern Arnis class that involved some questionable logic. Essentially, he…
For many students, group classes are the optimal option for various reasons. These reasons range from socializing to the opportunity to train with different partners, decompressing from work, forgetting about distractions, and having get-togethers after class. On the other hand, there are 7 killer reasons to…
Having attended many martial arts classes over the past three decades, I have learned that the learning process can be hindered in various ways. It took me a while but, over time, I developed a list of 5 easy ways to learn in class. Here…
I’ll discuss six ways to practice your cane anyos in this post. Or is it just six? Martial arts schools vary widely in the number of required forms, ranging from fewer than 5 to 30. Invariably, these schools have different philosophies concerning the practice of…
Having been to over 50 martial arts camps (the vast majority are Modern Arnis camps) in the past couple of decades, I’ve learned ways to survive a martial arts camp and have fun! For newbies, a weekend-long martial arts camp can seem daunting. How do…
If you are not able to view this video, click here. Demonstrating a technique on Jason. First, what does the word “uke” mean in martial arts? “Uke” means “receiver of a technique” and, in layman’s terms, means “demonstration partner.” Instructors often use demonstration partners to…
The #5 poke is a tremendous way to move your opponent. Why? You are attacking your opponent’s centreline; frankly, folks don’t like their center being attacked. They either get hit or move out of the way. Either way, it’s a winner for the driver. If…
I began in the martial arts in December of 1982 after I “retired” from high school football. I was a star player for the YMCA team, the Oakdale Red Devils, from the 4th through 7th grade. The trajectory to stardom continued as a member of…
In the past decade or so, I have gotten quite interested in the psychology of violence. Over time, I have gotten interested in the writings of Marc “Animal” MacYoung, Rory Millar, Kris Wilder, Lawrence Kane, and Peyton Quinn. Finding MacYoung’s website (http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/index.html) was the portal…
Guro Peachie Baron Saguin is one of the foremost teachers of Kalis Illustrisimo. He recently did a seminar tour with Guro Arnold Narzo in the USA. Both were long-time students of GM Tony Diego. Grandmaster Diego was a student of Grandmaster Antonio ‘Tatang’ Ilustrisimo, a legendary…
To see part 1 of this article about this warrior, click here. If you are not able to see this video tribute to a great warrior, click here. John Doreck’s Memories of Karen The first story to come to mind was the first time I…
When looking at YouTube videos of Filipino Martial Arts or a cursory look at Filipino Martial Arts events, it is evident, like many martial arts, that males far outnumber females. This is unfortunate, as I have seen a number of incredible female FMA players, both known and…
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…
In this post, I discuss a martial arts email scam that I recently encountered. Back in August, I received an email that I did not give much thought to. It stated: “This is JONES WILLIAMS, am hearing impaired, i will like to know if you…
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…
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…
Recently, I came across a quote from Rickson Gracie that nicely sums up my training and learning philosophy: “When you train you should put more emphasis on learning than competing with your partner.” In other words, Rickson is emphasizing the technical side of the art…
Recently, I purchased “Sonny Umpad’s Eskrima: The Life and Teachings of a Filipino Martial Arts Master” by George M. Yore. Blue Snake Books (www.bluesnakebooks.com) published this book. First, see this video for those who are unaware of who Maestro Sonny Umpad is. If you are…
If you are wondering how to counter MMA techniques for street self-defence, look no further than Lori O’Connell’s book “When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-Jitsu Strategies and Tactics for Self Defense.” The book includes a DVD that illustrates the concepts. She is the head…
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.”…
This weekend, Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts Centre hosted the 3rd Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp in Pickering, Ontario. Darkhorse TKD was the site of the camp. This year’s camp was proof of this annual event’s growing size, with 30 attendees in total. As a result,…
A few months ago, I purchased Datu Kelly Worden’s newly released DVDs, entitled “Anyo Baston- Beyond Form!” and “Anyo Isa- Beyond Form!” In a nutshell, I highly recommend getting these two DVDs. They are fantastic for deepening your understanding of the Modern Arnis anyos Professor…
Master Chuck Gauss recently released a new 2 vs 1 DVD, entitled “Combat 2 vs 1.” This is the sequel to an earlier DVD that covered the basics of the two sticks vs. one drill. Disclosure: I was the training partner/uke in both videos. Two…
In recent years, I have become more attracted to bodyweight exercises, using only the body’s weight. In contrast, I have increasingly questioned the value of weightlifting at a gym. At a typical gym, you see rows and rows of exercise machines that specifically target and…
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…
In this video, I demonstrate the dance of pain, showcasing another area of Modern Arnis. As alluded to in this previous post, Modern Arnis is more than stick fighting. We cover stick fighting, empty hands against a cane, joint locks, takedowns, ground controls, trapping hands, knife…
On Thursday, March 22nd, we had a somewhat unusual class. Two journalism students from nearby Durham College came by to shoot footage of a Bamboo Spirit class. In addition, they interviewed me and one of my students, Terence. The footage will air on Rogers Cable!…
This entry is written from the perspective of self-defence needs and does not delve into the competition-oriented arts or those geared toward personal development. Specifically, I address whether you should care more about an instructor’s approach than his style. Some claim the superiority of one…
I believe that people have different learning styles. Some learn with their ears (audio learners). Some students are “visual learners.” Then there are those who learn through a combination of audio and visual cues. If you are not able to view this video, click here….
On Saturday, December 3rd, I taught at the “The Warrior Arts of the Philippines Fundraising Event” along with Master Rollie Descargar, Master Oliver Garduce, Guro Ramon Villardo, and Grandmaster Marc DeLeon. A very worthy cause was the beneficiary of this event. All proceeds of this…
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…
On the weekend of August 27th-28th, Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts hosted the 2nd Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp at A.T. Martial Arts in Whitby. This was the second camp that I attended this year. I look forward to attending the annual ArnisFest, hosted by Master…
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…
Recently, I had a conversation with Master Chuck regarding martial artists who say, “I already know that” when training. Sometimes, it means they don’t want to lose face and not admit they don’t know the material. Often, it means something else. It means that the…
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…
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…
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…
This past weekend I attended the 2010 ArnisFest in Chicago hosted by Master Ken Smith. This time it was held in Master Ken’s new school, The Modern Arnis Academy, in Homer Glen, IL. Master Chuck Gauss, Master Ken, and GM Will Higginbotham taught at ArnisFest. …
On the weekend of September 18, 2010, I attended a one-day camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, taught by Master Chuck Gauss and Master Ken Smith. This camp was geared for brown belts and black belts. The focus of the day was on the details of…
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of participating in a Balintawak seminar taught by GM Bobby Taboada. Sean Tyler hosted the seminar at his Raging Tiger Martial Arts school in Scarborough. GM Bobby was a long-time friend of Professor Presas, and the Professor was…
On the weekend of August 28th-29th, Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts hosted the 1st Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp. The camp took place at the Kombat Arts Academy in Mississauga, Ontario. Not surprisingly, it was a great success due to the fantastic teaching of Master Chuck…
Earlier in the year, I had a post briefly describing the Bamboo Shoots program. I’d like to expand on that post by expounding on the goals of this program. First, we teach basic physical exercises such as the correct form for pushups, situps, and jumping…
Stockton, California has long been known for its’ long and rich history of Filipino Martial Arts, dating back decades. Stockton had a large Filipino community in those days, mostly migrant workers. Often, at night, eskrimadors would train in secret. I remember reading somewhere that Professor…
This year’s Michigan Modern Arnis camp was held from June 24th through the 27th. We had a fantastic turnout, with around 45 participants and 15 first-time camp attendees. Master Chuck Gauss, Master Ken Smith, Master Brian Zawilinski, Master Roland Rivera, and Master Earl Tullis took…
Among the many influences on Professor Presas’ development of Modern Arnis, none was arguably more significant than Professor Wally Jay. Professor Wally was the founder of Small Circle Jiu-Jitsu. If you are not able to view this video, click here. As many readers know, Professor…
This past weekend, I enjoyed participating in two separate seminars by Master Gaby Roloff in Ottawa at the Stronger You dojo. Renshi Janet Heffernan hosted the seminar. A little background on Master Gaby. She has been training and teaching Modern Arnis since the early 1980s….
The 6 Count drill is one of the staple Modern Arnis drills. From our perspective, the most fundamental skill this drill teaches is check hand usage. It is often taught at Modern Arnis seminars worldwide. Before you learn this drill, you must learn the basic…
Last night, my wife and I watched the “Eskrimadors” documentary with Terence, who brought the DVD. It was quite well done! This “Eskrimadors” documentary focuses on the Filipino martial arts traditions of the island of Cebu. This was a good idea as it gave the…
Before this great seminar by Master Chuck Gauss, we put out a commercial on YouTube. If you are not able to view this video, click here. Master Chuck Gauss taught another great seminar in Oshawa this past weekend. He covered topics such as abanico corto,…
Here’s some background on how the stranger approached us: From the spring of 2008 to July 2010, I worked on a contract basis in downtown Toronto for the Law Foundation of Ontario, while Terence was working at TD. Normally, we would get together for lunch…
The Bamboo Shoots program is designed for children ages 4 through 7. It is part of Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts. We focus on instilling respect, confidence, courtesy, and discipline in children. We teach stranger awareness, personal safety skills, escape techniques, conflict management, and goal setting…
I’ve been considering whether martial arts should evolve with the times or remain in its “pure form.” Let me elaborate. I think of martial arts as a vehicle to defend oneself—Self-defence, in other words. From that perspective, should it not make sense for martial arts…
Often, martial artists or those engaged in athletic endeavours will reach a plateau. In addition, they may find that their rate of improvement dramatically slows down. The tricky question is whether one is willing to put in the work necessary to achieve a 1% or…
The technique of the month in this video includes the following: If you cannot view this technique of the month video, click here. Let’s discuss one technique in this monthly sequence: the abanico corto. When I executed the abanico corto technique, I had to move…
In the May 2009 Modern Arnis technique of the month, I demonstrate an old-style tapi tapi sequence. Techniques included in this sequence are the same side bait and a center lock. The elements of this sequence include: Typically, one training partner will practice this technique…
Master Chuck Gauss taught a fantastic seminar this past weekend! During the seminar, he emphasized the 2 vs. 1 drill while incorporating several concepts. For instance, he taught armbars, passing, hitting, sweeping, body manipulation/management, and disarms. The material was eye-popping for the participants involved. There…
Last month, Master Chuck came to town to hang out for the weekend and to train me. After coming in on Friday night, we went out to eat. Post dinner, we trained in the basement for a couple of hours. Very eye-opening training and lots…
A New Year and Welcome to Bamboo Spirit Martial Arts! The inspiration for the new name comes from Terence, one of my students, who suggested using the word “Bamboo” in some form. Thanks, Terence! The bamboo plant is culturally significant in many parts of Asia,…
Master Chuck Gauss’s second seminar took place on Saturday, November 8th. It was a fun-filled and energetic time. Master Chuck arrived in Oshawa on Friday night with his good friend and student, Steve. We went out to eat and then to the basement for intensive…
The first Master Chuck Gauss seminar in Oshawa held on Saturday, June 28th, was a rousing success. Welcome to Oshawa, Master Chuck! What a great Modern Arnis seminar it was! Chuck did a superb job of teaching various aspects of Modern Arnis, such as joint…
In addition to books on Filipino Martial Arts, I have also noticed that Jeet Kune Do books fit in well with an Arnisador’s library. These books offer insights very similar to the underlying concepts of FMAs. I recommend reading Jeet Kune Do books with Filipino…
Anytime I go into a bookstore, I head for the Sports Section, where martial arts books are located. In particular, I look for FMA books. The first thing I look for is books on Filipino Martial Arts. Unfortunately, they are challenging to find and are…
I just finished reading “The Book of Martial Power” by the aforementioned author, published this year. A synopsis of this book, located on the back binder, states: “Different styles of martial arts offer contradictory information, philosophies, and techniques for the body in combat. A practitioner…
Kudos to Mike Cooper for a great job in putting this together! I enjoyed the 2008 Filipino Martial Arts Workshop, which was very well organized by Mike Cooper and featured myself, Sean Tyler of FCS, and Punong Guro Rudy Cosico of Arnis Canada. I kicked…
As I have several books on Filipino martial arts, I will regularly review them. The first is “Warrior Arts of the Philippines” by Reynaldo Galang. One can find this book on Amazon. This particular book has a great overview of 6 Filipino Martial Arts: (1)…
In February, I passed the 10th anniversary of my involvement in Modern Arnis. I started with Dan McConnell of the Hilliard Martial Arts Center in Columbus, Ohio. While there, I trained with Matt Burnett, Roger Predieri, Katy Ray, and Amy Snow. It was a good…
In the April 2008 edition of Black Belt magazine, there is an article on Paul Vunak and the topic of “Defanging the Snake.” This interview with Vunak was done in an interview format and one section piqued my interest: “Black Belt: Why should martial artists…
The first Modern Arnis class in Oshawa, Ontario, was held on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at the Legends Community Centre. It was held just eight months after I moved here, and lots of prep work went into it. I aimed to get 2 to 5…
Recently, I read “The Straight Lead” by author Teri Tom. Hands down, this is one of the best martial arts books I have ever read. Teri Tom comes from a JKD background. In this book, she describes the history, science, and mechanics of Bruce Lee’s…
First and foremost, Grandmaster Remy A. Presas designed Modern Arnis as a self-defence system. While Modern Arnis and many Filipino Martial Arts (referred to as FMAs) have origins in bladed weapons usage, Professor Presas preferred not to teach the bladed aspect of the art. Over…
Many in the martial arts community have paraphrased the above quote. At the outset, I would have to say that the quote about martial arts styles is essentially on target. However, a closer examination of this quote reveals a more nuanced understanding of just what…
I know that it’s been a while since I last posted……I’ve been busy settling into Canada, starting a job search and networking. In addition, I have been working with two eager Modern Arnis students in Mike and David. Also, I have been teaching my wife,…
I have been in Ontario for less than 4 weeks and I have been teaching/training in Modern Arnis with a couple of great guys already. Mike and David sure have made my transition to life in Ontario much easier and it’s great to have a…
I currently teach group classes on Thursday nights at the ABS Training Centre from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
