Triple Threat Martial Arts Seminar in London, Ontario
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…
Video of the Week 15: Interchangeable Disarms
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…
Video of the Week 14: Leverage for Disarms
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…
Video of the Week 13: Two Great Leg Exercises
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…
Video of the Week 12: Solo Sinawali Training
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…
Video of the Week 11: Modern Arnis Pulling
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,…
Blog On Hold
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….
High or Low Energy Private Lessons
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…
Video of the Week 10: Pushing/Tulak
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…
Video of the Week 9: Defending Against The Sweep Stroke
One of the key skills in Modern Arnis is learning how to defend against the sweep stroke. What is the sweep stroke? It is an offensive maneuver designed to incapacitate an opponent, as Troy demonstrates in the video below. I have seen defenders stand their…