Learning with Learning Disabilities: My Top Five Tips
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…
Seminar Weekend at Stronger You
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…
Too Young to Learn Filipino Martial Arts?
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…
“It Has To Be Done This Way!”
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…
Two Great Reasons To Move Your Feet
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…
7 Benefits of Changing Martial Arts Partners
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…
Collect Concepts, Not Techniques
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…
The Stances of Modern Arnis Anyos
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…
How to SuperCharge Your Private Lessons
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…
Go With The Flow!
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,…
