A Fantastic Michigan Modern Arnis Camp!
My trip to the Michigan Modern Arnis Camp got off to an inauspicious start due to the worldwide IT outage that occurred earlier that day. I arrived at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and got stuck in the middle of the bridge. It took 2.5…
Baseball and Self Defense
Sorry, no video for this week. Things got in the way. I’ll resume next week! Wait. Wut? What does baseball have to do with self defense? It comes from a fantastic article in “The Athletic” titled “Missing Bats: How An Obsession With Strikeouts Upended The…
Video Of The Week 17: Changing Hands
Changing Hands in Modern Arnis One of the key elements in Modern Arnis is the ability to switch the stick from one hand to the other seamlessly. The late Professor Remy Presas emphasized this skill to us. He was a natural left-hander but often had…
Video of the Week 16: Get Off The Couch!
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…
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,…
