Video of the Week 2: Footwork
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…
Five Great Ways to Get Popeye’s Forearms!
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…
From Pixels to Stick Fighting
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…
What A Phenomenal ArnisFest!
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….
Why I Avoid FMA Discussion Forums
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…
Friday Recommendation #20
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…
Friday Recommendation #18
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…
Friday Recommendation #16
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…
Friday Recommendation #15
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…
Crappy Hip to Bionic Hip: My FMA Footwork Reboot
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…
