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The Tempering (For Pia Cainglet)
I had to interrupt my plan for a quick article. I have a student, Pia Cainglet, who has been studying with me for a few years. She has a very busy job and she joined the school at an older age than...
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Exceed the Master, pt IV (The Door)
Two things: I’ve relocated this part of the series to “Philosophy”, and I am about to ask you to commit martial “blasphemy” Steven Dowd is dedicating an issue to this blog (thanks Steven!) in his FMA...
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If I Taught Seminars and Made Instructional Videos…
I’m really not a jerk. If you ask people who know me personally, they will attest to that. I would say that the only people who think I’m an arrogant bastard with no manners are either folks who...
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Improving Your Master’s Eskrima (Exceed, pt V)
So, I said all of that to say this… And this will be the shortest article of the series. Today, we will commit the so-called FMA blasphemy that so many people think is impossible. I am going to...
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The Graceful Loser (Strongest FMA, pt III)
In the search for the “Strongest” FMA, you must not pass over the loser. Let me tell you a story. I arrived in California in January 1999 from Washington, DC. I was very fit, aggressive, and new. As...
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But Dad, He Was *Weaker* Than Me… (Fight without Fighting)
Today, a quickie. I was talking to a friend today, a fellow FMA fighter who also teaches tennis. Being a Filipino, our conversation quickly turned to our sons–as our sons happen to be our most prized...
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Fill the Brain (Empty Cup, pt II)
The path of the martial arts master does not generally begin with a declaration that one intends to be a master. Such a path, in my opinion, is a foolish one if everything you do is to get you closer...
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Does Eskrima Need to Be “Well-Rounded”?
I don’t think so. Here’s why. Eskrima is, what it is–and that is a weapons fighting art. We do what we do, and we don’t do all that other stuff. I believe that someone who tries to learn everything...
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Why Eskrima Should Remain *Armed* (Well-Rounded, pt II)
Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, please hear me out. By the way, this article is “part II” of this article, entitled “Does Eskrima Need To Be ‘Well-Rounded?” Surprisingly, it was...
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The Next Best Thing(s)
Again, I am on this blog talking about seminars and short courses… One of the questions I am asked, and perhaps more than “How much are your classes?” is the real question they want to know: ”How can...
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Reaching In Eskrima
I’d like to offer some practical, universal advice about the practice and application of martial arts. Any stylist can benefit from this because, like I said, this is a universal principle. It is also...
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Thoughts on Canelo vs. Mayweather (Expose Your Students)
There is a teaching principle that many teachers are unaware of, that I would like to share. Often, many teachers are not actually trained as instructors or teachers. Rather, they are simply taught...
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Challenge for Filipino Fighting Secrets Live Readers…
I want to challenge each and every one of you to improve and update your FMA. You may not like it. But I guarantee if you complete my challenge, nobody will fuck with you. And you have 45 days to...
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Learning by *Not* Dominating
There is great wisdom in the following saying: Reputations from the opponent you barely beat I have seen good fighters get stuck at “good” and not become “great” or “better”. I’m sure you have seen...
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Tips for Developing Fighting Dominance
Considering that this is the last day of the year–and many of you guys will be making your New Year’s Resolutions–here’s a NYR you might want to add… Especially if you’re a martial artist: This year, I...
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Lessons from Middle School Wrestling
A little personal information on me. I’ve been married 7 times, and have three kids with two of those wives. My oldest son, Abdul Khaliq (we call him Kali), lives with me full time. Recently, he and my...
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Lessons from the Tim Waid Experience
This is sure to be a controversial article, although it does not intend to be one. I have written a few articles about severing familial relationships within the martial arts–the Filipino Martial Arts,...
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Sparring with Friends
Some random thoughts today… I have made the case often with my martial arts friends, that while sparring with friends and training mates is good–nothing beats the old fashioned fighting competition,...
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Know Your Place (Why I Won’t Teach My Friend Tim)
Yesterday I visited a friend of mine who is a unspoken pioneer and martial arts hero in the American martial arts community. Most of you have never heard his name, and will probably never hear his name...
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Why I Won’t Teach My Friend Tim, part II
This is a continuation of this post, written yesterday. It might be a little wordy, I wrote it after getting home about 1 a.m., and when I’m sleepy I am both cranky and loquacious. So, back to Tim. No...
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