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I've heard some good stuff about kombatan (from practitioners mostly), and some people say it's all crap (obviously people from other arts). I guess some of you have experiences and opinions to share? There's a new Kombatan Club nearby me and I wonder if it's worth the money, time and effort.
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Kirves,
Not all styles or systems are the same. YOu will have to observe the class. Maybe they offer a free class try it out. You see I Have been a student for Kombatan and Mano mano for many years. Studied with GM Ernesto Presas. But I could not decide for you. I feel it has a lot to offer. But you have to decide.
Kombatan is evolved from all the research of GM Ernesto Presas. It consist of Double stick, Single stick(classical and modern Arnis), Sword and dagger, Dagger, dulo-dulo, Staff, Mano-mano. The approach is to develop the flow of movement so it will be easier for the Kombatan stylist to blend with any given situation in fighting(be it weapons oriented or empty hand).
I will tell you this, I still go out and study other arts. For my own growth. HOpe this helps.
Lakanpopot -
Sir,
I ahve been a student of the martial arts since i was on fourth grade..now i am 32 years old and still a student of the Martial arts..Kali in Particular.
I my observation....i have proven it that schools who offer mixed styles are prone to watered down systems than those who teach traditional Kali...i have made it a point that before dealing with a teacher i ask questions like what primary art /system/style do you master in teaching?...whatever his answer is then i decide if i go for it or not..second guage is to see the ware-what they can teach than the rank belt/seminars attended and all these bru-ha-ha's..
Hope to be of help.
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my observation....i have proven it that schools who offer mixed styles are prone to watered down systems than those who teach traditional Kali... good post linleo... I can't remember if you are part of LSAI?
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Hi lionleo. I get your point. Same way I asses other teachers. It is not the art that is bad it is the way it is taught. YOu and I know that. I can be Bruce Lee and a bad teacher. I can be a good teacher but not a great fighter. It all depends on how it will suit your taste and preference. Like I said, it'll all depend on you.
Like you said, some people say kombatan is good, some bad. It is their opinion. YOu should check it out. Kombatan is a very young system. It depends on how the teacher in your place presents it.
Hi Krys nice to hear from you.
LakanpopotComment
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Hi Lakanpotpot nice to hear from you too.
I was in the Philippines last may and started to learn the Illustrissimo system: great martial art. Actually I plan to go down south for a few months next year to look for mas in Mindanao-islands of the Sulu sea....Comment
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I know all this from their websites, but I've heard stories (rumours) that many teachers have gotten certified with very fast time tables (i.e. from no F.M.A. experience to a black belt instructor in two years or less, and so on) and there seems to be quite a lot of commercialism when I look at any of their websites, lots of videos, books, sticks, clothing at high prices, and so on.Originally posted by LAKANPOPOT
I am interested to know if their operation, to some experienced and knowledgeable martial artists, seems like an effective and good filipino art like other better known styles are (inosanto blend, pekiti tirsia, serrada, etc.) or if it is just a quickbuck mcDojo operation as I sometimes hear.
So I'm not after a list of which hundreds of styles and arts the style contains and how many 10th degree black belts the systems founder has (according to some websites he has lots and lots of them in styles I've never even heard of), I've seen all that. I am just asking if someone who has studied the art, and other arts for a long time, can say from their experience if it is comparable (in effectiveness) to other, better known F.M.A. styles.Comment
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I pmd you....comparable (in effectiveness) to other, better known F.M.A. styles.
Better known does not necessarly mean more effective..... better known means better commercialised. The best styles I know aren't commercial... they are either taught by isolated individuals or inside brotherhood's. I was once a student of a commercial grandmaster in the Philippines and quickly looked for another after I felt he was just after my money...
You shouldn't 't look for the style but for the man who teaches and the level of his students.... be carefull if there are a lot of gradings, seminars, branded equipment to buy, if the instructor talks a lot about money and wants you to sign any contract... this could mean he wants to rip you off.Comment
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Yeah, I tried to reply but some problem with the forum and/or my network access ruined it. I'll pm you again.Originally posted by krys
Many styles and/or arts are well known because they are effective. Of course you are right, that arts can be well known for other reasons (good advertising) as well. But I doubt anyone here says Inosanto blend or Pekiti Tirsia are ineffective styles that are only known because of great marketing ploys...Better known does not necessarly mean more effective.....
It just seems that everything I see or hear about Kombatan just short of screams "SCAM!". Everything about the lists of styles/arts the founder has 10th degree black belts and the advertising about the style having it all, all the best techniques for every range from all the best other arts... You know. Lethalo, SCARS, all that crap comes to my mind.
I have studied Inosanto Blend in the past, and some of the Kombatan stuff I've seen in pictures and demos seems funny. Weird open stances where the weapon is held high, far away back up, leaving the chest wide open, etc. I also saw lots of high kicks and flashy throws in a demo.
So I'd like to know what people who are not inexperienced McDojo students, but who know their way around M.A. (F.M.A. in particular) think about it after trying it out.Comment
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Kirves,
From what I've seen of GM Ernesto's system, I think it can offer you a great classical foundation in the Filipino Martial Arts.
It seems that you have already formulated an opinion about Kombatan and their system might not be what you are looking for.
If you are inquiring about the combat effectiveness of Kombatan. One of my instructors was a former student of GM Ernesto's, and I have found the techniques that he showed me from Kombatan to be very effective in full contact sparring. This is after I put in the extra time to make the techniques work for me, by taking the techiques out of the drill and practicing it from half and full speed random feeds.
Judging by the feeling I get from your posts though, You might be looking in the wrong direction. Their style of fighting might not suit your tastes. Everyone's needs are different.
I believe that if you have studied the arts for sometime here in the U.S. you may not be used to the type of training that they do. Their training methodology might seem too repetetive for you, and there might be alot of focus on proper form, but all of this can reap great benefits in the long run. I know first hand that the instructor that I mentioned (that taught me some Kombatan techiques) is one of the most impressive Filipino Martial Artists that I have ever met, and I'm sure that this is largely due to his training with GM Ernesto.
Try out their class and go with your gut instinct.
Just my two cents. Good luck with your search.Comment
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On the contrary. I am quite confused as I hear two really opposite opinions from different people. Plus I am seeing contradicting things myself when I look at books, demoes and articles about Kombatan style. I'm here for that "second opinion".Originally posted by kruzada
For me to find out for myself if it is a scam or the real deal, will probably take years of active practice, so it would be nice to hear from someone who's been down that road. I don't trust someone who has only been to the same art/club all their training life and tell me it's all great. I want to hear what people who have experience from other styles too think about it.
Every McDojo has it's share of people who never did anything else but that style and who think it's the best style in town.Comment
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You will find conflicting opinions on almost every style/system of FMA.I am quite confused as I hear two really opposite opinions from different people.
I agree with you completely, and I don't blame you for being so cautious.Every McDojo has it's share of people who never did anything else but that style and who think it's the best style in town.
I hope that someone out there can provide you an unbiased opinion of Kombatan. However keep in mind that if a person has spent enough time studying an art, they might be weary of offering their criticisms freely in a public forum.
Good luck.Comment
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Terve!
Hapkido pohja taitaa noilla porin kombatan Guruilla olla, mutta ei pidä antaa sen häiritä. Mene ja kokeile, treenaa heidän kanssaan, niin näet saatko siitä mitään itsellesi vai et. Sillä omaa taitoasihan sinä olet treenamassa, joten et koskaan pääse puusta pitkään, jos kyselet foorumeilla mielipiteitä, tai teet päätöksiä video Clippien perusteella, etkä itse mene paikan päälle ja kokeile.Oli miten oli, niin valitse touhu, jossa sparrataan, sillä pelkissä drilli jutuissa on se vaara, että uskoo jonkin sellaisen olevan toimivaa, joka sitten käytännössä osoittautuu joksikin muuksi, kuin toimivaksi. Siksi sparria.
Sparring is the best teacher!Comment
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Sure thing. But I have certain beliefs, such as how a fighting stance should look like (definietly not like this (the guy on the left): http://www.kombatan.org/ramipresas100.jpg and this guy here has the sides quite open too IMHO: http://www.geocities.com/tomiharell/ ), I don't like those wide flaring elbows, and wide open chest, and when I look at a demo in real life, or a video clip (like these: http://www.geocities.com/tomiharell/...ideoClips.html ) something tells me that this kind of training develops bad habits that I don't want to develop. I am very interested in FMA but Kombatan Arnis is the only style available near me. So I would very much like to be conviced it is a style that develops effective fighters and avoids obvious and well known bad habits, but whenever I look at anything that is written, videoed or demoed about them, my alarm goes off.Originally posted by kruzada
It is true that the best answer is to go and train with them, but I don't want to find out in five years that I made the wrong move, because someone was afraid to say what they think about a certain style either in public or in private. So far I have received opinions about the style in private from two persons. So if you have an opinion about the style but don't want to publish it, please pm me. Thank you.
Happy training everyone!Comment
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Kirves,
I understand where you are coming from. YOur opinion might not be in the favor of Kombatan but it is your opinion. I respect that. I will tell you this, as a long time student of GM Ernesto Presas the pictures are just poses. But in any system or style of Martial art there is a Mcdojo. FMA's, Taekwondo, Karate,any style.
When it comes to the ranks my instructor has. That only tells you that he has done his research in the Martial arts. Martial arts is his passion. He did not settle for just a FMA. GM is an excellent instructor. Rumors are rumors and some can be true. People have different experiences. Believe me I had my share. Guro Inosanto studied a whole lot of systems. He is known to be famous as the man who has forgotten more about martial arts than most of us.(only a quote) People talk about him everywhere good and bad things.
Effectiveness, Kombatan is an effective art weapon or empty hand wise. The reason why I told you what is in the curriculum is because you asked why Kombatan is a good art. And I gave you an bird's eye view. If you don't like it. Fine. It is comparable to the Inosanto Blend. Of which I have experienced a little from seminars with Guro Dan Inosanto. You see you will not see any effectiveness in movement in a picture. Be it a book or clip. Because pictures can only be interpreted by the reader/interpreter.
All the arts are good. All arts have something to offer. Ranks are just ways of telling you how long or proficient a person is in the arts. GM Ernesto Presas does not believe in rank. Most FMA people don't But they have adapted the ranking to help asses what and where the student is at in his studying a system. I studied with Tatang Ilustrisimo(Kalis Ilustrisimo), Jose Mena(Doblete rapilon), Little of Lightning Scientific arnis(Sonny Mejia). But that does not make me an expert. FMA is my passion. Cross training is the way to go. YOu have to find your own flavor. Be it FMA, BJJ, Mixed martial arts.
And even with all of our opinions and our suggestions. You and only YOU can make up your mind if you want to study Kombatan. I wish you lived here in California I would help you learn Kombatan without charge then you can decide.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Some people think the fancy movement seen in demos are effective. And that is what gets them into the MAs. LIke I said in the end you will decide. I will keep it to that.
LakanpopotComment
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