Learning FMA alone ...

[SwissPrecision]

Hi all,
This is my first post on this forum, even if I have been reading it from time to time.
I want to learn FMA, the problem is that there is no Arnis/Escrima/Kali school or instructor in my city/country - I live in Romania, and even if they were they would probably be fakes. My question: Can I learn FMA/weapons by myself from videos/books and maybe some seminars (if I get lucky). I train in Wing Tsun as my primary MA, but I realise I need some weapon training.
And what do you guys think about 'Remy Presas Modern Arnis Single Stick' video ? Maybe you can recomend me some other videos/books. Thx.

[SwissPrecision]

Just to be clear on this: I DO NOT belive in 'video tape-training', in fact I hate it. But as you see I probably don't have any another choise. I realize this tipe of learning il limited; I don't expect to become a FMA Master, I just want to know the basic: attacks, how to defend, some good tehnics and some drills. Regards.

[fayd]

FMA Instruction

Nothing can compare to "classroom" time or seminar training ...but I'd recommend videos over books! Books are great resources for someone with an established base, or for historical/cultural reference. Videos give you a better idea of the movement/mechanics. Here's a few web sites that offer some good videos:

http://inosanto.com/

http://www.lamecoeskrima.com/

http://www.dogbrothers.com/

http://www.reelcombat.com/

Good luck...

[Crucible]

Its been a while since I've seen them, but I beleive the first Dogbrother series was all about solo training.

Also, if you look through Guro Dave Goulds past posts on this forum, he has an excellent post on solo training taken from PG Edgar Sulite.

[buster brown]

Try dogbrothers. com

I suggest dog brothers martial arts because I know lonley dog teaches in Bern Switserland. There are others in your general area who train and are group leaders.
As also mentioned dog brothers have a series of tapes/cd's that are designed for solo training. "real contact stick fighting series".
I think they are of excellent quality and will be just what you are looking for, to get started.
If you go to dogbrothers.com they have a forum post there and I'am almost positive you will find someone in your area who can help.
Buster

[SwissPrecision]

@ fayd: Thx for all the links.
@ Crucibel : Thx for te advice.Guro Dave Goulds has got good posts.For all who are interested here's the link:

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/s...ead.php?t=5016

@buster brown: Thx for dogbrothers.com, I will take a look.

Can someone tell me a bit more of Remy Presas and his 'Modern Arnis Single Stick' video. I looked at vol 1 / 3, and I find it to be a good tape.
OK, I need to refeze my first post: " What is the limit for video-tape
learning for FMA, as I sayed, I am looking for the basic (at least for now ). How many of you think they could have learned FMA from tapes and maybe in what % ?
I hope I am not getting too much on your nervs with my posts, but I need advice/details if I am going to learn FMA alone.

[Crafty Dog]

All:

Tail wags for the kind words-- and I craftily add that our price for the whole set is really very reasonable

Also, I would draw your attention to the videos of Punong Guro Edgar Sulite. Some of them are solo training (single stick combos, double stick combos). I was a student of PG Edgar from his arrival in America until his unexpected death. He was quite remarkable.

The Adventure continues,
Crafty Dog

PS: Buy them from Lameco International and the money will go to his widow Felisa and their 5 children.

[RapidAssault16]

As a guy who has trained in the FMAs solo for most of his life, here is my advice:

1) Learn and master the Cinco Teros: These are the Five Cardinal strikes found in most systems of Kali and Arnis. These five strikes are essential, and in most cases, they are all you need when fighting or sparring. Here's a video clip of Jim Wagner demonstrating the Cinco Teros with a knife, but the Cinco Teros can be used with long blades, sticks, and any other weapon you can think of. http://www.jimwagnertraining.com/store/KNIFE_3.wmv

2) Find a training partner: Nothing can replace training with a live partner. Find anyone you can, especially martial artists, who are interested in learning the FMAs.

3) Learn and practice footwork, A LOT: The FMAs are known for their sophisticated footwork. www.atienzakali.com has a Introduction DVD to the Atienza Kali system, which includes a lot of footwork. The Dog Brothers also has a tape/DVD focused mainly on footwork. Footwork is the backbone of the FMAs. Without it, the entire structure falls apart.

4) Make equipment: Find a few old tires, and stack them or tie them to a tree/post, and practice your strikes on them. This is great for power training. Another piece of homemade equipment that I like is one that was advocated by Guro Edgar Sulite. Find a 28 inch Kali stick (or any stick will do), and tie a rope to the center mass of the stick. Tie the stick from the ceiling and make sure it is hanging from eye level. Hit it, and you will find that the stick will turn and spin back at you, resembling a stick swinging at your head. It's not as good as sparring with a partner, but it gives you a good sense of distance and reflexes similar to sparring.

5) Take advantage of seminars: Seminars are not the same as regular training in a real school, but it helps a great deal, especially when resources for the FMAs are really few. I know that the Sayoc Kali, Atienza Kali, and other Kali/Arnis organizations frequent Europe for seminars throughout the year. The Atienza Kali group has an official training group in Ireland, and if you and your school were truly interested in becoming an official training group, I think you could work something out with them. In fact, if you were to begin an Atienza Kali training group in Romania, it would be the first FMA group in Romania.

6) If all else fails, take up Fencing: Raymond Floro and James Keating are two Filipino martial arts practitioners and teachers with a thorough background in Western Fencing. While it isn't exactly the same as FMA, it will give you a good base in footwork, distancing, timing, and reflex using a weapon.

I hope these helped. I was forced to train solo for many years simply because I had no resources for training in FMAs when I wasn't in Manila. God Bless.

[aseepish]

4) Make equipment: Find a few old tires, and stack them or tie them to a tree/post, and practice your strikes on them.

Make the X (i.e. downward diagonal strikes) on the tire or heavy bag until your arm feels like it's going to fall off.

[fernast1]

Hi,

Since you are living in Romania, I found a romanian eskrima forum where you could get some possible contact for training:

http://forum.eskrima.ro/

Regular contacts with teachers will help you to avoid bad habits and will help you to have a progression.

I am sure you can find some people in Romania. They may not be the best eskrimadors but if they are serious enought you will learn then videos would be helpful.

Keep us updated about what you will find.

Stéphane

PS there are some FMA in Hungary, Tchec republic and Poland