What FMAs Do You Want to Study?

[therenegademonk]

Just of curiosity for the members of this forum, what FMA style(s) have you not studied yet, yet are dying to learn?

Here's my list:

1) Kalis Illustrisimo
2) Giron Arnis Escrima (Bahala Na Escrima)
3) Corto Visayan Escrima (Sonny Umpad's style)
4) Sayoc Kali
5) Bahad Zu'bu Kalis Illustrisimo (Yuli Romo's system)
6) Floro Fighting Systems


I'm obsessed with FMA blade arts. These appear to be the only ones that are left out there.

So what about you? What styles do you wanna study?

God Bless,
Mike

[Go Jun Long]

..... These appear to be the only ones that are left out there.

You are very wrong about this one!!

[danjuandesiga]

I would love to formally learn the following:

Kali Illustrisimo
Lameco Escrima
Sayoc Kali
Tapado
Malayu Sibat

[therenegademonk]

You are very wrong about this one!!

If I am, then please enlighten me. Only reason why I said that is because 98 percent of the FMAs I see out there are stickfighting arts...the arts I listed are blade-based. If I left any out, please tell me which ones I left out.

Notice that I said, "appears to be the only ones left". In my personal experience, I haven't seen all too many systems that primarily focus on the use of the blade. I'm not against stick styles...I just study blade systems as a personal preference.

Thanks.

God Bless,
Mike

[EGreenJKD]

The FMA arts I would want to train...

1. Pekiti Tirsia
2. Lameco
3. Kalis Illustrisimo
4. Sayoc Kali
5. Doces Pares
6. Balintiwak

[Twists]

1. Ilustrisimo Kali (and Bahad Zu'bu)
2. DeCampo 1-2-3 Orihinal
3. San Miguel Escrima
4. Bahala Na
5. Pekiti Tirsia
6. Lightning Scientific Arnis

[Guro Dave Gould]

Hi guys,

I hope that all is well with everyone here on the forum and that everyone is keeping challenged by their daily training.

First off I just want to say that primarily "all" Indigenous Pilipino Warrior Arts are profoundly rooted in the use of the blade. Having said that if your style is some how perceived as being a "stick" fighting art it is only because your Instructors have chosen to translate that knowledge in a manner which specificly supports that genre of training.

It is my understanding that the Pilipino Warrior arts are neither a "blade" or "stick" fighting art but merely combative knowledge that can easily be translated to conform too any weapon that can be placed in the human hand. To the point of having no weapon whereby the knowledge will be translated bone to bone.

In saying this I can assure you that there is a great difference in how one wields a blade and how one wields a stick with each having unique inherent strengths and weakness` attached. I can equally asure you that ones curriculum can easily be translated to support either bladed or impact weapon options based on choice of which to utilize or teach. It comes down to how prepared you want to become and how effective you are willing to perpetuate your war craft.

I specialize in the blade, as a special weapons Instructor for Military it is very much in demand, but that does not say that what I teach can not translate itself to be effective with impact weapons. Combat is situational and dynamically changes from scenario to scenario and either we will adapt and adjust to what is required of us in combat or we will not, in which case we may become extinct.

Regardless of which weapon category we favor we are charged to train in earnest and develop as realistically as is possible. In the end it comes down to neither the blade nor the stick but more specifically to the individual. Just because you know how to kill 100 ways with a knife does not guarantee that you will be able to do so when the opportunity arises, some just simply do not have the stomach for it... some do. Most people that I have engaged in conversation about this topic informed me that they do not teach blade because they do not want the taking of life weighing heavily on their conscience, so they teach impact aspects instead.

It matters not which weapon that we individually choose to champion on the field of battle where only the smart and most prepared will survive. I have always said that a learned student learns more from the experiences gained from actual fighting than years of redundant training in a very accomodating dojo or class room. I dare say that you learn more in the first few minutes of actual combat than all the years of preparation in training leading up to it. So you learn... you train... you experiment... and you fight... and than adopt the situation as your teacher. Always remember that a great warrior can not be defeated from without until he has first been defeated from with-in. Doubt in combat is a disease and once infected it turns to fear... at this point a warrior begins grappling with himself in addition to fighting his opponent. Man can not fight amongst himself and his opponent simultaneously and expect to survive.

So if you favor the blade it is easy to translate the knowledge gained in any Pilipino Warrior Arts class to support your efforts, my only advice would be to keep it real leaving yourself always accountable for the choices that you make. Actions without consequences makes training more of a demonstration than an institution of combative development. Truth to self, truth in training and truth in combat. Train as if your life depends on it and you will fight as if it does too.

Go well guys, ciao.

Guro Dave Gould.

[danjuandesiga]

I would love to formally learn the following:
Kali Illustrisimo
Lameco Escrima
Sayoc Kali
Tapado
Malayu Sibat

DOH!
I also forgot to add[among the others I still probably forgot]....
Lightning Arnis

[therenegademonk]

Hi guys,

I hope that all is well with everyone here on the forum and that everyone is keeping challenged by their daily training.

First off I just want to say that primarily "all" Indigenous Pilipino Warrior Arts are profoundly rooted in the use of the blade. Having said that if your style is some how perceived as being a "stick" fighting art it is only because your Instructors have chosen to translate that knowledge in a manner which specificly supports that genre of training.

It is my understanding that the Pilipino Warrior arts are neither a "blade" or "stick" fighting art but merely combative knowledge that can easily be translated to conform too any weapon that can be placed in the human hand. To the point of having no weapon whereby the knowledge will be translated bone to bone.

In saying this I can assure you that there is a great difference in how one wields a blade and how one wields a stick with each having unique inherent strengths and weakness` attached. I can equally asure you that ones curriculum can easily be translated to support either bladed or impact weapon options based on choice of which to utilize or teach. It comes down to how prepared you want to become and how effective you are willing to perpetuate your war craft.

I specialize in the blade, as a special weapons Instructor for Military it is very much in demand, but that does not say that what I teach can not translate itself to be effective with impact weapons. Combat is situational and dynamically changes from scenario to scenario and either we will adapt and adjust to what is required of us in combat or we will not, in which case we may become extinct.

Regardless of which weapon category we favor we are charged to train in earnest and develop as realistically as is possible. In the end it comes down to neither the blade nor the stick but more specifically to the individual. Just because you know how to kill 100 ways with a knife does not guarantee that you will be able to do so when the opportunity arises, some just simply do not have the stomach for it... some do. Most people that I have engaged in conversation about this topic informed me that they do not teach blade because they do not want the taking of life weighing heavily on their conscience, so they teach impact aspects instead.

It matters not which weapon that we individually choose to champion on the field of battle where only the smart and most prepared will survive. I have always said that a learned student learns more from the experiences gained from actual fighting than years of redundant training in a very accomodating dojo or class room. I dare say that you learn more in the first few minutes of actual combat than all the years of preparation in training leading up to it. So you learn... you train... you experiment... and you fight... and than adopt the situation as your teacher. Always remember that a great warrior can not be defeated from without until he has first been defeated from with-in. Doubt in combat is a disease and once infected it turns to fear... at this point a warrior begins grappling with himself in addition to fighting his opponent. Man can not fight amongst himself and his opponent simultaneously and expect to survive.

So if you favor the blade it is easy to translate the knowledge gained in any Pilipino Warrior Arts class to support your efforts, my only advice would be to keep it real leaving yourself always accountable for the choices that you make. Actions without consequences makes training more of a demonstration than an institution of combative development. Truth to self, truth in training and truth in combat. Train as if your life depends on it and you will fight as if it does too.

Go well guys, ciao.

Guro Dave Gould.

Wise words Guro Dave...very wise words. :-) However, I would like to clarify my previous statement.

It's a fact: I love the FMA blade arts. I've loved blades since I was a little kid and because I had (and still have :-p) a very protective mother, I was never allowed to own any growing up, nor was I allowed to train with any even during my FMA training. As I got older, my love for FMAs and for blades grew, and as a result, I decided several years ago to dedicate all my time and energy to studying and promoting them. Why? Well, for one, I'm an American-born Filipino. To be honest, there aren't a whole lot of resources available to me that get me in touch with my roots. When I say my "roots", I'm talking about my native, pre-Hispanic roots...and the only resource I've ever had growing up to get in touch with my roots were, you guessed it: FMAs. However, the primary FMAs that I have found that get me in touch with my roots are the ones that primarily teach the use of the blade. The Philippine culture was originally and always will be, a blade culture. However, it saddens me to see that when I mention blade work to people...no one ever thinks of the Filipino. Instead, they think of the Japanese, the Chinese, the Europeans. However, the Filipinos have a highly-sophisticated blade style of our own, yet no one outside of martial arts circles seem to know about it. :-(

For me, my love for FMA blade work goes beyond combative efficiency. Although training the Filipino approach to the blade is efficient, simple, and direct, and while I know it will save my life if I am ever (God forbid) forced to use it in a life threatening situation, combative efficiency is only a small percentage of why I love the blade. While being able to function in combat is of great importance (it wouldn't be FMA without a focus on real-life combat), for me, my main focus is how I can use the traditional FMAs to research and promote my culture to everyone that I can.

Like you said, combat is unpredictable...you need to adapt to the situation at hand. I am aware that I cannot just remain true to bladefighting at all times...especially if I need to use something like a stick. It's always important to know when to "break the rules". Everything has it's limitations, bladefighting and stickfighting included. However, I find that the training of the blade allows me to adapt to any object I pick up. I don't know why exactly, it just does. Like you said, it's up to the individual. I truly respect stickfighting, but for me, blades are where it's at. ;-) From a combative standpoint, the study of the blade keeps me aware of myself and my surroundings at all times, and I know my training will save my life if ever need be.

Again, thanks Guro Dave. You always have good things to say on this forum.

God Bless,
Mike Pana
Bayani Warrior Systems
Myspace

[MasterKaliSilat]

SinaTirsiaWali, Pekiti Tirsia

There's probably hundreds of different systems, many family systems, like the Gadula Family System, I met Master Gadula and I was quite impressed with their blade knowledge and expertise. See my website at http://KaliSilat.com/testimony.html
regards, Greg

[EGreenJKD]

I almost forgot

One group that I would like to train with is the Dog Brothers. Primarily because their system is a great blend of filipino martial arts. Also because of their realistic application of the filipino martial arts. I think they are crazy, but their system is quite effective.

[Paco]

monk, you mentioned Illustrisimo and Sayoc twice. Just because one art does not advertise itself as "all blade all the time" doesn't mean it lacks a blade component. (Note: I do study the Sayoc system for blade work though, thru Tuhon Ray Dionaldo of Filipino Combat Systems) Certainly some arts lend themselves to blade work better, but they can't be the only ones dealing with them. And by the way, there are a lot more arts out there than the ones on your list.

[therenegademonk]

monk, you mentioned Illustrisimo and Sayoc twice.

Oops, I didn't realixe I did that haha. I was typing that while studying for finals so I was definitely out of it. :-p Actually, I didn't name Illustrisimo twice...I named Kalis Illustrisimo (Antonio Illustrisimo's system) and Bahad Zu'bu Kalis Illustrisimo (the system that blends Antonio Illustrisimo's style with Yuli Romo's personal Moro fighting style). There is a distinction between the two. Just thought I'd clarify.

Just because one art does not advertise itself as "all blade all the time" doesn't mean it lacks a blade component.

You're totally right. I've studied numerous arts teach blade, stick, and other weapons all part of one system. However, I personally prefer to study pure blade arts...arts that focus on the stick as the sword...arts that revolve around the blade. I just find that FMA bladed training suits my physical, mental, and spiritual attributes best. It's not that I have anything against other arts, I just prefer to study pure blade arts, that's all.

Certainly some arts lend themselves to blade work better, but they can't be the only ones dealing with them.

Again, you are totally right. I'm sure there are other arts that focus on the blade outside of the one's I have listed. However, these are the ones that stick out in my mind the most and are the one's I've done the most research on yet haven't been able to study formally yet.

And by the way, there are a lot more arts out there than the ones on your list.

I'm sure you are right. Again, if I have left any out, please name them. I want to learn them all! :-)

God Bless,
Mike Pana
Bayani Warrior Systems
MySpace

[Limbas]

I have friends who are from doce pares and are very good. If I can study another FMA art, doce pares will be first on my list.

[echkeh]

the FMA that I am dying to learn right now is Dekiti Terisa Serada of the Tortal clan.