“Secrets” of the Filipino Fighting Arts
Words from a Modern-Day Warrior

I’m going to introduce something very radical to the western martial arts student. Open your mind to what I am saying, and God willing you will find something valuable in this article. This is very short–not a lot of fluff, but I just want to get these thoughts out.

The Full-Time Student

When I was young man, living in the Philippines, I attended the graduation party of a baby cousin of mine, who was 16 or 17  at the time. The question as dinner was, what are you doing to do now? My cousin said, “I don’t know, I’m thinking about studying martial arts and opening a school…”

Full-time study as a martial artist? Instead of college or a job? Hmmm….

The martial arts can be a profession as much as a hobby. Some people study the art casually, and their skill reflects their study intensity. A very small number of martial artists make the art their life, and plan to do something with this knowledge. Teach, fight, but something. There is no need to take that slow-baked method of studying a few times a week; if you know this is what you want to do, why not just immerse yourself? Teaching the martial arts is just as lofty as any other career, and it deserves the same amount of dedication and education as any other pursuit.

There are several ways to approach a career in teaching the martial arts, but this is the best way to do it:

1. study the arts full-time. even if you have to work to have food, shelter, and tuition, the rest of your time should be spent in training
2. enter competitions as a way to gauge your progress and/or make a name for yourself, as well as to develop your skills in application
3. begin teaching in small groups as you compete, and allow this time to be the development of your teaching skills
4. open your school

Study the arts in lieu of a formal academic education. Not exactly what most parents dream for their children, but it is a admirable goal. Full-time study gives your skills the attention it needs to reach your potential, and allows you to focus on learning the art fully, as opposed to just lumping that knowledge along with everything else you take in. When you train every day, for several hours a day, your skills will develop like no others. I believe that for the future teacher, this is a must-do.

Thank you for reading my blog.