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

This is a small set of rules that is universal to fighting styles and formats, and I hope you can use them.

1. Limit yourself to only a few techniques, and then do them exceptionally well. Part of the problem with traditional training is that there is so much to learn, but so little time to excel at them. Martial artists expect to do this art part time and yield full-time results… and this simply only happens in the imaginations of those who practice the arts. I don’t know how many martial artists–especially FMA people–whose upper arms are half the size of my forearms yet they feel that somehow, they are equal to martial artists like me. While it is possible to train only a few days a week and enjoy great benefits, for the majority they will be nothing more than average martial artists. But there is the light of hope for them!  Use this rule and limit yourself to only a handful of techniques, and drill those techniques over and over, each time you practice, and you will see results much faster than the guy who only spends a few minutes a week on each skill he has.
2. Become a student of tactics and strategy. Filipino martial artists in general tend to worry too much about concept and exotic ways to do things. So much so, that they know very little about functional technique and must speak in “concept” rather than putting on the gloves and proving that their theories work. This is the flaw with drilling as a form of skill-building:  few people actually bridge what they are doing in concept with what they can actually do in practice. Instead, I recommend that you spend more time sparring and dealing with what you can actually apply now, and leave the one-day-with-enough-practice-you-could-blah blah blah alone. Study the strategy of fighting and practice how to actually combat certain attacks and how to use them as true attacking weapons. Of course, you won’t be able to train against everything, but at least you will have a small set of skills that you know you can rely on. (Real quick, kiddos! What’s the number one excuse used by people who are afraid of sparring?  That’s right! “Sparring/tournaments aren’t real enough!”  So, why is that a cop-out?  “Because the only thing more ‘real’ is to actually get out on the street and fight for real, and they won’t do that!”) Forget the cliches and just get out there and get as many rounds in as you can. You’ll be amazed at how much you will progress after getting knocked around a few times. Just be patient, grasshopper… skill is right around the corner, so don’t be discouraged!
3. Allow yourself time to develop. Martial artists seem to think that as soon as they learn something well enough to show it, they know it. But true ability takes time to develop and mature. So what, that you’ve been doing the art for 20 years? How many fights have you had? Give yourself some real notches in your belt and then the real learning will begin! This goes for every type of tournament/sparring you do. It won’t happen overnight, though, but hang in there and keep at it, and you’ll be truly functional in no time.
4. Drop the “tradition” in order to keep with tradition.  A man will spend his entire life accumulating knowledge, and by the time he is a Master, will “forget” most of that learning and practice/retain/use/teach only a small percentage of it. Fighters in competition do the same thing: they only use 10% of what they know. This allows them to really develop those things to a very high level. After all, you can never really master everything. So pick which is the most valuable to you, and refine them. Trust me, all the Grandmasters do it.

Please study this article closely, because I believe I have given you a very valuable lesson this morning. If you follow these rules, you will see a nice jump in your skill and ability before you know it.

Thank you for reading my blog, and don’t forget to check the Offerings page for updates on my upcoming book, Mustafa Gatdula’s How to Build a Dominant Fighter in 12 Months!