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

Posts Tagged ‘super techniques

The Graceful Loser (Strongest FMA, pt III)

May 3, 2013

In the search for the “Strongest” FMA, you must not pass over the loser. Let me tell you a story. I arrived in California in January 1999 from Washington, DC. I was very fit, aggressive, and new. As always, I was eager to build my reputation here. Those of you who are Philippine-based know that […]

Exceed the Teacher, pt III (Two-Way Street)

April 20, 2013

It is said that teaching is a two-way street. How true. I’ve stated in earlier articles that some teachers are more skilled at teaching beginners, some are good at teaching the advanced, and then others excel at teaching teachers–guiding experts and novice teachers to mastery. You have instructors, you have trainers, you have teachers, and […]

When Two Brothers Fight…

April 18, 2013

There is an African proverb a friend read to me years ago: When two brothers fight, a stranger inherits their father’s harvest So much wisdom. As it was explained to me, that in my friends’ culture, fathers rely heavily on the work of the sons to till his crops. The “every-man-for-himself” philosophy that we live […]

Learning the Art While Teaching (No Cornerman, pt II)

April 1, 2013

Today’s article will be short and sweet. This may seem like a contradiction from much of my past writing. I normally speak against teaching the art until you have acquired your own fighting experience, but this is no contradiction. I still believe getting your own experience is the best way to ensure that what you’re […]

Exceed the Teacher, pt II (Lesson from Bouie Fisher)

March 31, 2013

This article is a nod to one of the late, little-known masters of the fighting arts:  Bouie Fisher. It is also part II to this article–but will ride the topic of fight strategy. I am still putting the article under “Teaching Philosophy”, because the thrust behind my reason for writing this article is to share […]

The Mean and Nasty Old Master, pt II

February 27, 2013

I want to talk a little more about one of my favorite people in the world:  Old people. I was partially raised by my grandparents, as my mother could not afford child care in those days. My grandfather, then, took that opportunity to hijack my life and raise me to be a martial artist. Despite […]

Taste EVERY Ingredient (Skipping Grades, pt IV)

February 24, 2013

By the time we get done with this series, you will notice something. I’m not going to explain it right now, because FMA students today are way too anxious to get to the back of the novel. Although the average person who reads this blog is likely not to be a novice in the Filipino […]

The Novice Student (Skipping Grades pt III)

February 22, 2013

This is a continuation of my series on How to Study the FMAs. The last installment is located here. If you notice, I named the series “Skipping Grades”, rather than “How to Study”. Ever wonder why? It’s because martial arts students of the Filipino martial arts–compared to those of other styles and genres of the […]

Can’t Steal This Glory

January 22, 2013

Recently I have had some conversation with a young teacher who is hoping to open his own school and teach a fusion of the various systems he has studied over the years. I certainly have some reservations about his age and level of experience before striking out on his own. Yet those of you who […]

Beware of the Orphan

January 22, 2013

The Quran warns us to be kind to orphans and treat them justly. These are the most vulnerable of us:  the orphan is parentless and has no one to protect him or speak for him with the fervor that a mother or father would. The orphan is often poor and disadvantaged. The orphan usually has […]

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