From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V7 #589 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Thur, 21 Dec 2000 Vol 07 : Num 589 In this issue: eskrima: Walking your own path of growth. eskrima: RE: Merry Christmas from Winnipeg eskrima: Seminar-trained instructors eskrima: Clubs eskrima: Info required eskrima: Film Making eskrima: . ========================================================================== Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. 1200 members strong! Copyright 1994-2000: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource An open FMA discussion forum provided in memory of Mangisursuro Mike Inay, Founder of the Inayan System of Eskrima. Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. To send e-mail to this list use eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima-Digest at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: EGJundis@aol.com Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 17:11:46 EST Subject: eskrima: Walking your own path of growth. Note: this is a multiple digest post. In a message dated 12/20/00 8:37:20 AM, eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << My problem is confidence - since I don't teach under anyone's wing, I'm always questioning myself. I buy tapes, attend seminars, study FMA web resources, etc., and try to incorporate improvements into the class, but it's tough. I have a very relaxed class atmosphere - I think of it more as a "club" than "my class" - I'm not into the "worship me" thing. I'd like to know others' views on what I'm doing. jester >> Hi Jester, People are going to think what they are going to think. What will make a difference are the experiences and growth that you are committed to creating for yourself and students. When you know what you want to create then "what is useful" becomes clear. An issue for anyone training alone or delving into new areas is the "blind leading the blind' effect. A clear vision is like having a night scope in the dark. When you know what you are training for, then when you find something useful you can absorb it without the doubts: you will know you have found a perfect fit. Do know what you are training for? The trick is clear vision without attachment. As you test what is useful, your repertoire and realm of practice will expand and transform. At the same time possibilities for experimentation (i.e. drills ad nausea) are endless; a vision keeps you focused. The need for and quality of an instructor is relative. Not every instructor is going to take the time to bring out your best, some don't even know how. Not every instructor will share their full knowledge with you even when similar or the same knowledge is available in videos elsewhere. I have found such practices among reputable instructors: I am not saying this is wrong. I am saying you have to be responsible for your growth while seeking knowledge. This is true regardless of the quality of your teachers. Personal responsibility and accountability is an integral part of my pedagogy. If you teach, your responsibility increases exponentially. Another set of questions: why are you practicing and why do you teach? This is another way to find your vision. If you have a foundation in anything, you can learn on your own. You know what it is to have mastery in a realm of practice. This could look like having complete confidence in something as banal as a six-count siniwali. The key is developing that experience in another area. In my martial arts world I've had many realms of play: Judo, Boxing, foil fencing, Rou Shou, Push Hands, Flow Sparing, Laro Laro, etc. Because of playing those games I knew when I was on and when my game was off. The draw back is that in training alone your development can take a long time and you won't always know what to look for. Training with a team or club though can provide accelerated learning. Question: are you willing to learn more from your students than they do from you? Are you willing to accept feedback from a student? I started teaching again in 1998 after I took a two-year hiatus from the FMA's (I was looking for freedom from the politics). I took up rock climbing and windsurfing. Almost all my knowledge came from books and with trading information with others. When I am on San Francisco Bay, I am looking for that same "on" I had with sparing. When I am in Yosemite, I won't even climb unless I know everything is ready (My equipment, my knowledge of the route, my mental framework, my training for the specifics of the climb, my partner, etc.) I did take one weekend of rockclimbing equipment lessons to ensure that my ability with placing equipment was technically sound. This is an example of being responsible for a potential breakdown (In this case falling off a thousand-foot cliff). You say you go to seminars: you can get a lot more out of them if you go with an intent (vision) and with questions that will support your growth. Question: When you have instruction do you let yourself be spoon-fed or do you ask questions? I think a perfect example of this is the Dog Brothers. (Mind you this is an outsider's perspective that I am making up to illustrate a point. That means it's not the truth). Their motto, "Higher Consciousness through harder Contact" has an underlying commitment to find and test what works. They also have a commitment to grow and support each other as a community. The Dog Brothers when they began were venturing into a new paradigm of practice for them. Sure they had access to great resources like Gaje and Inosanto, but they were still out there forging ahead alone. Creating communities of practice is a tradition that is as old as stick fighting and is the foundation of team learning. At it's best, team learning can effectively raise the skills and knowledge of any member faster than any member could alone. For more info check out the book: The Fifth Discipline: the art of the learning organization by Peter Senge. The hard work is in the testing, the free and objective sharing of knowledge, all while staying true to the vision while moving through attachments. In the martial arts, attachments can look like, "this drill is the best", or "the caveman strike is the end all." Some outsiders only think of the Dog Brothers as mindless, unskilled barbarians: this is an example of attachment to a viewpoint. You can see that this viewpoint prevents the observer from having any opportunity to grow or learn from the participants' experience. Every technique, every idea has reversals and limitation. At the other end of the spectrum is being so lackadaisical that your students are mud with no real ability to perform. Living within a vision takes rigor: when it is an expression of who you really are there is also no better feeling. Juggling vision and attachment is a dance that requires full presence. Within my organization my initial commitment is that our membership is made up of conscious and competent (responsible) students committed to team learning. My second commitment is to provide access to the best the martial arts and instructional world has to offer in the realms of training and d evelopment. This vision gives my fellow instructors and me a lot of room to play while keeping us focused. It also gives our students the room to become the best they can become. I trust the Dog Brothers will not mind me using their name and motto for Illustration purposes. As always read with salt on hand. If you find something useful keep it. Happy Holidays everyone. Elrik Jundis Director/ Lead Instructor School of Pilipino Martial Arts ------------------------------ From: Ken Howard Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 22:56:05 -0600 Subject: eskrima: RE: Merry Christmas from Winnipeg Merry Christmas to all from Winnipeg sometimes called Winterpeg. Temp about 25 below F, wind-chill about 60 below F and a foot of snow on the ground (4 feet drifted over my sidewalk and driveway though) I do NOT want to do any more shoveling. My better half is threatening me with some extreme personal violence if I don't get it done before I go to work. Ken Howard Falcon Armado Martial Arts p.s. The snow is free for the taking to anyone who wants it :) ------------------------------ From: "Michael Koblic" Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 21:32:53 -0800 Subject: eskrima: Seminar-trained instructors "Where he is the only instructor of fma is of let's say questionable linage. A very nice, and sincere person and a heck of a nice guy, but a "Seminar trained and start your own organization" guy. His question was isn't it better to train in something with real live people than to do nothing except solo training. " There must be all sorts of shade of grey in this! Here is my particular one: Recently an acquaintance asked me to teach him "the sticks". I jumped at the oportunity. Why? For the last six years I have been desperately trying to find a partner to train with. Furthermore, this particular individual is an accomplished kick-boxer and a jiu-jitsu man. Thus the deal was struck - 45 minutes of "sticks", 45 minutes of kick-boxing. I made it clear, however, that: 1) I am in no way qualified to teach. 2) Although I have learned from several teachers, I do not claim to represent their particular styles. 3) My learning has been conducted through seminars, videos and a few trips to the two Vancouver clubs which have been gracious enough to have me train with them on an occasional basis. I loan him my tapes. I am sure both of us would prefer to train in a large club led by a "name". Sadly, nearest such club is 640 km away. I make no apologies for making the best of what I have. BTW, in a situation like this one learns to use all kinds of aids, including a video for the sparring and drill sessions etc. Now, if only I could get hold of two fencing masks... Mike Koblic, Quesnel BC ------------------------------ From: "Michael Koblic" Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 21:37:23 -0800 Subject: eskrima: Clubs The Slovaks have a national type of symbol - it is a walking stick called "Valaska" or "Cakan". It is a stick where the handle is effectively a small axe (tomahawk if you like). Usually it is quite decorative and looks inoffensive. Yet I suspect the potential for damage is considerable. The legalities of such an implement are interesting to ponder. I agree with other posters that a good limp is essential, otherwise one might not have a leg to stand on :-) Mike Koblic, Quesnel BC ------------------------------ From: "Jon Howard" Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 09:21:15 -0000 Subject: eskrima: Info required Hi folks, A good while back person or persons unknown (I believe it may have been either Rocky and / or Jason Inay) spoke at length about the decuerdas stick as a training device and lo and behold, it was mentioned again in the last issue. I have been intending for a while to make one of these baby's but I've lost the issue with the info (and I've been unable to find it by trawling through the archives). Could someone in the know please repost the info and or any good training drills to go with it. Many thanks in advance (and a merry Christmas to everyone on the list) Jon Howard... BTW - Here in the UK it's about 6 degrees celcius, been raining a lot recently (no snow yet...) Maybe we should have a lottery and the winner get's to swap places with Chad for a week 8-) ------------------------------ From: "85445456" Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 02:45:20 -0800 Subject: eskrima: Film Making I am thinking of making my own film which incorporates FMA. I am hoping to make it more reaslistic than the more typical martial arts film as well. This will be done by free sparring for the fight scenes hopefully. Does anyone know if this could work? Also, in order to make it a marketable product, I'm going to include some sex as well in the fight scenes. I am still working on ways to do this and any ideas would be appreciated. However, I have yet to find an actress, as there aren't any suitable girls in my class. If anyone here would be interested in taking part, I am going to make the film locally (I live in Yorkshire). Eskrimador. _____________________________________________ Get Your Free Email from http://www.hotml.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 7:14:14 PST Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V7 #589 **************************************** To unsubscribe from the eskrima-digest send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY of an email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. 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