Date: Thu, 07 Nov 2002 18:24:03 -0800 From: eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: Eskrima digest, Vol 9 #388 - 9 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Subscribed-Address: fma@martialartsresource.com List-Id: Inayan Eskrima / FMA discussion forum, the premier FMA forum on the Internet. List-Post: List-Subscribe: , List-Unsubscribe: , List-Help: Status: RO X-Status: X-Keywords: Send Eskrima mailing list submissions to eskrima@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Eskrima digest..." <<-------- The Inayan/Eskrima/Kali/Arnis/FMA mailing list -------->> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Filipino Martial Arts. Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). http://InayanEskrima.com/index.cfm See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima/FMA list at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Today's Topics: 1. IIRC & Solo Training (Marc Denny) 2. Re: "The Truth About the Presas'" or Roots (Ray Terry) 3. Re: Vol 9 #387 - Mark Mikita (Bart Hubbard) 4. Training layoffs (lakanmdb@aol.com) 5. training by yourself (Ray Terry) 6. Empty hand Kick defence (Nigel + Karen) 7. Re- Al's Modern Arnis post (rocky pasiwk) 8. For Gordon - on solo training (Michael Koblic) 9. Minn Kali Seminar (bill m) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "Marc Denny" To: Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 09:18:46 -0800 Subject: [Eskrima] IIRC & Solo Training Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Woof All > > I recall early accounts citing Regino as a distant cousin. However, the > > historical archives compiled by Tatangs' disciples seem to indicate Regino is > > his uncle. > > Any evidence that Regino and Antonio trained together? Or really even knew > each other? > > Ray Terry > rterry@idiom.com I should know the answer to this, Guro I. has given the history of this more than once , , , IIRC there also was a Melesio (sp?) as well. It sounds right to me that Regino was Tatang's uncle. > Hello sirs, > I have been training for about a year in the fma and have been very disciplined (addicted) for about a year straight. I have come a long way in terms of skill and knowledge since that time. What I am facing now is a forced lay off, this time not by injury, but by choice. > > I was just wondering if there were any thoughts and opinions on the benefits and/or drawbacks of not training with a group. Is solo training okay for some things? > > Any ideas for solo training exercises would be greatly appreciated. Im already doing some patterns and series exercises with the stick(s)and footwork patterns but I have only one viewpoint at any given time. More input would be appreciated. > > Gord Gord, I confess to being a little confused by a "forced lay off , , , by choice" ;-) but would offer the following concerning solo training: Solo training is an invaluable part of training. Top Dog is a superb solo trainer and readily confessing the self-interest involved, I would suggest buying our first video series which is overwhelmingly aimed at solo training. http://dogbrothers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=DBIOS&Ca tegory_Code=Videos A well-rounded Art, such as can readily be found in the FMA, IMHO needs to offer such training. Sometimes a student will come to me when life takes him on a path away from the pack wondering what to hell to do and we discuss it. The ability to hold on to and grow in your Art in such times is a true test and opportunity. What you get out of it depends on what you bring to it. Woof, Crafty Dog --__--__-- Message: 2 From: Ray Terry Subject: Re: [Eskrima] "The Truth About the Presas'" or Roots To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 09:25:13 -0800 (PST) Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net > ... Guro Paman points out that "It is no secret > that all three Presas brothers shared the same essential roots in their > early arnis education." ... But I'm not sure they actually did, did they? I believe that Remy traveled around a lot, training from a very wide variety of instructors prior to his initial creation of Modern Arnis. Thus E & R didn't really have all that similar of a background. ??? Comments? Rocky? Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 12:44:22 -0500 From: "Bart Hubbard" To: Subject: [Eskrima] Re: Vol 9 #387 - Mark Mikita Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Al, You can find out more about him at http://www.fightology.com. I met him in 1998 when I first moved to Los Angeles. He has a school very near my home. I was looking to find a place to teach wing chun and saw the sign on Sepulveda as I was driving by. I had some free time a few days later in the evening, so I approached him at his school. I think I caught him at a good time as he was alone and the school was not officially open at those hours. So he had some time to spend talking to me, about 2 hours all together. He was very personable and he gave me a hands on intro to his school of thought. He had a Greyhound dog that was very personable as well. He has some very innovative training equipment and some very different ideas regarding FMA especially the Inosanto Blend. He said that he trained with Dan Inosanto at one time. I believe he said it was during the late 80's to early 90's. He has some roots in the Philippines as his father was a soldier there. He had a good grasp of some of the basics of Wing Chun. From what I could tell at the time, he knew Eskrima well enough to teach. I was impressed with his knowledge of the Philippines which many FMA teachers tend to be lacking in. I've seen him a couple times since in the grocery store and at JC Penny's but that's about all I know of him. You can contact him through the website for more info. Bart Hubbard ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net >Message: 5 >From: "al sardinas" >To: >Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 10:44:18 -0500 >Subject: [Eskrima] CFCD - Mark Mikita >Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net > >In Inside Kung-Fu's January 2003 issue, there is a article "Grasping Kali's >Counter-for-Counter Drill" written by Mark Mikita. I did a quick search on >the Internet and I found a site listing Mark Mikita as a Master Instructor >in Philippine Tribal Arts among other arts. Can any member provide more >information on him as to what styles he learned and who were his >instructors. The website only had general information. The article is well >written and offers a lot of good points especially about "inherent diseases" >which is a good testimonial about Guro Mikita's knowledge. The only real >flaw I could find in the article would be the first picture in the article >which I hope is for entertainment or advertising purposes and not for >practical value. > >Respectfully, >Al Sardinas >Student of Garimot System of Arnis > >-- __--__-- --__--__-- Message: 4 From: lakanmdb@aol.com Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 13:28:13 EST To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Training layoffs Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Mr. Gord To lay ones self off in my opinion is a sometimes necessary thing. I personally take a week off here and there just to avoid burn out. Training on your own has a lot of merit. I enjoy it because there is only you, you can work at a methodical pace and hone your craft. When i engage in solo training I take one piece and work it for that session, i.e. abcedario or perhaps five attacks etc. So if indeed your laying off just make it a very short one, Combat skills are like a faucet when turned off they start back cold and take a while to heat up, but if always running they stay hot. Mabuhay Mike B --__--__-- Message: 5 From: Ray Terry To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net (Eskrima) Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 11:19:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Eskrima] training by yourself Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Something we use in Inayan is the Dequerdas Stick. Better for use with several players, but will also work with only one. Mine is a 9 ft rattan stick... suspend it in the middle w/a rope from the ceiling or a tree or however you can hang it. It hangs so that it is more or less parallel to the ground. Given it is only suspended in the middle once you push or strike the pole it tends to swing and revolve wildly. More fun with several people gathered around the pole, blocking it and striking it as it whips by your head, but it can be done with only one. Have fun. Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 6 From: "Nigel + Karen" To: "Eskrima Digest" Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2002 07:03:33 +1000 Subject: [Eskrima] Empty hand Kick defence Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Firstly, thanks to everyone that has responded. Mitakuye (mik?), Thanks for your reply: "Imagine catching the kick with Thais pads. Now, as you catch the kick you knee the shin, e.g., kick comes in from the left you sidestep (like in PTK) and face it/catch it, press it down and send your right knee. Opposite for kick from the right. Using the same structure in footwork, you catch with one arm/hand and elbow the shin. Alternatively you can catch and knee with the same-side knee." On the first one, are you saying that you "switch foot and knee strike" as the weight is on the right leg when you you evade? Also, have you tried blocking with the (bent) knee as opposed to the shin? Jamie, I am not familiar with "Cinco Teros". When you mention gunting, do you mean striking with with knuckles, elbows or what? I guess a lot of it has to do with distance as Bart mentioned Thanks again Nigel Black Eagle Eskrima Aust. --__--__-- Message: 7 From: "rocky pasiwk" To: Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 18:54:21 -0500 Subject: [Eskrima] Re- Al's Modern Arnis post Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Al Wrote: >Well, this article got me thinking. First of all about the >rumor feud, I >learned from a high source that it was only a >misunderstanding and nothing >more. Secondly, about the state of Modern Arnis, >right now as I see it there >are many branches out there that are claiming to be >Master, Grand Master, >Datu, etc. which I can accept. But how can these >branches grow without any >root? Like a massive tree with small and large >branches, once it loses its >roots only one thing will happen, it will die unless it >grows another root. >I think it is time for the Modern Arnis people out there >to grow another >root. And I think that Grandmaster Ernesto Presas >would be the logical and >perfect choice for the people out there who lost their >master. I'm not >saying throw everything that you learned out but >acknowledge your uncle if >Remy was truly your father. If you do this, your art >will grow, your >knowledge will grow, your organization will grow, you >will grow and you will >have the support of an organization that has strong >roots. >Respectfully, >Al Sardinas >Student of Garimot System of Arnis Well your thinking is pretty good, its logical, well thought out, and even makes me all warm and fuzzy :-) But it will never happen, even though it should. You see Al first you have to get inside Remy's head then you would understand why his art is splintered. Remy's biggest fault was he was to nice of a person, to be such an important man. He never liked to hurt anyone's feelings. His idea of being a good businessman was, making everyone happy. So if he was at your school doing a seminar for you and helping you develop a base or core of people, then you were his #1 or one of his ambassadors. And so on for who ever's school he was at next. The man just couldn't say NO to anyone, especially if they were making him a living. So if umpteen people think and probably were told they were number one by the GM himself and that they were going to carry on in his name after he was gone, there is no way they are all going to come together. For some strange reason many of us ( myself included, when I was young and dumb ) hold Grandmasters in a different light than we do others. When in reality they are just the same as you or I but with a talent at a particular thing that far exceeds ours. But this does not make them a great leader of men, or good business people. There is an old joke amongst old time Modern Arnis guys, Remys International Modern Arnis Federation's official address is IMAF C/O where ever Remys brief case is today. Fact is Professor was truly an awesome martial artist, but I wouldn't let him run my daughters lemon aid stand. I remember telling Remy once at a camp when everyone was doing empty hand forms that they all looked ridiculous, that everyone did it differently. No body mechanics, no joint or ligament alignment or connection. He simply laughed and said Rocky you know that And I know that, but look how happy everyone is. That was Remy making everyone happy. In turn its my opinion that Remy was not beyond feeling threatened by some of his students that were well organized. It seems every time he would get involved with a few people that could get him up and running a good organization, and be people that just weren't looking for rank or trying to get something from him, he would do something to cause a fall out. He is most famous for telling somebody's student to go out and open their own school and be on their own, often times without consulting the instructor who has been working with this individual sometimes for years, and sometimes only months. All across America there are groups of people that were originally friends, training partners, some even business partners that know don't even speak because of stuff like this that he did. Again for all of his beauty and grace as a martial artist, his warmth as a person, his business practice and judgments were horrible. But he still left his mark on this small planet of ours, like few man have done, and that is to be admired. As far as Remy and his brothers, all I can tell you is he spent many an hour talking to my father about how certain things were done to him by his brother's my father and him had this in common my dad had 6 brothers and 2 he rarely ever talked to in 30 years. When you go as long as Remy did without talking to family, its probably more than a little disagreement. Families can be strange. I know that it confused Remy all to hell when someone said he and his brothers founded Modern Arnis. Because Modern Arnis was founded in 1957 one brother was 12 and I believe ( not for sure) the other was in his teens. I will say this, Remy was always proud of how good his brothers were in the FMA's. I heard him tell my dad once, he said you know Mick, I always new my brothers would find their way, and be sucessful. Maybe , the splintering of Modern Arnis might be that best thing that could have happened, maybe the art will grow and flourish even more. Granted there are some guys that are not that talented doing their own thing, but he has a few pretty competent guys that are out there keeping it going to. Rocky --__--__-- Message: 8 From: "Michael Koblic" To: "Eskrima digest" Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 16:06:32 -0800 Subject: [Eskrima] For Gordon - on solo training Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net I have lived in isolated communities for so long that I have practically invented solo training :-) As a result of that (and natural inability and laziness) I am hardly an expert. However, FWIW, here is what has worked for me: 1) Visualization. It is amazing how you can practice a technique in your mind and translate it into reality. 2) Use of mirrors. Even watching your reflection in a window or a screen door is better than nothing. That is assuming that you have some idea what the moves should look like in the first place. 3) Use of a video camera. Put it on a tripod and video your routines or even fights with a sparing partner if you are lucky to have one. It is quite revealing. What you think you are doing is not necessarily what you are actually doing. Even silly little things - watching the hand drop on its way back from a punch after a hundredth repetition even though you *swear* that you were trying to keep it up. Hanging out the chin while punching. And many many more... 4) Work on the weak side techniques. I find that in a class strong side techniques are practiced most of the time. 5) Watch a lot of different videotapes *several times over*. It is amzing how a nugget of information reveals itself on third or fourth viewing. I try to get the tapes of the guys I go to seminars with. It saves taking notes. 6) Write lists of questions and problems. They are handy when you do manage to go to a seminar or a drop-in session in a club. I have been extremely fortunate but the guros I have trained with all showed gracious patience and put me right on things I just could not work out by myself. 7) Use of dummies. I particularly like the anatomical ones. I have recently purchased "Bob" and learned a whole lot as a result - mainly which full power techniques are useful in a human target and which less so, particularly if there is a discrepancy in heights etc. It is quite different from using a heavy bag (not better or worse - different!). I am exploring a possibility of some sort of stick dummy, but the time and space is limited. In the end one has to accept certain limitations and the fact that there is no substitute for training with a partner for developing reflexes and generally dealing with the incoming stuff. However, one should be able to go a long way to prepare for when the opportunity presents itself to train with others. At least one is not starting from scratch. BTW, if anyone knows a safe and painless way of involving non-combatants (one's family) in your training I would be interested. A number of attempts were unsuccesful including holding focus mitts and such like. Resulting minor injuries were poorly tolerated. I was thinking of getting them to swing a long staff at me to pracice the drills in some of the recent DB tapes. That should be safe for them (not necessarily for me, however, but sacrifices have to be made!). Good luck, Mike Koblic, Campbell River, BC --__--__-- Message: 9 From: "bill m" To: Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 20:06:23 -0800 Subject: [Eskrima] Minn Kali Seminar Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net I'll be teaching a seminar at the Minnesota Kali Academy next weekend. Here is the info: NOV. 16-17 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Curriculum: Walking Stick, Hand vs. Knife Levels 1 & 2, Knife vs. Knife Levels 1, 2 & 3 The class will be divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Contact: Mr. Rick Faye Email: mnkali@aol.com Web site: http://www.mnkali.com/ If any digest members attend, please come up and introduce yourself so I can put a face to a name. Regards, Tuhon Bill McGrath Email: tuhonbill@pekiti-tirsia.com PTI website: http://www.pekiti-tirsia.com/ --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Eskrima mailing list Eskrima@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima http://eskrima-fma.net Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember 9-11! End of Eskrima Digest