what led to ur training in fma

[sooner_sadiq]

hello everyone,
i was just wondering how you guys got involved with the fma. seeing how it is not as popular as the karate/tkd i am just curious what about this style appealed to you guys. for me i found a great instructor who was willing to help me become better and has always treated me well. it was not my first system to study but i feel it suits me better than my previous systems. i would just like to hear how everyone else got involved.
thanks in advance for any replies.

[DragonMind]

Always been interested in blade work. I noticed a lot of the top blade guys had FMA backgrounds. When a local school had a seminar with Bruce Chiu doing bladework, I went and got hooked. He also did some stick work to show the relationship between the two. Now I'm working under Dan Anderson to take me to the next level in my FMA training. Dan also turned me onto Bram Frank and that has really improved my blade work. The FMA has shown me the difference between "weapons defenses" as taught by empty-hand styles and real weapons work. 90% of the "defenses" I've been taught in Hapkido, TKD, etc. would never actually work against a trained weapons fighter. I hope they never get attacked by one, it will be messy.

[stella fuentes]

I had to learn some fma by nescessity. Just to avoid getting hit by someone who likes to practice. :) I know I should not take exposure to it and training in it for granted, since I am here, but I'm still working on being good at something else as well. So it is an on again off again thing for me for now.

[Webmaster]

My exposure, although limited, was like Stella's. I lived there! So you just naturally did it. My Karate Sensei enjoyed doing it to add a little different dimension to our training and it was kinda fun. Not to mention, first time you get whacked with one of those sticks and you remember that they are suppose to be blades, it sorta wakes you up!

[DragonMind]

Stella, I would think it would fit in perfectly with your aikido. Blade guys are all about proper body positioning and biomechanics. Look for people who do a lot of bolo work (Roland Dantes or Ernesto Presas for example). You'll also see a lot of the balintawak folks in your area but they are baston focused.

[stella fuentes]

:D Yes, it is very interesting how it all blends in with aikido, Barry. That is why I am still hanging in there. :laugh: despite the hard knocks. There's about 2 or 3 people I have worked with who are really good. Thank you Barry :) .

[beungood]

After having been in Hapkido for years and while in the Police Academy we were shown the film "Survivng edged weapons in Law Enforcement" which featured Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje' Of Pekiti -Tirsia and also Dan Inosanto I watched with chills running down my spine as they slowed the film down so we actually see Tuhon Leo work the blade. I thought of what it would be like to defend against that and thought that style would more fit my needs. Several years later I met Guro William Shultz of RI who is one of Tuhon Leo's Pekiti guys (among other FMA and Muay Thai /Krabi Krabong) and met to train with him. After that one training day I was hooked as he and the FMA opened up my mind on a different way to move and train. After meeting Tuhon Leo and his instrucotrs and thier gnerosity I have found a new way of life!

[DatuSadiq]

I was fortunate in that my Ju Jitsu lineage is very different.
Professor Florendo Visitacion (Prof. Vee) was Filipino and had been learning FMA since his childhood. Once he left the Philipinnes and went to Hawaii and to California, he continued learning FMA through various sources. Once he moved to the East Coast, he formulated his first system which was never meant to be called Ju Jutsu, he used the Jitsu to state that it was his method. Regardless, Vee jitsu became known as a Ju Jutsu type system not a FMA. Later he began training more in other Arnis forms like with mat Marinas and gained actual instructor levels with him, also Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje awarded him the title of Datu, then he began implementing more Kuntao and Arnis into his system and it became known as Vee Arnis Jitsu. Dr. Moses Powell and Grandmaster Lil John Davis both know significant amounts of Arnis through Professor Vee. Since day one, I learned both the empty hand and weapon aspects of Arnis through them. Again, they are not known for their Arnis, because their Ju Jutsu was so impressive, but you can notice a significant FMA influence in their movements.

[jabonn]

I was reading an arts/entertainment weekly newspaper and in the back was an ad about Arnis lessons. I wrote the guy and he had a small get together to learn the style and I was the only one that showed up. So for an hour we talked M.A. and he showed me a few things within Modern Arnis. Now I show up twice a week and get private lessons for $75.00 a month.

[Bryan O'Rourke]

I had gone to a lot of hte traditional schools in town and wanted something different. I was referred to Terry Gibson by Mark Mercer (another KS that is a champion fighter) and Dale 'Apollo' Cook (5 time kickboxing champ).

Dale said if you want to learn to fight in the ring, come to me - if you want to learn to fight on the street, go to Terry...

One of the best things I've ever done in my life.

Robbie - you're lucky to have Datu Sadiq there!

[John J]

For me it was simple, it seemed only fitting that I try the fighting arts from my culture. Plus, my father briefed me on Arnis de Mano. I am now more proud than ever to be Pinoy and share a combat tested art full of history & culture.

Yours in the Arts,

John G. Jacobo
www.swacom.com

[Keegs]

I took a class at the local community college. I really liked the style and the teacher so I signed up. I have about 3 months under my belt in Kali from the community college class and am just starting out at their school.

I'm really impressed with the flow and the simplicity of the manuevers.

[Jesh]

I was always interested in weapon/based styles... so when I went out to find myself a new school, I had the luck that my Sensei also did Eskrima. When I first saw it, I fell in love...

[Rich Parsons]

hello everyone,
i was just wondering how you guys got involved with the fma. seeing how it is not as popular as the karate/tkd i am just curious what about this style appealed to you guys. for me i found a great instructor who was willing to help me become better and has always treated me well. it was not my first system to study but i feel it suits me better than my previous systems. i would just like to hear how everyone else got involved.
thanks in advance for any replies.

A friend introduced me to Modern Arnis, and now it is 20+ years later and I still am into FMA's and love it. It is the only art I have formally studied. Ihave worked out with those from other arts and different cultures and find it fun and interesting.