Besides the generic names of Arnis, Eskrima or Kali, the various Filipino fighting systems have one thing in common:
they all begin with weapons training.
The main reason for this is that - according to the Filipino mentality - nobody will ever fight empty handed
if there is a chance to use a weapon or any surrounding object as a weapon.
Another reason is that training with weapons will develop good conditioning, power and awareness
and the transition to empty hands will not be difficult.
In training there are various weapons used ( long, medium and short stick, knife, sword, flexible tools etc.),
but the Filipino Martial Arts are principle-based systems - principles that can be extended
from stick to umbrella or glass-bottle, from knife to pen or mobile phone.
Our menthors and trainers in FMA are:
Instructor Catalin ''Cat'' Necula, founder of London Arnis Group
and DOG BROTHERS GROUP LEADER for LONDON.
Under his guidance we study the DOG BROTHERS full-contact stick fighting system and the LAG knife fighting method.
and Instructor Bobby Dela Rosa ( Batangas - Philippines ) ,
from which I have learned the KALYE TODO Style - an explosive short-range stickfighting system.
We do not learn how to defend against weapons - this is utopic.
We learn how to efficiently use them in a fight.
MARAMING SALAMAT !