I admired how articulate and precise his language was, not unlike the detailed illustrations that he painted inside of his school. I remember being particularly intrigued as he taught Sumbrada, discussing the difference between blocks and line closures, describing exigence and contingency. … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 30: Guro Mark Mikita – The Iconoclast
“How do you cast into the future as a possibility while honoring your past?” … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 29: Gura Rosie Abriam – The Gura
“Watch how he moves. Look at him.” I looked over my shoulder for a moment. “Did you see him?” I was partnered up with Guro Victor Gendrano for the evening Kali class at the Inosanto Academy. I was there for Instructor Camp, so the school was crowded with both students as well as visiting instructors … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 26: Professor Guy Chase – De Cadena
I could barely believe it. I was standing outside in the Southern California sun, looking up at the Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate sign at his original school in Pasadena. I was about to go inside and meet Tuhon Ray Dionaldo, the incredible Filipino Martial Artist that had captivated my attention over the last several months … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 24: Tuhon Ray Dionaldo – The Bridge
Guro Steve Grody is one of the pioneers in sharing JKD and Kali through video. He is the one that put Burton Richardson on, and propelled Mark Balluff to mega stardom. But what really set him apart at the time, and what is still immensely valuable to me was his emphasis on very specific components … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 22: Guro Steve Grody – The Flow
Guro Inosanto has said it countless times, “in order to understand the art, you have to understand the culture, and in order to understand the culture, you must understand the history.” I had the great privilege of being a resident student at the Inosanto Academy for almost 10 years, and in addition to the world … More Filipino Culture Through Guro Dan Inosanto
Indigenous. Native. Natural. Inherent to. Originating from. Characteristic of a particular country, region or people. Tuhon Apolo Ladra is all of these things. He is a bridge. A torch. He is a bridge from our ancient, indigenous Filipino culture to our modern American life. He is a torch passed from Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 19: Tuhon Apolo Ladra – The Indigenous
Tuhon Brian Calaustro is one of the select few to be awarded the rank of Tuhon in the Sayoc Kali system. He is the founder and head instructor of his Southern California school, Tribal Tactics and for the few years before leaving Los Angeles he was my primary Sayoc teacher. I say teacher, rather than … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 9: Tuhon Brian Calaustro – The Tactician
Over the last few years, I have been very inspired by the many excellent martial artists that have been promoting our arts for health. Guro Inosanto of course has been propagating this idea for a long time, and it is well known how much value Sigung Bruce Lee placed in health, dieting and conditioning. The … More Martial Mobility
I knew it was a Filipino blade the first time I saw it. It was both ancient and modern. Just a few years before, Tuhon Raf had shown his Sayoc Winkler RnD Hawk one night as we sat around the table with Pamana Tuhon. Again, amongst brothers it’s accomplice appeared. The first version I saw … More Sayoc Winkler RnD Bontoc Blade
