Friday, March 15, 2013

“Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann (September 26, 1872 – September 9, 1945)

3/15/2013 11:00:00 AM Poetry No comments

Max Ehrmann
Photo Credit: Wiki

Many of the warriors/martial artists of the past were not only masters of the MARTIAL arts, but also masters of the ARTS be it painting, calligraphy, music or even poetry. Check out Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata".

From Wiki:

Desiderata (Latin: "desired things") is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann. Largely unknown in the author's lifetime, the text became widely known after its use in a devotional, subsequently being found at Adlai Stevenson's deathbed in 1965, and after spoken-word recordings in 1971 and 1972.

Quote:

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Was that good or what?

If you missed the other entries in this series, please check out:

Enjoy!

"If—" by Rudyard Kipling (December 30, 1865 – January 18, 1936)

3/14/2013 11:00:00 AM Poetry, Stoicism No comments

Rudyard Kipling
Photo Credit: Wiki

Continuing with the concept that a Martial Artist should also embrace the "Arts" part of "Martial Artist", here is another poem to enjoy and inspire.

From Wiki:

"If—" is a poem written in 1895 by British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling. It was first published in the "Brother Square Toes" chapter of Rewards and Fairies, Kipling's 1910 collection of short stories and poems. Like William Ernest Henley's "Invictus", it is a memorable evocation of Victorian stoicism, self-control and the "stiff upper lip" that popular culture has made into a traditional British virtue. Its status is confirmed both by the number of parodies it has inspired, and by the widespread popularity it still enjoys amongst Britons. It is often voted Britain's favourite poem.

The poem was printed, framed and fixed to the wall in front of the study desk in the officer cadets cabins at the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune, India. The poem's lines, "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / and treat those two impostors just the same" is written on the wall of the Centre Court players' entrance at the British tennis tournament Wimbledon.

Quote:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a man, my son!

If you missed the other entries in this series, please check out:

Enjoy!

"The Man in the Arena" by Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 –January 6, 1919)

3/13/2013 10:57:00 AM Poetry, Quotes No comments

Citizenship in a Republic is the title of a speech given by the former President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris, France on April 23, 1910.

One notable passage on page seven of the 35-page speech is referred to as "The Man in the Arena":

Quote:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Someone who is heavily involved in a situation that requires courage, skill, or tenacity (as opposed to someone sitting on the sidelines and watching), is sometimes referred to as "the man in the arena."

The title – as the reference to "dust and sweat and blood" – echoes Spanish bullfighting and Roman gladiatorial combat.

Please check out these other posts on Poetry:

For more information, please check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship_in_a_Republic

"Invictus" by William Ernest Henley (1849–1903)

3/12/2013 11:00:00 AM Poetry, Stoicism No comments

My sincerest thanks to my friend Jimmy M. for posting this to his Facebook status the other night.The Martial Artists of days of yore were also creative with Music, Calligraphy, Art or even Poetry. I have no aptitude for Poetry, let alone Writing, but inspiring poems like this gets my creative juices flowing.

Photo Credit: Wiki

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus

At the age of 13, Henley contracted tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 17. Stoicism inspired him to write this poem. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53.

...

William Ernest Henley is known to most people by virtue of this single poem.

As mentioned previously, Henley was hospitalized for tuberculosis. One of his legs was amputated in order to save his life; it was said to be very painful. Immediately after the amputation, he received news that another operation would have to be done on his other leg. However, he decided to enlist the help of a different doctor named Joseph Lister. Under Lister's care he was able to keep his other leg by undergoing intensive surgery on his remaining foot. While recovering from this surgery in the infirmary, he was moved to write the words of Invictus. This period of his life, coupled with the reality of an impoverished childhood, plays a major role in the meaning behind the poem; it is also the prime reason for this poem's existence.

Is this powerful or what? Does it inspire you to try your hand at composing a poem? Enjoy!

Please check out these other posts on Poetry:

Master Ron Saturno Audio Interview (97 mins!)

3/11/2013 11:00:00 AM Filipino Martial Arts, Interview, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Youtube No comments

Master Ron Saturno Audio Interview (97 mins!)

Articles by Master Saturno:

Notes

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email: 5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone: 209-513-8027
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

Ron Saturno's Vidclips of Serrada Basics and Angles of Attack

3/10/2013 11:00:00 AM Angles of Attack, Basics, FMA, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Youtube 1 comment

Basics 1

Basics2

Angles of Attack

Articles by Master Saturno:

Notes

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email: 5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone: 209-513-8027
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

Ron Saturno - "Your fight is with time"

3/09/2013 11:00:00 AM Angel Cabales, Articles, Facebook, FMA, Ron Saturno, Serrada No comments

In one day with the proper instruction: I could lose 2 seconds off of my basic movements.
In 3 days of proper instruction I could lose another precious second.
In a year of proper instruction: I could lose another 0.5 second.
In twenty more years of proper instruction: I could lose another precious .05 seconds off of my basic movements.
In 50 more years of proper instruction: I couldn't lose or gain seconds: I'll be dead.

A lifetime spent chasing the information I get from that dreaded device. The metallic version of the ex-wife. The stop watch. A cruel collection of metal, gears, hands, buttons and dials. It waits for me even now: Calling to me and challenging me to go another round with me: Waiting with heartless efficiency. Not even knowing that there will come a time where my fingers will no longer be able to activate its mechanisms.

We will find ourselves slaves to the wicked taskmaster: Our stop watch. My stop watch is analog. Very old, very sturdy and a beloved memento of my chase for perfection. We are dealt a cruel hand in this life. Young and dumb, we waste our time chasing rainbows. Older, more grey and no less the wiser: We not only wonder where the time has gone, but realize that time will not wait, nor tarry for us. Time: She is a tickin'. We never really stop time, when we push the buttons. We just stop long enough to read a dial and sometimes smile.

It is with great humility and sometimes sorrow... that I now watch my younger brethren trying to attain the goals, my generation reached for. Many of my generation have already come and gone now. They slapped, crackled and popped. Hit, kicked, elbowed, kneed and head butted. All in the name of martial perfection. Some came closer to their goals than others. Some, gave up long ago. Some still wear their uniform with pride. They can no longer do the things that they could do even 5 years ago. Some can't walk, or even talk. They sit in chairs in a court yard most days and eventually get wheeled into a urine smelling building to be picked up and lay down to dream of better times. A time where people cared for them and they were not forgotten. They fought the good fight and now fade, as most men must do. Time will not stop for them, nor go backwards. It never has.

Your fight is with time. Time will eventually win. Time never tires, grows old, nor feels the pains which accompanies age. I am sitting here at my computer and wish that someone is listening.

Make every moment count. Go down you eventually will, but go down kicking.

Other articles by Master Saturno:

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. Photo Credit: Source pic - Master Ron Saturno.

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email: 5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone: 209-513-8027
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

Ron Saturno - The Secret to Surviving Fights

3/08/2013 11:00:00 AM Angel Cabales, Articles, Facebook, FMA, Ron Saturno, Serrada No comments

"Manong Angel, what is your secret to surviving fights?"

Angel Cabales took a slight pull on one of his endless cigarettes with its signature long, hanging ash and then answered, "I never hesitate."

I watched Angel Cabales smoke an endless chain of cigarettes. There was "always" a really long ash, at the end of his cigarettes. He could walk, talk. gesture and fight with this ash hanging off of the end of his cigarette and it would never break off and fall! Sitting here typing: I wonder if the ash, at the end of the cigarette, which was in his mouth, at the time I asked my question: Was attached to "the" cigarette, which gave him lung cancer.

No hesitation. This is the current military doctrine of the United States military. Should our country find the need to put our troops in harm's way: We go in country with overwhelming force and attempt to literally pound an enemy into submission, quickly and decisively. It works quite well for the U.S. military and obviously, worked quite well for Angel Cabales. Killing everything which moves in combat and letting God pick out the good ones from the bad ones, really does have a certain amount of survival value, but is this what I am teaching my students? I am not talking about indiscriminate killing, of course. But, what is the message I'm sending my students? Angel Cabales never taught this, but do I?

This all started while sitting down before an event with my girlfriend and we were eating a home made Mexican breakfast. She can't do the homemade tortilla thing, but does everything else very well. She may give me an honorary Mexican certificate. I love Mexican food so much. I don't know what we were talking about, but out of nowhere she said,

"No honey, all you talk about is killing when you teach. Kill this, kill that and exactly how to get it done, quickly and efficiently."

Wow! Me?,

"Yes you."

Really? Really.. I gave up! What the hell?

So? Am I a natural born killer, or did I acquire the taste? Are people with natural killing tendencies drawn to certain occupations? Navy Seals, Force Recon. Rangers, Green Beret, Para Rescue and even Martial Arts Instructors, as well? Are we constructed differently than other people? Is my life long fascination of "all" things martial, not a hobby at all: But a calling? Something had to keep me going for almost fifty years now. Was it because I was testing the envelope of killing efficiency? Until the conversation with my girlfriend over breakfast: I thought that I was just another Instructor. So a while back my girlfriend taped a training session in the living room, which my student and I were putting up on Youtube. Off camera: I was closely detailing to my student, a variety of ways to insure killing efficiency. Passing info to my student, which quite frankly, would have sounded lurid, to a casual listener. On the surface: I appear to be an average man. Not much of anything would give me away as anything other than quite normal. It appears that I was cut from the same cloth as my teacher. I do believe that there are men who are natural born killers. There are men who can be trained to fight efficiently. But, if we take a natural born killer and teach that man to kill efficiently: We can make a whole completely other type of animal. Most of the time these men may live a completely normal life. They are not Sociopaths. They are men who were born with a genetic propensity.

Which are you? It might be interesting to take a deep, hard and honest look into yourself.

Other articles by Master Saturno:

Ron Saturno - Freight Training! (Body Alignment & Power Transfer)

3/07/2013 11:00:00 AM Angel Cabales, Basics, Body Alignment, FMA, Power Transfer, Ron Saturno, Roof Block, Serrada No comments

Freight training! Yeah! Lets do a Serrada Escrima roof block! A Serrada Escrima roof block begins from a neutral position. The defender has both feet together and is calm and relaxed. The roof block is one of the basic responses to a number 1 strike. A number one strike is an overhand blow from his right, aimed at your left shoulder. It is an explosive block. More strike than block. It is a power block/strike. At its best, if we have "our" bodies in a proper position: We can come up and under the blow and immediately end a fight. Most people get a little sloppy under pressure and stand under the strike when blocking, squared with his opponent. This works too, but if we can bleed the power to "our" left, it's just a better way to do things. We bleed the power to our left, by slightly stepping in towards our opponents, right side. On other words, we just don't step into the blow: We step "in". When we catch the blow, with this body position: The power naturally bleeds toward his right and our left. Properly done: The block/strike anchors your opponents weight and tilts him up and to the side. He is temporarily frozen in limbo, without the ability to come back at you with a repeat blow...well, for a few important split seconds anyway. If we can take advantage of his temporary inability to defend him/herself: We look good and they look bad, because they've been had. Of course, if we caught their hand from underneath, so much the better.

Angel Cabales taught the basic roof block/strike as a bread and butter move. From the Serrada ready position, we can block "all" the overhead strikes. From this ready and locked position, we can also block horizontal strikes, with modified roof blocks. Twist the roof block to the side and it becomes a cross block for a number three angle strike. Leave the weapon in the ready position and we get a pass block, when we block blows from the number four angle. All we have to do is slightly twist our hands and bodies to block any blow! Angel Cabales was no fool. The ready and locked position of Serrada Escrima is the "cat stance" of Escrima. It is a superb defensive position, which is little understood and under appreciated. Basics again and again and again. You can take a student and teach him to defend against frighteningly fast blows, without teaching them formal Serrada Escrima. Just by teaching them the locked position. You just teach them to slightly twist their wrists and bodies to meet incoming blows. In a few months of training they can become very good. I'll let you in on a secret: You can block any blow from the ready position, when properly trained, easily and comfortably.

There is a theory which says that we can't exhibit real power unless we "pattern" a blow with the feet. Huh? If I were to strike you with my right arm: My best power would be developed, by pushing off of my left foot, if I were striking them with the left. Hit them with the earth! I stole this term from the great James Muro. If James hits you with the earth: You've really been hit. I know a lot of people will say: OK, so what? They'll say: I can push off of my right foot and knock the sh!t out of you with my right arm. Well, so can I. But, so what? We are freight training! Freight training, is where we align the rear foot, hip of the side we are hitting with, the elbow, shoulder and hand all in "one" direction, when we strike. All aligned like a freight train! But, in Serrada Escrima, we are pushing off of the opposite foot, when doing the roof block. In order to develop "real" power in the block: We "have" to turn in slightly, to swing the "right' hip into alignment with the block/strike! That is why we step slightly "in". Such a small thing, but such a huge difference in the power equation! This is a secret, which probably no one will listen to. With the body alignment we put ourselves in, we can immediately go directly to our opponent's neck and literally remove his head, easily and efficiently. In the motion to draw the weapon to our right side: We take the head in the motion. The depth of Angel Cabales was way too deep for me. This version of the roof block was always there: It just needed to be discovered in the basics. How did I get here? I really didn't want to get here? We cannot separate Serrada Escrima, from the reality of its true purpose. Serrada Escrima was designed as a simple, easy to learn, but highly effective martial art. Its simplicity is confused with being ineffective. It is more than highly effective. It is a martial art, which has cut out all of the bullshit. It is direct and to the point, and because simple and direct works in real life: Serrada works in real life. Find a good Instructor who will teach the proper basics. There is a lot to learn in the basics, but in Serrada all the basics align with all of the rest of the basics. Hope to see you around, signing off five by five.

Ron Saturno - Basics of Serrada

3/06/2013 11:00:00 AM Angel Cabales, Basics, FMA, Lock and Block, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Training No comments

"Manong, what is the secret to Serrada?"

Angel Cabales answered, "Basics and Lock and Block".

He then said that I would get more out of the lock and block than sparring and I really loved to spar. Most of his students were trained in angles 1 through 5 first, then introduced to lock and block, then sparring after a while longer. The basics of Serrada have very subtle secrets. Many people just simply follow the dictates of our Master and have never taken the time to decipher the wealth of knowledge contained within the basic techniques. I will say that teaching is one of the best ways to unlock the "many" secrets within the basics of Serrada. This is one of the reasons that I try to teach as much as possible. In teaching I have to be able to explain the whys of my system. I have learned as much teaching Serrada, than in many other ways.

One of the very subtle secrets of Serrada basics is that the body moves a little and the hands move little, when we block and both in unison. The body is slow in comparison to the hands. So we need hand assists to clear the path of the strike. If we don't get the body out of the way, we'll probably get hit. I can honestly say that in most instances, when someone really means to tag you hard: If we don't move our body out of the way, their blows will either get through, or, in some way, effects one or more of our bodies axis's, which either slows us down, or prevents an immediate counter strike to punish them for attempting to strike us. Not being there to get hit, has a lot going for it. "All" of the blocks in Serrada, use the combination of body movement in conjunction with the hands, as a basis of the system. I would love to use examples, but since many are not practitioners of Serrada, probably wouldn't understand the explanation, when they don't know the block. The beauty of it all, is that most martial systems emphasize body and/or specific target evasion in conjunction with the use of their hands, to prevent getting struck by an opponent.

Another interesting thing about Serrada basics is the "slow" pace of blocking practice. Angel Cabales wanted very slow and precise basic practice. The slowness I believe allowed his students to put every moment in the students muscle memory. If we move slowly, we can feel the different stresses the movements places upon the body. We can feel weight shifts. We can begin to coordinate our movements with our breathing. If we took the time to teach our bodies to feel every nuance of the basic movements, then speed comes relatively easily. If we are honest, we are practicing moving meditation and is one of the reasons I feel that Angel Cabales had near perfect timing.

Another interesting part of practicing basics, was starting from a neutral position. All basics begin from a feet together neutral position. It is a relaxed position. A position from which we must immediately go from 0 to 100 mph. We were being trained to expect, the unexpected. We weren't trained to be in a set and ready position, but from a position of neutrality. This is really important. Unexpectedly attacked is how most of us will get attacked, if and when we do ever get attacked. Most bastards freely use the element of surprise to get the job done. Usually we won't be ready, so we must practice to be able to get into high gear, as quickly as possible. The feet together neutral position sends us a really subtle message. Expect the unexpected and be ready to move into high gear immediately. We are a bladed system. 2nd place, is a place they visit you in the cemetery.

There is a lot more to basics that I could have touched upon. But, let me say this. I can see the movements of Serrada people and tell how much their Master emphasized basics. The slow and properly practiced movements of Serrada helps make very good martial artists. If I see sloppy Serrada people, it is usually because they tried to push too quickly, too fast. Quality really is in the proper practice of basics. Basics in the end is what saves you. A weak foundation is not the way to build a house or strong martial arts. Please kiss a loved one. Hug someone in need. Forgive a trespass. There is no promise of tomorrow: One of the reasons we practice martial arts. God Bless.

IN MEMORY OF: Angel Cabales Oct. 4, 1917 - Mar. 3, 1991

3/05/2013 09:54:00 PM Angel Cabales, Dan Inosanto, FMA, In Memory Of, Interview, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Youtube No comments

Photo Credit: http://escrimarnis.wikia.com

On March 3, 1991, the Filipino Martial Arts world, nay, the Martial Arts world lost one of the great masters. In memory of GM Angel Cabales, here are some vidclips and a picture of his grave marker.

GM Angel Cabales with Dan Inosanto

GM Angel Cabales Interview

GM Cabales in action

GM Cabales with Master Ron Saturno

Grave Marker of GM Angel Cabales

Photo Credit: Jethro Magat (Facebook)

RIP Grandmaster Angel Cabales

Ron Saturno - Basics in Defense

3/05/2013 11:00:00 AM Angel Cabales, Articles, Basics, Facebook, FMA, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Simplicity No comments

Imagine an inside block to an overhand #1 strike...under the "best" of conditions: If we step into the blow, we should have the rear foot out at our 4 o'clock, the lead right foot at a 10 o'clock position. We will have formed a 45 degree angle, to our opponent' weapon arm. In Serrada Escrima, the next blow is a direct shot under the opponent's weapon arm to his ribs, a follow-up uppercut underneath his arm, a roll-over to the top strike, to the top part of his arm. And then we re-set. The beat is one, two, three and four.

Why does the 2nd shot go to the ribs, when the blow still has real power? Because the blow should have been stopped! I get asked this all of the time. The basic inside block is for stopping a blow up close and personal. A worst case scenario. Dealing with lethal blows up close "is" worst case. If his blow goes through, than his next blow will most likely come from the other side. Our second beat, or, the strike to the ribs, becomes the immediate blow which catches his next incoming strike. If we stopped the blow: Our third shot, the under the arm shot, will then come up and under for an immediate disarm. If his shot goes through to his other side: His next blow will most likely be another #1 strike. Our roll-over will become another inside block! We will have made a circle of continuous responses to repetitive blows, from either side, or combination(s) This is the secret to Serrada Escrima. The basics were trained to get you ready to defend against at least three complete cycles, from any of the attack angles. Any of the basics can catch "any" three blows. This concept of defending against any three blows, has a lot of survival value. Basics prepare us for the terror of repeat hitting.

I don't know how many times Angel Cabales would call out to us to "work". He meant: "It Isn't over 'till its over". Even if we messed up: We were still expected to continue. You could see the frustration in his eyes when someone would stop in mid-stride, because they messed up! Contained with-in the basics of Serrada Escrima is a veritable treasure of combat experience. It's funny, but years later I still find little tid-bits of survival value in the basics. Sometimes I will wander far and wide seeking out answers and will in the end find the answers contained with-in the basics! I like to teach advanced Escrima. It challenges me. But, if pushed I'd come against you with the simplest of basics. Direct blows, done correctly and on time are rudely simple, but highly effective. Simple works! The KISS Method is alive and well in "my" garage and back-yard! Most of the fancy, although beautiful to watch, are fractions, or quarter beats, half beats longer than a simple and direct blow. The basics of Serrada Escrima are "all" simple and direct answers to full power direct and "follow-up" hits. At the highest level(s), we expect anything, but train to end the attack with-in three moves. What happens if the altercation continues? We continue until our opponent doesn't move any more. I know that this post may be a little hard to understand. But listen...lets make is very simple. Train to be able to stop strikes with your basic movements, from either side and in any combination. Sometimes what would be your follow-up strike turns into a block, or a pass and then we return to the striking mode to punish them for attempting to hurt us. Think of it: If I were trying to give you a No. 2 angle strike, it is very easy to turn into a sweep or roof block, depending on the timing of his blows. If we are early, its a sweep: If we are behind the curve, it becomes a roof block. Slight twist changes, but still the basic movements. We "work", we continue forward without hesitation. Well work is calling. O owe I owe so off to work I go. Have a great day everyone.

Ron Saturno - Basic Movement Theory

3/04/2013 11:00:00 AM Articles, Basics, Distance, Facebook, FMA, Movement, Ron Saturno, Serrada, Structure 2 comments

Let’s speak of the basic movement theory. Let’s take an orthodox stance. Left foot forward, rear foot back. If we go left, in this instance we move the left foot to the left first and then bring the right trailing foot over. If we were traveling forward, we would move the front foot forward and bring up the rear. Going back, we would move the rear foot back and then bring back the front foot. Exceedingly simple and direct. Now let’s put a stick in our hands and have a person come at us with an over-head blow (angle #1 strike). We would step out to the left and drag the rear foot as soon as possible. A very good example of the basic movement theory! Serrada Escrima obeys "all" laws: We are good martial arts citizens! We end up in what I call the "full" position. Our acquired position allows all of our weapons to be brought to bear fully upon our opponent. They will be placed in what I call the "half" position. We will have cut them in half! I don't know about you, but I'd rather deal with half a pissed off man, than a whole one. If we used the footwork along with judicious handwork, we will have done a lot to make sure that we go home to Mama. Mama may not even like us much anymore, but the b!tch will be stuck with us again anyway, cause we'll be coming home and wanting some. It is a cruel world, but she may someday take half, let her earn it, don't die by doing incorrect martial arts and let her get it all. Basics are the key!

Did we move our center, rather than bend to get closer to our opponent, to achieve a proper distance? If our distancing was still off....did we move our center closer, rather than lean again? We have three axis's in our body.

Goes straight from the top of our heads directly down and out the bottom of our lower bodies.
Is straight across from hip to hip.
Is just below the navel, going front to rear.

Imagine the three planes intersecting inside the body. That is our center! Let’s call it a "ball". We want to move the ball. We want to get on the ball! We don't want to fold, spindle, or mutilate it! We want to use the "ball' as our frame of reference, when we move. Outside number 1 Serrada Escrima, recognizes this reality and the good practitioners use it, even though they may not know of its existence.

Did we enter the fight with knowledge of Distance, Structure and Movement? The Big Three! If all three aren't in sync, we stink! Yah! You heard it here...you'll stink. If the Big Three were properly used: We're going to look really good!

Did we move our hands before our feet? Hope so...or you'll be slow, with no go! Are there exceptions? Of course. Sometimes we may want to kick a knee out, upon entering. Their knee, not ours. But, personally I throw hits and depending on which blow I threw, follow behind the hip rotation with a kick. If I throw a right blow and my right hip has rotated forward: I come behind it with a right kick. Basic, but it works well for me. Most of the time.

Did we watch their chests, rather than their hands? The hands are just too fast to watch! Well, other people’s hands anyway. There are some really fast people out there. But, if watch their chests: They can't do sh!t without giving their intentions away. Yes, it takes awhile to get the hang of, but chest watching can even be fun, depending upon the cup size.

Today was a very basic post. Most everyone can capably do most of the things I've listed. But, doing them all in unison and in a coordinated way, is quite another story. Great basics are the goal of any good martial artist. It is when our basics are extremely fine tuned that we see hyper-advanced martial arts being displayed. All we are really seeing is Basics being displayed without added anything! That person will have hacked, chopped, trimmed away everything non-essential. It just looks advanced: It is really superlative basics being performed. It doesn't look like what we do, because it's not: Its better. People trained by me get hammered until they got it right. I have trained a few seven days a week, four hours a day, to get it right. I've made a few monsters.

So hoping all is well with you and yours. The very best to you.

Site updates Jan 1, 2013 - Mar 4, 2013

3/04/2013 10:59:00 AM My Site No comments

FYI - various unannounced updates to the site from the beginning of the year up until today:

Added "The Wisdom of ..." to my Secondary Menubar which will be a page which gathers links to entries I posted of Wisdom from various sources.

Updated the following 2 entries because my former pichost deleted one of my pix and also the URL I had for another is now associated with someone else's pic of a car:

Started mirroring my old Archives site with the following:

The Jabbing File thread started by Rastus was posted 12/22/2008, but they say hindsight is 20/20... I should've backdated it to Dec 5, 2002 to accurately mirror my old site.

Hope these helps!

Bobbe Edmonds - Limb Destructions Vidclips

3/03/2013 11:00:00 AM Bobbe Edmonds, Gunting, Limb Destruction, Pangamut, Youtube No comments

Limb Destruction Series #1

First section of the Filipino Pangamot Limb Destruction/Gunting form in the Edmonds Martial Arts Academy.

Limb Destruction Series #2

Descriptive breakdown of the first section of the Filipino Pangamot Limb Destruction/Gunting form in the Edmonds Martial Arts Academy.

Split "S" Gunting, Elbow Clip Limb Destruction #1

First instruction on how to apply the elbow clip limb destruction using the Split "S" method.

Split "S" Gunting, Elbow Clip Limb Destruction #2

Second Clip detailing the use of the Split "S" and the elbow clip.

About Edmonds Martial Arts Academy

I am a teacher of Southeast Asian Martial Arts, and I teach advanced principles and techniques from Pencak Silat, Kali, Pangamot and Wing Chun. Most of the clips are filmed candidly during class, so it's not a rehearsed, professional setting.

This site is not for beginners.

NOTES

Photo Credit: Bobbe Edmonds

You can contact Bobbe Edmonds via Facebook or his blog Thick as Thieves and last but not least, please check out his YouTube Channel.

Read Pendekar Edmonds' articles:

Bobbe Edmonds - Mande Muda Vidclips

3/02/2013 11:00:00 AM Bobbe Edmonds, Mande Muda, Silat, Youtube No comments

Basic Mande Muda Technique

This is from the original Mande Muda curriculum.

Mande Muda Basic #2

This is a more broken apart explanation of the first Mande Muda technique.

Mande Muda Pechehan #1

Pechehan option of the takedown for the first Mande Muda video

Mande Muda Pechehan #2

Small armlock/break variation from the original takedown

About Edmonds Martial Arts Academy

I am a teacher of Southeast Asian Martial Arts, and I teach advanced principles and techniques from Pencak Silat, Kali, Pangamot and Wing Chun. Most of the clips are filmed candidly during class, so it's not a rehearsed, professional setting.

This site is not for beginners.

Bobbe Edmonds - Penchak Silat Lecture Vidclips

3/01/2013 11:00:00 AM Bobbe Edmonds, Silat, Youtube No comments

More Silat Lecture vidclips of Pendekar Bobbe Edmonds.

Penchak Silat Lectures

This segment deals with the 50-50 theory of power distribution and combat responsibility between your left and right hands.

This segment addresses tactile acuity over visual acuity, and is applicable to any Silat style.

Another Silat Lecture Vidclip series I posted:

Bobbe Edmonds - Pecut Pencak Silat Lecture Vidclips

About Edmonds Martial Arts Academy

I am a teacher of Southeast Asian Martial Arts, and I teach advanced principles and techniques from Pencak Silat, Kali, Pangamot and Wing Chun. Most of the clips are filmed candidly during class, so it's not a rehearsed, professional setting.

This site is not for beginners.

Site Under Construction

Slowly but surely I've implemented changes to the site's look and functionality. I'm sure you have noticed the changes. Ecstatic that I've finally been able to successfully update my site closer more in line with my vision of it.

Not sure if it will be the final look of the site or not, but the Sojourn of Septillion Steps with respect to the site's look has already taken quite a few steps beyond the first!

I will still be endeavoring to put up information I think will benefit your martial arts training as well as your self-defense. I sincerely thank you for visiting/reading!

I remain very truly yours in the martial arts and self-defense,

~Stickgrappler

Friday, March 15, 2013

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Friday, March 08, 2013

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Monday, March 04, 2013

Sunday, March 03, 2013

About Edmonds Martial Arts Academy

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Basic Mande Muda Technique

This is from the original Mande Muda curriculum.

Mande Muda Basic #2

This is a more broken apart explanation of the first Mande Muda technique.

Mande Muda Pechehan #1

Pechehan option of the takedown for the first Mande Muda video

Mande Muda Pechehan #2

Friday, March 01, 2013

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