MyFMA.net member Doug Marcaida is on a History Channel cable show regarding bladesmithing called, "Forged In Fire." I highly recommend you watch this show. My brother is busy taping all of them!!!Doug Marcaida

The Filipino martial arts community lost one of its most colorful and beloved leaders last night in the person of Grandmaster Warlito “Lito” Concepcion, affectionately nicknamed “Datu Puti” (because of his gray hair) by many of his friends.

 

With immediate family by his bedside, he quietly and serenely passed away, having accomplished everything he wanted to do in this life.

 

A memorial and “celebration” of Kuya Lito’s life will be held in the Greater San…

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Panantukan ("Dirty Boxing") is the empty handed boxing component of Filipino Martial Arts. Many of the techniques and movements are derived from Eskrima/Kali (Filipino blade and stick fighting). The art primarily consists of upper-body striking techniques such as punches, elbows, head-butts, shoulder strikes, and groin punches, but it also includes low-line kicks and knee strikes to the legs, shins, and groin. Some camps choose to group this kicking aspect into the art of Pananjakman, which… Continue

It’s been almost six months since I cutover from PMAA (Philippine Martial Arts Academy) to PMAA (Pamanang Mandirigma Arnis Academy). It is time to recognize the progress the students have made. It is usually done via rank promotions but with this new academy, I want to deemphasize rank and emphasize virtue. So I wrote my thoughts down and am posting it here for feedback, both good and bad, and for advice, hopefully all good. (smile) Thank you in advance.

 

We begin a journey…

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Like the ancient warriors of the Philippines who smeared the tips of their arrows, spears or blades with deadly poision, the KOMBOKAN is happy to share techniques that could come in handy in case of attack. I call this the Labuyo or "Bird's Eye Chilli".

This simple technique employs the crushing of dried or fresh labuyo in the fingers and hands and as soon as the…

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Many of the knife defence techniques I have seen are disarming methods. Some are simple and practical and others are fancy. Though theoretically they may work in some situation, but what is important is to teach the students to judge carefully which comes first: Disarm, Strike or Take-Down? But honestly, if I have all the chance to run away I'd do it :-)…

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