Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast

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

“Yes! The rhythm! The Rebel!” – Public Enemy I started listening to Sifu Dwight Woods years before his podcasts, “The I Love Jeet Kune Do Broadcast“, “The Jeet Kune Do Dialogues” and “The FMA Files“. I started watching Sifu Dwight on YouTube back in the day, intently listening to his clips from his classes, talking … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 28: Sifu Dwight Woods – The Rebel

I see it in footage today, just as I saw it in person back then. But I cannot explain it. “It must be his position” I thought. “Or maybe the angles.” In the hot, and very humid Florida sun, we stood around Gat Puno Abon Baet at he easily touched his opponent’s head with his … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 27: Gat Puno Abundio Baet – The Chief

“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

We all leaned forward, on the edges of our seats. As the Stormtroopers surrounded her, she sat still, forging tools in hand. One prodded her helmet with his blaster. Suddenly she sprung up, alive in action, her hammer and tongs whirling and smashing and crushing. We all shrieked in exhilaration! My daughter next to me … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 25: Lauren Mary Kim – The Stunt Woman

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

Sometime during my college years, I came across a book that truly captivated me and significantly influenced my views on Filipino Martial Arts. That book was “Filipino Martial Culture” by Mark V. Wiley. Growing up, I loved going to bookstores and my local mall had at least two or three. I would scourge the graphic … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 23: Dr. Mark Wiley – The Through Line

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 always shared with us that it was the martial artists, the warriors who protected the culture. He once commented that any culture that exists today, only exists because there were warriors there to preserve it. And as long as I have known about Filipino Martial Arts, I knew that somewhere in that culture … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 21: Jay Enage – The Script

In our method of Kali as taught by Guro Inosanto, we learn that our term comes from the words “kamut” (hand) and “lihok” (motion, or movement) and so Guro explains that our art is one of hand movements; of body motion. Guro Ramon Rubia used to always say that “the truth is in the movement”, … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 20: Guro Jay Jasper Pugao – The Movement

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

I remember reading many years ago, an article on Filipino culture. It wasn’t Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) per se, but it had to do with the cultural personality of Filipinos. And I clearly remember it discussing the Filipino’s love of, and communion with nature. The Philippine motto is Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa (translated as … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 18: Lyn Pacificar – The Albularya

There is in martial art the romantic image of the healer warrior. We imagine the deadly master who can heal his students, or the lone warrior who can save lives as well as protect them. It is a theme that exists through story, across culture. We see it in Mr. Miyagi and in Jason Bourne. … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 17: Manursuro Virgil Mayor Apostol – The Manghihilot

I knew of Bob Burgee before I knew Bob Burgee. More accurately, I knew about Edges2 and trainingblades.com before I met the Guro Bob himself. His were, and still are some of the best training blades ever produced. Alongside the Sayoc Tactical line of trainers, the Official Vital Template series had the signature red cord … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 16: Bob Burgee – The Grind

Magtutudlo (Cebuano). Teacher. Instructor. Coach. Mentor. When I left the Patalinghug Family in Maryland to move to Los Angeles, the first Doce Pares instructor I got in touch with was Guro (Magtutudlo) Ramon Rubia. He was my first and only Doce Pares Eskrima teacher in California, as well as a major influence in my understanding … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 15: Magtutudlo Ramon Rubia – The Researcher

Here is Part 2 of my interview with Sifu Tim! There was still more I wanted to talk about and ask him, so after training concluded the next day we sat outside and caught up some more. One of the things I admire so much about Sifu is his authentic sense of loyalty and dedication. … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 14: Sifu Tim Becherer – The Student (Part 2)

I tried for the longest time to figure out a way to combine this interview, which was recorded in two parts, on different days in different locations into one. But one of the things I’ve always appreciated about this podcast was it’s off the cuff spontaneity, the candid energy of the moments recorded. So I’ve just … More Lakas Filipino Martial Arts Podcast Episode 12: Sifu Tim Becherer – The Student (Part 1)