How you approach your training can make a huge difference in the results you get from it. Two people can study the same art and end up with very different skills and results. Know what you want to get out of your training, then adjust your approach to it so that you will get what you want in a reasonable period of time. If you are simply training for fun, and don’t really have any serious goals associated with your training, then you don’t need to think about your training direction or progression very much. However, if you are primarily concerned about being effective with the Filipino Martial arts, then your training should be focused on application. When you are focused on application, all the exercises and drills you do should move you closer to being able to apply what you are learnin...

When learning martial arts, you will encounter all different kinds of training partners. Some are great, and others can be hard to work with. The truth of the matter is that you need a good training partner in order to grow. Without a good training partner, your growth will be very limited. If you want to find a good partner, you have to be someone who others want to train with. You can’t be the guy everyone avoids in class when it is time to pick a partner. This is usually the guy who goes too fast, doesn’t feed you right, and thinks he knows better than the instructor, so he tries to teach you his version of the technique. Don’t be like that guy. Follow the tips below to be a great training partner. To be a great training partner, you need to build trust with and show concern for your pa...

If training were simply a matter of doing the right drills and exercises, everyone would be a badass. But it’s not just physical, it’s mental. If your mind is not already strong, then consistantly following the steps it takes to reach your goals is hard. You find seemingly legitimate reasons to postpone, skip, or even give up on the actions you must take.  Most of us end up fighting our thoughts, and in doing so, sabotage our dreams. A closer look at what’s going on inside your mind will help you take action and learn to fight for your goals. The Resistance The world is out to kill you. No, you’re not paranoid. It’s true. You reach for high goals, but life fights unfairly. You were supposed to workout, but something came up at work. You want to train, but your shoulder is hurting agai...

In more than 20 years of teaching the Filipino Martial Arts, I have seen many students grow from a fresh beginner into a solid intermediate student, then a seasoned advanced student and some on to instructor ranks. Because of this experience, I have been able to observe several trends in the growth a student in the Filipino Martial Arts. I have seen students go through various stages of learning, develop habits that support growth, and navigate life’s obstacles along the way. Through this, I have been able to determine what key factors result in the long term success of my students. When I start training a new student, I try to set him up for success not just in the short term, but for things that he will need years later in his training. This article includes a list of tips related to tho...

While training, we are not only developing our physical skills. We are developing an intelligence that allows us to learn faster and accomplish more than others can do. To do this, we must always seek better methods of training and understanding that will maximize our time devoted. Understanding the nature and intent of our training methods and drills will help us do just that. Sometimes tradition gives us drills or exercises that are not fully explained to us. In some cases, the value or intent of those drills have been eroded by time. In other cases, our training is simply not complete, so the significance is not yet clear. Regardless of the situation, understanding the type of skills being developed will lead you to clarification and purpose when approaching your training sessions. Skil...