03-03-2011
01-10-2011
12-30-2010
11-20-2009
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03-06-2008
10-28-2007
09-19-2007
09-18-2007
07-15-2007
07-15-2007
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I remember reading an article in Inside Kung-Fu which purported to instruct the reader on how to discern what was a true FMA. It had to have, among other things, "hubud lubud" training, triangular footwork, no blocks - just hand smashes, etc etc. This was ludicrous and was pointed out by several FMA practitioners in the letters column some issues later... Given the variety of approaches existing in the FMA as a whole, it was unreasonable to expect that all FMAs used the same technques / methods used by the FMA of the article author. It would be like expecting all systems of Kung Fu to have chi sau (sticky hands training in Wing Chun) and wooden dummy and proclaiming that any Kung Fu system that didn't have this to be fake.
Misconception #3: The abbreviation for the Philippines is "P.I.".
This is a pre world war 2 abbreviation for the Philippines when it was still known as the "Philippine Islands". Most of the early Filipino migrants to the US would refer to the country as such. However, in 1946, the official name of the country became "Republic of the Philippines" and is thus abbreviated as "R.P." In the Internet age, the TLD of .PH has also become popular. P.I however has degraded into an abbreviation for "P***** Ina" which is a vile swear phrase in Filipino. Thus, I cringe whenenver some "dayuhan" refers to the Philippines as "P.I."
Misconception #4: Addressing your teacher as "Guro" and "ranks like "Tuhan", "Datu" and "Sultan" are normal and correct usage.
I spent the first 2 decades of my academic life in the Philippines and never once addressed my teacher as "Guro" (and I never addressed my female teachers as "Gura"). Also, Only the Muslim peoples in the south use titles such as Datu, Sultan and Rajah. I dread to think what they would do to someone who was not a member of their clan who they found to be using those titles..]]>
04-03-2007
10-16-2006
10-16-2006
10-13-2006
sankyo -> kotegaeshi -> iriminage.
Although complicated, the mudansha also enjoyed the henka waza. One of the mudansha I paired up with said he could really feel the flow of energy during the techniques.
I had a great time at the seminar and regretted that I could not be back the following day. I look forward to other seminars with Hiroaki Sensei. He's a great teacher, very fluent in English (no interpreter was needed) and tries to get everyone to be his uke, even the mudansha. He even goes so far to be uke while demonstrating the techniques, which is rather rare. I even got to be uke for him a few times.]]>
09-11-2006
08-11-2006