FMA CORNER: Blade Against Beasts

Perhaps the reason why blade fighting evolved into a very high science in the Philippines is that the ancient Filipinos rarely allowed their knives and spears to be dormant – if they were not fighting other men, they were fighting wild beasts in the jungles. Besides being formidable warriors, the pre-colonial Filipinos were also skilled hunters. They certainly discovered that whatever can kill a wild beast can also easily kill a man.
FEATURED INSTRUCTOR: Grandmaster Narrie Babao of Babao Arnis

This month's featured instructor is Grandmaster Narrie Babao of Babao Arnis. Listen now as we talk with Grandmaster Babao about his system of FMA, being the first stick fighting champion in the US, how he came to meet Dan Inosanto and with Richard Bustillo and Ted Lucaylucay, first introduced FMA to the San Diego area and much more.
FMA DIGEST: Volume 7 No. 3 Now Available for Download!

This issue begins with Guro Jovelyn Minoza of LAHUKA Eskrima who resides in Hohenlimburg, Germany she started training in 1980 and has come a long way. The FMAdigest tried to get an article on her a couple years ago but was unable to contact her, however luckily Marc Lawrence came in contact with her and was able to obtain this article which you should find interesting.
Babao Arnis GM Narrie Babao

Video of Grandmaster Narrie Babao doing an Eskrima demo at the Balboa Park in San Diego.
Next steps for arnis

The coming change in government will also usher in the changes needed for the country’s new national sport. Though the arnis law clearly makes it the official sport and martial art of the Philippines, guidelines for its implementation are still being crafted. There is a lot of good news and reason to be optimistic.
SGM Cacoy Canete seminar report for Adelaide lesson!

This was one of the most unforgettable martial arts seminars in memory, and everyone enjoyed it here in Adelaide, when Grandmaster Vince Palumbo from International Combative Martial Arts Academy in Welland of South Australia brought out Supreme Grandmaster Ciriaco ‘Cacoy’ Canete of the world famous Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima Club from Cebu City of the Philippines to conduct an Eskrima seminar on Friday the 30th April, 2010 at the Dom Kopernika Polish Centre in Athol Park.
RP national sport arnis featured in Israel event

The Philippine native martial arts "arnis" was showcased anew in the recent 12th Commandment of Steel in Israel last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Teaching fighting arts to create new teachers

Louelle Lledo teaches fighting arts based on his experience as a martial arts student and instructor in the Philippines. Although the skills he teaches are potentially fatal if used outside the classroom, he does so for strictly nonviolent purposes.

 
Many Filipinos think it’s too old-fashioned

Senator Miguel Zubiri hopes that the existence of the Arnis Law will change the way Arnis is perceived by many Filipinos. “When some of my friends learn that I’m into arnis, they think I was indulging in something unfashionable,” he revealed.