When I took classes in Karate and Tae Kwon Do, there was a sense of consistency which is a good thing. Most basic classes consisted of warm ups, stretching, basic punches, basic kicks, one stop sparring, sparring, kate, and calisthenics. It can be both addicting and boring. Most classes are identical in content. Some of the notable instructors I have had in Filipino Martial Arts seem to approach the material a little different. There seems to be more variety. Alot of Flow. Alot of content. And in my opinion, less boring. The way I have approached teaching classes in Defensor Method of Filipino-Indonesian Martial Arts lately has been slightly different than the typical Karate or Tae Kwon Do class. I have included below a few dates with the synopsis of the last few classes I have taught. Although consistency is a very good thing, variety is still the spice of life. I have gotten good reviews from most students when learning FMA with this variety approach. Even in conducting seminars to other locations and schools thru the years, the mixed bag content has resulted in good feedback from many practitioners and seminar attendees.

Below are the recent synopsis of classes recently taught in the Chicagoland Area.

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Hello DM Nation,

Hope this finds you in good health, great spirits, and fine company. This year should be your year to do more FMA or more training period. Come on out and support our Chicagoland classes and seminars. This sunday we have a scheduled Serrada III seminar. Should be a good one. Anyone coming to this? Let me know.

Class Synopsis for Tuesday 1/19/2010:

*sapu bob warmups, shadow boxing, sikaran, panatukan, Kali triangles

*six count

*stick dummy w/ double stick and empty hand

*espada y daga 4 count, six count/4 count combo w/ prefix

*DM eskala counters plus other counters like hit/cover/hit, witik/labtik/witik, combo/hybrid Eskala counters explained and practiced solo

*eskala counters: inside sweep vs angle 1 with 3 beat eskala counters w/ partner

*hubad lubad solo baston into disarms

*counter-recounter single stick disarms: snake vs snake, vine vs snake, strip vs strip

*JKD Concepts trapping

-pak sao left and right sides

-double pak sao

-paksao, bongsao, lopsao, guachoi, and chut chun choy

-paksao, punch left hand, re-paksao

*focus mitts: j/c/h and c/h/c 3 short rounds

*chut chun choy 1.5 minutes 3 short rounds

*thai pads: foot jab left, right double kick, foot jab ritght, left double kick 3 short rounds

-20 cut kicks left and right side 3 times

BOWED OUT/Shake Hands/Collect payments/Goodbyes!

In attendance: eric meyer, james shea, sapu bob, jess santiago, mike, newbie mark?, and Teddy the Wheaten Cairn Terrier.

Called in Sick: Adelle CJ, and Joy de Jarden and Thomas Ivers

Car Trouble: Jason Brigham

The rest of the studentry, maybe Laziness, Cabin Fever or bunch of Honey Do's?

Eats: none, just chips and Sapporo Beer Reserve at the fmapulse office I got from a 24 hr CVS.

Interesting Tidbit: per Mike Q., you Google in Chicago Area the word "Eskrima" and Defensor Method comes up as number 2 and number 3. Number one is Wikipedia. Folks, some companies pay good money to get this google ranking. DM is doing good in the world of search engines. How is it in Virginia, Dale. or in Indiana or DC? Any feedback? What comes up when u type Eskrima with a K?

Marangal Na Guro Nate Defensor
Defensor Method of Filipino Martial Arts

Filipino Kali-Escrima Academy of Chicago

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Hoping this finds you in good health and great spirits!

Class Synopsis for Friday 1/15/2010:

*single stick warms ups: v-cuts, figure 8s, switches, twirls w/ payong and kicks (tadjak, libot, sikod, dongab, tuhod)

*largo mano counters to angle 1

*de cuerdas counters to angle 1

*serrada inside sweep to angle 1

-disarms using same

-takedowns using same

*empty hand vs stick counter to angle 1 into takedowns

-same configuration into submissions: figure 4 w/ Norht-South position

-figure 4 w/ frog mount N./S.

*stick dumog off angle one w/ harimau knee maneuver

*puter kapala off jab/cross combo

*songab into arm drag w/ hair pulldown

*reverse reverse with wrist lock combos

*mitt drills off backfist attack countered w/ hampak/ordabis into c/u/c

*mitt drill off jab into sampal backhand/cross/straight

Covered styles: PTK, serrada, harimau, buno, dumog, panatukan, sikaran, Wing Chun, Cadena de Mano, Jalur Putih.

In attendance: Adelle Canares-Jackson, Jessie Santiago, Matt from Extreme, Toto new Pinoy, Raul Sese, Randy, newbie, Tommy from Bahala Na, one more I forgot!

Eats: Thai food in Devon Ave. East of Extreme
(i think the next one after Everyday Thai) good tom yum kum, panang chciken, sticky rice, and egg roll. They serve 'em HOT!!!

After Eats Treat: Jessie, Tommy, Adelle and I went to AMC Theatres in Western and Diversey to watch "Book of Eli":, great FMA choreograpny by Jeff Imada and Dan Inosanto making Denzel look like the Eskrimador Version of Zatoichi, The Blind Swordsman in a surrealistic End of The Earth Setting w/ a twist of Taith and Religion. Good for the Soul. You get a dose of reality, depression, drama, good acting, Martial Arts Kali/Escrima Action, and some spiritual experience via film. Big screen, it is worht the price of the ticket!

Upcoming Seminar: Sunday Jan. 24trh at the Maya Essence - Serrada Counters and Drills Part III, I posted it on Craigslist below.

Peace,
Mahaguro Nate Defensor
guronate@sbcglobal.net

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Greetings and A Happy New Year To All!

2009 Was a good year for Martial Arts. We would like to welcome 2010 with a big bang and make it a good year for Defensor Method Practitioners & Instructors.

Hope this email finds you in good health and great spirits!

Filipino Kali Eskrima Academy of Chicago Happenings last year entailed -
In 2009 :
*We've had several seminars and one retreat
*spread more DM to Mexico
*launched DM Lessons online with fmapulse.com (Mike Querubin and Romy Maguigad and Jessie Santiago)
*completed 15 DVD's for viewing consumption & for sale at the defensormethod.com webpage
*seminars & appearnaces with guest instructors: Bapak Willem de Thouars, Gat Puno Abon Baet, Magtutudlo Ramon Rubia, Guro Eugene Nepanque, Guro Steve Fristoe, & Phil Cabreros
*some DM members joined us in Katipunan 2009 at Miami, FL
*launched facebook page, myspace page, and have a presence with myfma.net and silat.tv
*touched base with Washington DC DM practitioners, expanded to 12 and groving
*Su Wang sticks and knife trainers made available and now on fmapulse.com
*contributed blogs to fmapulse.com, facebook, and myfma.net
*new DM apparel created
*opened classes at the Rumble Arts Center spearheaded by Chris Dino
*conducted seminars at Elgin, IL
*gave Demos at Skokie Festival of Cultures, Bagwis Gigs, & The Crobar
*Celebrated our 1 year anniversary with Maya Essence
*AZ Combatives and DM Practitioner Dan Nowak launcned "Tuffwriter Pen Knife" (http://azcombatives.com/vids.html)
*held classes at Gill Park, Clarendon Park, Rooftop of 1030 W. North, and Montrose/Clarendon Building
*conducted Level I, II, and III tests in Chicago and Mexico (thanks to Guro Jason Brigham and Demetrio Ruiz)
etc...etc...etc...

In 2010: "Skais Da Limit!"
*so far, one Level 1A test, two tuesday classes, one friday class, one proud DM Grandma, one January seminar scheduled, one planned in February 21st joint seminar with Garuda Studios, a May seminar planned, and a partridge in a pear tree!!!

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Class Synopsis for 1/12/2010 Tuesday at the Maya Essence:
*warm ups: footwork, clockwise/counterclkwise forehand/bakchand six

*four count with switches

*spinning 8 count

*Hip six
*upward six, downward sic, sungkite six, florite six

*sumbrada palooza (6 beat) six combos

*moro moro double stick batalya #1, 2, and 3

*hubad lubad empty hands (5 variations)

1)siko, 2)songab, 3)tuhod, 4)tuhod/siko combo,

5) tadjak

*hubad lubad switch

*panatukan/sikaran combos solo training

in attendance: jason brigham, sapu bob, james shea, eric meyer, tasso ketsios, adelle canares-jackson, mark agakhan, newbie (Inayan/Bahala Na guy from Sacramento).

Peace,
Marangal Na Guro Nate Defensor
Defensor Method of Filipino-Indonesian Martial Arts
Filipino Kali-Eskrima Academy of Chicago