A week ago I had a great pleasure of being interviewed by guro Tom Edison Pena of the FMA Discussion crew. During the chat, besides an overview of my background and journey in the martial arts, we touched upon several training related subjects. It mostly presents my views about the role of the instructor(s) in conducting the training for the adequate results and with proper approach.
Some of you may be already familiar with some of the things stated here, but if you would prefer to watch and listen to me go on about various topics, check it out.
Here is a rough outline of the contents:
03.55 - Early beginnings and first steps in MA
14:00 - Physical attributes in technical development
22:05 - Starting RMA and learning perspectives
24:15 - Introduction proper to FMA
29:55 - Encounter with Lameco eskrima and doing long-distance learning
40:20 - Appreciating unpaid instruction
41:10 - Teaching as a learning tool
42:48 - Validity of training approaches
45:03 - Contextual functionalist
47:05 - Stint in MMA; on competition in general
53:30 - Role of luck
56:20 - Alex Zhelezniak and ACT system
57:40 - Teaching/Coaching methodologies
59:40 - Curriculum shortcomings
1:02:50 - Instructors vs Coaches
1:07:00 - Meeting Luis Preto and learning Jogo do Pau
1:11:15 - Tactics as a decision making process
1:12:15 - Mindset foundation for training
1:13:45 - Benefiting from Internet communication
1:18:00 - Importance of cultural and historical background
1:19:30 - Role of "flow" drills
1:23:45 - Forms pros and cons
1:30:50 - Differences between good athletes and coaches
1:33:05 - Sending students elsewhere for their sake or group sake
1:40:54 - Private vs group class
1:41:55 - Some recommended online FMA programs
1:47:54 - Importance of fundamentals and creative application
1:49:57 - Main requirements for teachers/instructors
1:51:35 - Need for education
1:55:40 - Craft before art
1:59:00 - FMA as a community?
Having done the interview, I believe there will be more articles on certain subjects mentioned, because as great as my host was, the boundaries of the format and flow of the conversation didn't necessarily get the fully fair insights into some of those.
It’s been a year since the pandemic forced most of
us to seriously look into different ways of doing things, training included.
The silver lining, however, is that it also made numerous instructors around
the world see the possibilities of using technology to reach potential students
in remote places, thus creating great opportunity for both instructors and
students.
I didn’t think twice about jumping on such
opportunity to join the 4-week course conducted by Celestino “Tinni” Macachor,
the founder of the Filipino stick fighting system called Estokada De Campo. I
first became aware of him back in 2007 when he co-authored the book titles
Cebuano Eskrima: Beyond the Myth, which caused considerable turmoil with the
FMA community for its factual approach to dispelling many of the myths and tall
tales that were being perpetuated almost as sacred texts over decades.
I am not going to review the book here (although, if
you are an adept of arnis or eskrima, this should be on your list of
mandatory literature), but his writing style appealed to me, and it is also
reflected in his conversational style – open, honest, and straightforward to
the point of bluntness; great sense of humor and a healthy dose of humility…the
exact right recipe to my liking.
Interestingly enough, mang Tinni’s original martial
discipline was (and still is) practical pistol-craft of the IPSC orientation,
but he took eskrima in the late 1980’s, studying in the Eskrima De Campo school
under revered professor Ireneo Olavides, the heir to legendary grandmaster Jose
Caballero, and currently the head of his own organization EDC JDC-IO. Although
having been in the council of elders within that organization, mang Tinni (the
way he prefers to be addressed) decided to step away so that the dislike and
venomous comments that he attracted following the publishing of the
aforementioned book wouldn’t affect the circle of brethren in JDC-IO.
Instead, he went into recluse for a decade, teaching
only selected private students, and then in 2018 launchedhis own interpretation of combative stick
training methodology, which he named Estokada De Campo (EDC for short).
Macachor’s training and teaching philosophy based on
the functional athletic approach, meant to develop skills that work under the
pressure of sparring against resisting opponents. If you are acquainted with my
earlier blog materials, it won’t come as a surprise that I like it.
For the purposes of the online course (with limited
attendance of 10 students from Europe, USA and the Philippines) mang Tinni put
together a streamlined curriculum, very well thought out – in a logical,
sequential manner, so that each block of instruction leads students smoothly to
the next. This provides for the better understanding and faster assimilation of
the material, i.e. its functional application.
Mang Tinni in action
Specifically, the first week covered the
fundamentals of mechanical efficiency regarding the grip on the stick and
execution of basic strikes, which were then put together into several combos
(called BOSS – basic offensive strike series) done from the closed and open
guard positions; the second block of instruction was dedicated to a different
tactical application of striking angles (cirkulo);
the third segment focused on one of the hallmarks of the system – kadlit; while the final session
presented further methods of doble golpes
and Caballero enganyo.
The format of instruction was such that man Tinni
taught during weekly Zoom sessions, and over the following week the
participants would film themselves performing the material, to be analyzed and
corrected within a private discussion group on Facebook. I liked this setting
for several reasons: it gave enough time to the instructor to really explain
and demonstrate in detail the material planned for the given lesson, as well as
to answer any potential questions in real time, while he was able to
subsequently pay close attention to each individual student for coaching tips
and correction. Also, it means all the participants were able to learn from
each other’s examples, as it would be the case in a live setting.
Photo: courtesy of Celestino Macachor
The instructional sessions were conducted with attention
to detail and ample examples and parallels with othertypes of activities, in order to better
depict the desired effect. In line with his honest nature, mang Tinni never
missed the chance to give credit where it is due, i.e. mentioning the people
who taught him what he knew or had contributed to his understanding of the art.
On top of that, since none of the students in this particular batch were
beginners, he also repeatedly praised our previous instructors for having
instilled certain good habits and attitude. As a side note, it was fairly
impressive to see a gentleman of his age perform the way he did.
Finally, the mark of a true teacher, Macachor
repeatedly noted that the point of training is not to mimic his exact way of
movement, but rather to make the material your own by refining it through
training and testing, so that it would be effective for the end user. This
focus on prioritizing individual students over general curriculum is what will
lead to favorable outcome.
In the case of EDC, after this module of
instruction, in mang Tinni’s words: “It will not make you unbeatable, but you
will be able to competently hold your own in a stick fight”. And let me tell
you - you can take his word for it!
On a side note, I would like to extend my gratitude
to Mr. Steve Del Castillo of the Bunal
Brand, who ably provided the logistics for the whole program, and whom you
may contact to join the next batch of students, starting on April 9.
The
issue of weapons training can be contentious issue from various aspects, be it
the choice of tools (firearms circles seem to be ridiculous with constant
bickering over the best caliber, makes, models etc.), or relevance of some of
those tools nowadays (like, does it make sense practicing fencing). As always,
my approach is contextual – the legislation here is very prohibitive of
firearms, so I focus on the “weapons” that require the least legal hassle, in
terms of owning and carry, and most carryover in terms of training being
applicable to various improvised weapons. So, in the end, it means impact and
edged weapons.
It
is a widespread belief that some of the best methods of use of such implements
can be found among the exponents of Filipino martial arts (FMA). While I have
found out that there are other approaches that are just as valid, while of
different geographical origins, it is definitely true that some of the arnis
and eskrima systems (oh, all right…and kali, too) have a lot to offer in this
regard. That said, although I have trained in various methodologies, my
foundation for weapons handling is the Astig Lameco system of
eskrima.
If
you run even a cursory research on Lameco, you will find that it is formulated
on the founder Edgar Sulite’s background in several traditional Filipino
systems, five of them being main influences. Through my own training in the
system, two of those have had most appeal to me, one for the blade training –
Kalis Ilustrisimo; the other for its impact weaponry training – Eskrima De
Campo 1-2-3 Original. It is the latter that is the subject of this article.
Eskrima
De Campo 1-2-3 Original was founded by the legendary eskrimador Jose Caballero,
and the system is renowned for its highly functional, hard-hitting approach to
stick fighting, with no fancy maneuvers, but rather well organized training
method of proven and effective techniques and tactics, honed through diligent
practice. If you belong to the category of practitioners who seek a highly
functional set of tools that you can confidently apply (naturally, after having
invested proper effort and hours in training – no magic bullets here), you will
feel right at home with this approach.
Due
to Caballero’s reluctance to teach his art openly, the system never got the
recognition it deserves, and only started slowly spreading in the West over the
last decade or so. I was among those that felt frustrated with the lack of
relevant sources of instruction, because the bits and pieces I was able to get
from my Lameco instructors were very enticing. However, the advent of modern
technologies has finally come to the rescue!
Today,
the head of the school is Jose Caballero’s grandson Jomalin, who lives and
teaches out of Ibo, Toledo City in the Philippines, i.e. the same home where
his grandfather taught his handful of students. Owing to the great enthusiasm
and tech-savvy of one of the modern day students, guro Paolo Pagaling, maestro
Caballero has filmed the entire curriculum as the series of well-produced lessons,
which is now available through the website decampo123.org
The
technical material is demonstrated by maestro Caballero himself, while guro
Pagaling does the narration additional explanations as needed, while the drills
and applications are then shown by both instructors. The lessons are filmed
against the backdrop of Caballero’s own backyard, which gives additional
impression of authenticity, and to me makes the videos more pleasant to watch
than if having been recorded in some studio. In other words, this is as close
to the private lesson as possible, having in mind the format of the material. You
can get free sample lessons on the website, to see for yourself how it is laid
out.
Now,
at the first glimpse, the program might look a bit pricey. However, if you keep
in mind that we are not talking about some sort of the “best of”, “selected
techniques”, “peek into the system” etc., but actually FULL curriculum and
proven training progression, as well as the fact that the authors are willing
to respond to potential questions and help you get most out of the material, maybe
even potential certification, I would say it is a fairly good deal. Just check
their Facebook page to find out more.
In
conclusion, what the authors did with this program is essentially the exact
thing that in the 1990’s I used to hope would be the main advantage of the
Internet – finding true information from true sources, while dispelling myths
and not wasting time on digging through the fluff and artificial mystique that
has been surrounding all kinds of human endeavors for a long time. Well, we all
know how it turned out with the spreading of internet forums and the ability
for every wannabe and delusional self-appointed expert to say whatever they
want from the anonymity of their homes and behind their screen avatars. The
efforts and results such as the subject of this review are the high points in
the presentation and preservation of some traditional martial arts that are out
there and in dire need of being properly displayed.
