Editor’s Note: Romeo Macapagal and I have been friends for nearly 25 years. He is my senior in the FMA style of the late Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo, but we trained together on many occasions with Tatang, and our late friends Tony Diego and Christopher Rickets. Romy shared with me this interview with him that was originally […]
Maestro Romy Macapagal Expounds on the Way of the Blade Read More »
by Walther G. von Krenner with Ken Jeremiah Originally, the Japanese language did not have a term for green. The word ao referred to both blue and green. The colors were so close that they were just considered different shades. This might seem strange to speakers of other languages, but lexicon varies between cultures. In
A Lifetime in Budo and Zen Read More »
By Louelle Lledo and Andy Sanano In journalism, the writer is taught to use the inverted pyramid method to cover stories. In the inverted pyramid, the beginning of a story contains the majority of the content – the widest part – and the ending of the story contains the smallest amount of details – the
Apex and MIBOME in Filipino Martial Arts Read More »
By Datu Shishir Inocalla Filipino martial arts have captured the imagination of martial artists, military and Hollywood. Manufactured in Barrio Balisong, Taal Batangas, no weapon more so than the infamous Balisong or “butterfly knife” has become the lure of Arnis, Kalis and Eskrima. The Batanguenos (persons from Batangas) are well known for carrying and drawing
Vientenueve Balisong: Filipino Butterfly Knife Read More »
By Dr. Mark Wiley Health is more than the mere absence of disease. To truly be healthy one must been physically fit, limber, possess a full range of motion, be at a good weight, have strong cardio-vascular conditioning, possess a focused mind, be playful, and silent at time, freedom from fear, have self-confidence, and be
Are Martial Arts the Best Exercise? Read More »
by ABS-CBN News MANILA — For Philippine Modern Arnis grandmaster Rodel Dagooc, his introduction to the sport came as a surprise. Born and raised in Iloilo, Dagooc began his journey into the sport as a pastime. At 14, he enjoyed joining his uncles who practiced arnis in the afternoons. “Ang gusto ko lang noon eh sumama
Dagooc Fights to Get Pinoys More Interested in Arnis Read More »
By Garry Parker The power to succeed, fail, grow and change is within you. We all have it within us. Extraordinary acts are accomplished every day by ordinary people just like you and me. What sets apart the ordinary from the extraordinary? Is our DNA code different? Are we genetically determined to be above average? What
The Three Minds of Karate Read More »
By Steven K. Dowd Born June 19, 1915 in San Antonio, Zambales, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, Manuel Aguillon commenced his training in the fighting arts as a young boy. As a teenager he had a great desire to use his hands with or without the cane, so he turned to boxing.
Arnis Balite’s Manuel Molina Aguillon Sr. Read More »
By Bong Abenir If I were to choose between drilling and sparring for which is the best way to develop real skill then definitely I choose sparring. Don’t get me wrong; both are important. Drilling develops skill. And I would never downplay its role in helping a martial artist achieve a better understanding of the
Drills Skill & Sparring Will Read More »
By Tyler R. Rea The day you’d always hoped to avoid has finally arrived; you find yourself defending your life against a superior attacker—an attacker who out-weighs you and has greater reach, more speed, and cardio health that would make an Olympic athlete jealous. In such a situation how do you turn the tides of
The Fatal Five of Ngo Cho Kun Read More »
