The latest FCS Family Gathering happened this past weekend, and by all accounts, was even better than the previous events. Close to 50 practitioners got together to learn and train, with folks coming from as far away as North Carolina, Utah and Puerto Rico.
Guro Ray started Day One with a two-hour instruction block on the Kerambit. Starting with basic strikes and concepts - fluidity of motion, evasive maneuvers and circular attacks - he progressed to different combinations. There was more than enough material for both advanced students and beginners to work with.
There was a series of demonstrations by different stylists during the break that followed. Marrese Crump explained his 3R self-defense system, geared towards helping the average citizen survive the most common street attacks. Ron Boswell, head of the National Kempo Studios (who came all the way from Salt Lake City for the FCS Gathering), displayed amazing agility for such a big guy, while showing the scientific principles behind his system, followed by Sonny Puzikas with a Kun Tao demo. Finally, Hapkido instructor Rick DeAguila demonstrated the use of the crook-top walking cane as a weapon, with strikes, takedowns and comealongs using both the shaft and the crook. Rick is also a Lakan Guro Isa under Ray Dionaldo, and the influence of the Filipino arts in his canework is visible.
Ray resumed the instruction with solo baston drills. While covering all combat ranges, FCS specializes in corto, with extensive use of punyo strikes, traps, locks, takedowns and even grappling and ground fighting with the stick. The crowd was thrilled when Ray, while showing the different influences behind his FCS system - namely Sayoc Kali, Pekiti-Tirsia, Balintawak and Modern Arnis - displayed his trademark speed and precision in free flow fashion.
We went back to single stick on the morning of Day Two. On FCS, we're expect to work towards ambidexterity, so there were both left against right and right against right drills, together with transitions and switches. After a couple hours or so of solo baston, it was time for another round of demonstrations. Eric Porschen - one of FCS' first instructors and a disciple of Baltazar "Bo" Sayoc - treated us to some wicked bladework, as well as the use of the stick in reverse grip (pakal). Rick DeAguila was back with another seldom seen weapon from the Hapkido arsenal - a short stick with a lanyard, around ten inches long, know as a tahn bong. Sonny Puzikas also returned to the mat, this time with some executive protection and firearms related material.
After the break, it was time for some of my favorite stuff - knife x knife and empty hand x knife, FCS style. This was followed by yet another round of Kerambit training (personally, I just can't get enough of it - what an amazing tool of self-protection!), which concluded this Gathering. We all had a good time, regular students and those from FCS' affiliated schools alike. I'm now looking forward to Blade-Fest 2003, to be held in October. It should be another awesome event.
