FMA in NYC - newbie questions

Hello,

I’ve been interested in FMA for a while now and am considering taking classes in NYC - Manhattan preferably, or in Queens. With a bit of reading on the forums and Web sites, I’ve been able to identify the following FMA groups in the area. I’d like to request forumites if they could possibly give me any feedback on these groups, either here on the forum or even by private email. I’m interested in stick and blade training, as well as empty-hands if offered (I’m sorely lacking in grappling skills).

Now, I realize that this kind of question has been asked here before, but what I’m particularly looking for is any feedback on what forumites have to say about training methods, emphasis, any groups particularly recommended, any missing on this list that I should also consider looking into, things of that nature ...

DOCE PARES: Musical Theater Works (Gary Gabisan) in Manhattan; and Mayo’s in Queens.

MODERN ARNIS: Guro Doug Pierre’s downtown.

PEKITI TIRSIA – NY School of PMA: upper Westside (Guro Agapito Gonzalez); Musical Theater Works (Simon Burgess); and downtown.

SAYOC KALI: I understand there are instructors in upper Westside (James Berkeley – Tactical Studies), upper Eastside somewhere (Rafael Kayanan), downtown and Queens (Jeff Chung).

AMERICAN KALI SYSTEM: Frank Ortega in Flushing, Queens (Pekiti Tirsia?)

KUNTAW KALI KRUZADA: teaching out of Chau’s Wu Mui school (Guro Acosta), It seems they are also East Coast representatives of LIGHTNING SCIENTIFIC ARNIS.

ANDERSON’S MA (JKD, FMA-Inosanto blend): How is their FMA? How about their JKD and other stuff?

PROGRESSIVE MA: Dog Brothers & JKD in Queens (Nick Sacoulas).

SAN MIGUEL ESKRIMA: in Manhattan and Queens. I understand that this group is led by Tom Bisio, who I also read is a Pekiti Tirsia man, is that correct?

VEE ARNIS JITSU: downtown (Shihan David James).

VEE DO KWAN: Queens (Prof. Danny Paulo).

I gather there isn’t any BAKBAKAN practice group in NYC, is there? I also remember reading somewhere that you can’t just walk off the streets and expect to begin classes with them – there is a certain process involved – am I correct? Impressed with what I’ve read and seen of them (saw a demo some years back). Perhaps I’ll have to make that trip to Lodi, NJ, after all.

Am I missing anybody here?

Looking forward to whatever you folks have to say. Thank you!

- Sonam
 
J

jestre7

Joined
Jan 28, 2000
Messages
116
The Vee Arnis school is very impressive, but from your post, not what you're after.

They're very good in street mindset, striking based empty hands (FMA and Muay Thai based, with lots of joint locks thrown in there) and stick & knife. The weapon stuff is kinda stripped down (but effective) - you won't see the tons of fancier drills like in Inosanto/LaCoste or Lameco. There are some judo style throws, but more joint lock based ones.

The workouts can be hardcore. They're definitely into conditioning. And James is a teacher who gets & keeps your attention.

But no grappling. At least, not as of 2 or 3 years ago; they may have added some since then, but they were pretty adamant about NOT going to ground then.
 
Thanks for the feedback, jestre7, I'll definitely keep them on my horizon. I picked up their ESPY-TV tapes recently and you're right, David James is an intense individual, really liked what they showed and am learning a lot (haven't seen all the tapes yet).

- Sonam
 
I know someone in NYC that is lookingfor someone to work out with, and I don't think he would mind teaching you. I would highly suggest you contact him. You can get his info at http://www.fullcontacthi.com under the Training Partner Contact Board or e-mail me. Also in NY, I would definelty recommend Nick for an all around game if you want to go to a school. Guys, isn't Tuhon McGrath in that area as well? If he is, than hands down, try to get some training with him. He has excellent body mechanics and it is rare to find people that can relay things as he can. Hope that helps.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
www.fullcontacthi.com
 
Contact Jeff Chung in Flushing for serious Sayoc training. His email is gurojeff@aol.com.

He teaches knife, stick and empty hand with an emphasis on the blade - serious stuff.
 
I train under Guro Doug Pierre. It's a Modern Arnis school, but he also teaches us Jujitsu techniques(rolls, breakfalls, throws, locks), kicks(targeted at the waist and below), and boxing/karate hand strikes. We don't do Brazilian type jujitsu(not yet anyway). We also do some knife training(Guro Pierre trains with Prof. Sotis at his seminars/camps, and has trained with the Sayoc family also).

As a beginner, you will be doing stick & footwork drills for a good while before being taught the Jujitsu, etc.

Guro(Sifu) Pierre also teaches Tai Chi classes if you are interested in that art(I don't take those classes, so I can't really comment on them).

Here's the school's website:

http://members.tripod.com/VillageMartialArts

Our phone number is 212-614-3250.





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K. Williams
Modern Arnis Student
AKTI Member #A000978
 
Chad,

Tuhon McGrath used to do seminars in NYC(I attended his last seminar in NYC). He now does the seminars in upstate NY.

Kelvin

 
Indeed Tuhon Bill McGrath is still in upstate NY, Poughkeepsie I believe. He studied directly under Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr.

There was a recent thread here listing his seminar schedule in NY. Run a search.

Nakano
 
Hello,
I hope this helps.
Doug Pierre - I have only heard great things about him, as I also train with Professor Sotis, and have heard about DOug through him.
Frank Ortega - Another good possibility. He was also an early student of Grand Tuhon Gaje, who speaks well of him.
Nick Sacoulas - Another good choice.
Rafael Kayanan - Way up ther in the Sayoc Kali system, and spoken of very well by Tuhon Sayoc.
Jeff Chung - Great guy and another Sayoc Kali representative.
If you can check out Tuhon Mcgraths seminars, as well as Professor Sotis, and Tuhon Sayoc, when they are in the area. You wont be dissapointed.
Train Hard
Steve

 
Most everyone mentioned above is excellent, and well worth looking into. You would not go wrong with the absolute majority of them...depending on what you are looking for, by visiting them ALL--you can see for yourself what each has to offer...and decide for yourself!

That said, if training at Bakbakan is what you have your heart set on...well, hell, you can do what I did when I lived in Brooklyn...take the the bus to Paterson, NJ at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and jump off at Main St. in Lodi, NJ, then either walk the half-mile to the Bakbakan gym, or give them a buzz at the payphones by the Dunkin Donuts near Main St., and someone should be able to drive by and pick you up...
It's a half-an-hour bus ride from Manhattan, and it costs under five dollars to get there...a hassle, I know, but if you want Bakbakan Kali (Illustrisimo), as well as the empty hand systems--Sagasa (striking) and Hagibis (grappling/groundwork)...well, IMHO, it's TOTALLY worth it.
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Visit the website for more directions, contact numbers and the like:

www.bakbakan.com

As for it being more difficult to get into Bakbakan--well, yes and no...it used to be the case that EVERYBODY getting trained had to be personally vouched for by another full member of the Brotherhood, and they would screen you for months, gradually letting you into the fold...and indeed, it STILL is that way when it come to the Brotherhood of Bakbakan...but that said, nowadays, we do allow non-members of the fraternity to train with us...feel free to send an e-mail to the website for more details...or, if you like, you can drop me a line at berdugo9@hotmail.com...make sure to mention that you are writing me (if you do) re: training at Bakbakan, okay? The website might be better, though, if you want a more "official" statement.

Oh, yeah, Guro Gary Gabisan of Doce Pares is an old friend, and I watched his class the other night--it looked pretty damn cool...
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. Heh, have to plug my pal, ya know!
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I wish you the very best of luck with whatever you decide to do...be safe and well!
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Lester ~bayani~

a sometime "classroom grunt" at Bakbakan NA, LOL!
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[This message has been edited by bayani (edited 03-13-2001).]
 
Go to this web site :www.pekiti-tirsia.com .

I believe it will provide the info you are looking for about Tuhon McGrath.

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Ken
 
hello,
heres another person,

dr jerome barber
who i think is in pougkeepsi too,
escrima_kenpo@hotmail.com a good freind of mine speaks very highly of him as a person who can apply his fighting, if that is important to you.
 
Thank you all for taking the time out to give me your feedback - both here in the forum and by email. I really appreciate this. The Web sites, emails and addresses will be very helpful, and yes, it's now time for me to pound the pavement and check those classes for myself
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If anyone wants to add anything more, please feel free to do so - it will be most appreciated
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Thank you all once again, and looking forward to a new beginning.

- Sonam
 
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