The WMAA Camp was a great experience! Mr. Hartman and Ms. Stranc put on a first-class event. There were about 50 people present and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Mr. Manglinong led things off with Kombaton, emphasizing double sticks. We learned the 24-count numerada and corresponding blocks and counters. In later sessions we learned double-cane disarms and some striking patterns. It was neat to work with double sticks, which we rarely do in Modern Arnis beyond the sinawali. Mr. Manglinong is one of the nicest and most humble martial artists I've ever met.
Mr. Macaluso followed. He taught single stick techniques from the JKD perspective. I've recently started taking JKD so I recognized a little of it but I learned a number of things too, notably from his clear explanations of why things were done the way they were.
Dr. Gyi was all that you've heard. He taught the dhot, a three-foot stick with a small rope loop at the end to retain it. He brought padded weapons and we went full-force on one another. You knew if your blocks worked or not! Mr. O'Grady and I banged away on each other. There was much choking as well. In a later session Dr. Gyi taught a partner-assisted form of yoga. He worked on healing people throughout the camp when he wasn't teaching. He told me at one point "You move like a 6 year old boy." I said, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "It's a good thing!" he said, laughing.
Mr. Hartman taught his Mano Y Daga knife-fighting system and then in the next session palis-palis and espada y daga. The Mano Y daga that was taught involved disarms on the forearm, either yours or your opponent's. In the second session I was able to work with Mr. Anderson which was a pleasure.
Ms. Spiro taught "Modern Arnis for the Street" which was eye-opening. For years I have been saying things like "you can also use your jacket" but she had us actually do it and it was much more effective than I had thought. She gave us a number of drills that I'll use in my teaching and had lots of great advice on self-defense, especially but not exclusively for women.
There was a black belt test on Friday evening--I was proud to be the WMAA grading officer on the board, which also included Dan Carr, Bob Chesbro, and Jaye Spiro--and five people were promoted to black belt at the banquet on Saturday night. (Also, one person was promoted to brown belt and two certificates were given to current black belts.) the discussions amongst the members of the board pointed to many issues of consistency and standards that need to be addressed in the future, and I know Mr. Hartman is working on these; some were addressed on-the-spot. I was particularly impressed by PAUL's performance at the test. He wasn't testing but rather was partnering with a testee, and he put on an impressive display. The banquet was held at the school and we celebrated Mr. Hartman's birthday as well as promotions and just the fact that we were there training.
The round table discussion brought out many good points and was positive throughout. Mr. Hartman discussed his goals for the WMAA and the other participants commented on the future of Modern Arnis as well as what would be good for the WMAA. Mr. Anderson commended Mr. Hartman for doing something.
I got to meet many people; "You mean you're so-and-so from MartialTalk?" was frequently heard. I fear I'll overlook many people but even still let me mention a few:
Mr. Anderson was not an official instructor at the camp. I was impressed by his attitude; he was out there working on the floor during the sessions, putting his heart into it and generally being a good example to the rest of us. I had followed his career in the 70s and it was a thrill to meet and work with him, and to have him sign my certificate. He is very approachable, very modest, and thinks he's very funny! I was ready to transfer to his school until we found that our musical compatibility was imperfect. It was a great experience though and so I forgive him for that last wristlock he put on me when I was trying to switch my knife from one hand to the other.
Dan Carr gave me some information concerning the legal implications of using certain techniques, as he has on numerous other occasions. I appreciated it. I served as his dummy for one demonstration of technique and as always after he gets a person down he goes right into handcuffing mode! He first demonstrated speedcuffing techniques to me circa 1987 and he's still at it, plus more.
Also, jaybacca72 gave so much of his time that I feel he should have been compensated! He gave me a JKD knife drill and some JKD information, but also introduced me, and many others, to systema. He was very generous with his time and knowledge. He also created a kukri trainer that was given to Dr. Gyi.
I had a good time meeting PAUL, a nice, polite, respectful guy and a skilled arnis player. As promised, I won't comment on what he was--or rather, what he wasn't--wearing when he went into the jacuzzi.
I also got a chance to meet Icepick, briefly, and to train with Paul O'Grady. (I know he's on here somewhere but I can't recall his username.) Mr. O'Grady was a great training partner for Bando as he had attended a number of previous seminars with Dr. Gyi! I look forward to working with him again.
I met Kyle. We were working together during Mr. Macaluso's session and at one point he mentioned that he taught BJJ. I said that I'd started it a few months ago. "Are you arnisador on MartialTalk?" he asked. "You spend way too much time on that forum." Well, maybe so!
There are so many other people I met that I enjoyed working/speaking/eating with--the Messrs. Dawdy and the rest of that group, Ms. Spiro's students, Rich Parsons, and a number of others whose names I've forgotten or I can only remember their first name. I got a chance to catch up with Dr. Barber (DoctorB), whom I had not seen in many years.
There is one other person I want to mention: Our own Kaith Rustaz, the admin. of this forum. I finally got a chance to meet him (and JadeDragon) in person. It was a pleasure to thank him in person for all he's done on the board. Mr. Hubbard worked constantly during the camp on videotaping, making the CD-ROM copies of Mr. Hartman's forms, and handling any number of other technical details. (He also does the WMAA webpages, including the camp info.) He looked for no credit and didn't receive nearly as much as he deserves.
Of course the biggest credit for the success of the camp goes to the guest instructors and to Mr. Hartman and Ms. Stranc (who also worked tirelessly behind the scenes both before and during the camp). But I know what Mr. Hartman would say: Thank the participants, who really make the camp.
I think the Professor would have been proud.
Mr. Manglinong led things off with Kombaton, emphasizing double sticks. We learned the 24-count numerada and corresponding blocks and counters. In later sessions we learned double-cane disarms and some striking patterns. It was neat to work with double sticks, which we rarely do in Modern Arnis beyond the sinawali. Mr. Manglinong is one of the nicest and most humble martial artists I've ever met.
Mr. Macaluso followed. He taught single stick techniques from the JKD perspective. I've recently started taking JKD so I recognized a little of it but I learned a number of things too, notably from his clear explanations of why things were done the way they were.
Dr. Gyi was all that you've heard. He taught the dhot, a three-foot stick with a small rope loop at the end to retain it. He brought padded weapons and we went full-force on one another. You knew if your blocks worked or not! Mr. O'Grady and I banged away on each other. There was much choking as well. In a later session Dr. Gyi taught a partner-assisted form of yoga. He worked on healing people throughout the camp when he wasn't teaching. He told me at one point "You move like a 6 year old boy." I said, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "It's a good thing!" he said, laughing.
Mr. Hartman taught his Mano Y Daga knife-fighting system and then in the next session palis-palis and espada y daga. The Mano Y daga that was taught involved disarms on the forearm, either yours or your opponent's. In the second session I was able to work with Mr. Anderson which was a pleasure.
Ms. Spiro taught "Modern Arnis for the Street" which was eye-opening. For years I have been saying things like "you can also use your jacket" but she had us actually do it and it was much more effective than I had thought. She gave us a number of drills that I'll use in my teaching and had lots of great advice on self-defense, especially but not exclusively for women.
There was a black belt test on Friday evening--I was proud to be the WMAA grading officer on the board, which also included Dan Carr, Bob Chesbro, and Jaye Spiro--and five people were promoted to black belt at the banquet on Saturday night. (Also, one person was promoted to brown belt and two certificates were given to current black belts.) the discussions amongst the members of the board pointed to many issues of consistency and standards that need to be addressed in the future, and I know Mr. Hartman is working on these; some were addressed on-the-spot. I was particularly impressed by PAUL's performance at the test. He wasn't testing but rather was partnering with a testee, and he put on an impressive display. The banquet was held at the school and we celebrated Mr. Hartman's birthday as well as promotions and just the fact that we were there training.
The round table discussion brought out many good points and was positive throughout. Mr. Hartman discussed his goals for the WMAA and the other participants commented on the future of Modern Arnis as well as what would be good for the WMAA. Mr. Anderson commended Mr. Hartman for doing something.
I got to meet many people; "You mean you're so-and-so from MartialTalk?" was frequently heard. I fear I'll overlook many people but even still let me mention a few:
Mr. Anderson was not an official instructor at the camp. I was impressed by his attitude; he was out there working on the floor during the sessions, putting his heart into it and generally being a good example to the rest of us. I had followed his career in the 70s and it was a thrill to meet and work with him, and to have him sign my certificate. He is very approachable, very modest, and thinks he's very funny! I was ready to transfer to his school until we found that our musical compatibility was imperfect. It was a great experience though and so I forgive him for that last wristlock he put on me when I was trying to switch my knife from one hand to the other.
Dan Carr gave me some information concerning the legal implications of using certain techniques, as he has on numerous other occasions. I appreciated it. I served as his dummy for one demonstration of technique and as always after he gets a person down he goes right into handcuffing mode! He first demonstrated speedcuffing techniques to me circa 1987 and he's still at it, plus more.
Also, jaybacca72 gave so much of his time that I feel he should have been compensated! He gave me a JKD knife drill and some JKD information, but also introduced me, and many others, to systema. He was very generous with his time and knowledge. He also created a kukri trainer that was given to Dr. Gyi.
I had a good time meeting PAUL, a nice, polite, respectful guy and a skilled arnis player. As promised, I won't comment on what he was--or rather, what he wasn't--wearing when he went into the jacuzzi.
I also got a chance to meet Icepick, briefly, and to train with Paul O'Grady. (I know he's on here somewhere but I can't recall his username.) Mr. O'Grady was a great training partner for Bando as he had attended a number of previous seminars with Dr. Gyi! I look forward to working with him again.
I met Kyle. We were working together during Mr. Macaluso's session and at one point he mentioned that he taught BJJ. I said that I'd started it a few months ago. "Are you arnisador on MartialTalk?" he asked. "You spend way too much time on that forum." Well, maybe so!
There are so many other people I met that I enjoyed working/speaking/eating with--the Messrs. Dawdy and the rest of that group, Ms. Spiro's students, Rich Parsons, and a number of others whose names I've forgotten or I can only remember their first name. I got a chance to catch up with Dr. Barber (DoctorB), whom I had not seen in many years.
There is one other person I want to mention: Our own Kaith Rustaz, the admin. of this forum. I finally got a chance to meet him (and JadeDragon) in person. It was a pleasure to thank him in person for all he's done on the board. Mr. Hubbard worked constantly during the camp on videotaping, making the CD-ROM copies of Mr. Hartman's forms, and handling any number of other technical details. (He also does the WMAA webpages, including the camp info.) He looked for no credit and didn't receive nearly as much as he deserves.
Of course the biggest credit for the success of the camp goes to the guest instructors and to Mr. Hartman and Ms. Stranc (who also worked tirelessly behind the scenes both before and during the camp). But I know what Mr. Hartman would say: Thank the participants, who really make the camp.
I think the Professor would have been proud.
PAUL
