Gave FMA a try...

LegLockGuy

Green Belt
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
120
Reaction score
0
Location
Illinois
What a blast!:boing2:

It was Modern Arnis De Mano at Sensei Ken Smith's school in Orland Park. For one the dojo is big and was just a great place to train. Sensei Ken is a fantastic teacher, as well as Sensei Mike. (who taught sparring drills and gave me some pointers)

I got to spar on the first night, it weas basically a sparring night. Since I was there, it was light contact, but still great. I am mainly a HKD/Muay Thai guy, and the sparring was very much like Kickboxing which was a definate plus. I'm going on tuesday to check out the more self defense stuff.

But so far, its great. Great dojo, great teachers, great students, and a great atmosphere. (the price is very reasonable too) Cant wait for tuesday.
 

Carol

Crazy like a...
MT Mentor
Lifetime Supporting Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
20,311
Reaction score
541
Location
NH
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it!

I love hearing about someone discovering the FMA's :D :D
 

Brian R. VanCise

MT Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
27,758
Reaction score
1,520
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
Excellent!
icon14.gif
 
OP
L

LegLockGuy

Green Belt
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
120
Reaction score
0
Location
Illinois
It seems to be a pretty well rounded style. Sensei Ken (besides being ranked in Modern Arnis) also has high ranks in Isshin Ryu Karate, Ryukyu Kempo, and studies Jiu Jitsu/Groundfighting. It seems like a well rounded style with Striking, Trapping (I honestly did not even know trapping was in FMA), Standup Grappling, and Ground Grappling. It was a great experience.:)
 

MJS

Administrator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
30,187
Reaction score
430
Location
Cromwell,CT
I'm glad that you took the time to check out his school! :) Great people there and your learning experience will continue to be a great one, I'm sure. The Chicago camp will be at his school, Oct. 4th-7th. If you can make it, even for only one session, I'd take advantage of it!

Mike
 

Brian R. VanCise

MT Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
27,758
Reaction score
1,520
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
Modern Arnis is very well rounded and most practitioners of it have really open minds to learning new material. It is in my opinion an open ended art with unlimited possibilities.
icon6.gif
 

Tarot

Purple Belt
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
362
Reaction score
4
Location
Ohio
Woot! Another FMA player! Congrats! We have Master Ken coming out in August for a seminar and I'm looking forward to that. :D
 

Brian Johns

Black Belt
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
610
Reaction score
28
Location
Oshawa/Toronto
What a blast!:boing2:

It was Modern Arnis De Mano at Sensei Ken Smith's school in Orland Park. For one the dojo is big and was just a great place to train. Sensei Ken is a fantastic teacher, as well as Sensei Mike. (who taught sparring drills and gave me some pointers)

I got to spar on the first night, it weas basically a sparring night. Since I was there, it was light contact, but still great. I am mainly a HKD/Muay Thai guy, and the sparring was very much like Kickboxing which was a definate plus. I'm going on tuesday to check out the more self defense stuff.

But so far, its great. Great dojo, great teachers, great students, and a great atmosphere. (the price is very reasonable too) Cant wait for tuesday.

Am glad to hear that you had such a favorable impression of Ken Smith's school and his teaching. Like I said earlier to your inquiry, Ken is a great teacher and I'm not surprised that he impressed you. I think that you would do well to stick with Ken. Keep us up to date !

Tell Ken that I said hi !!

Tarot is right in that he is coming to Columbus in August for a seminar. Unfortunately, I will not be here as I will be moving out of Columbus in a couple of weeks. But hope to see Ken often at camps and seminars

Take care,
Brian
 

tshadowchaser

Sr. Grandmaster
MT Mentor
Founding Member
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 29, 2001
Messages
13,460
Reaction score
733
Location
Athol, Ma. USA
Happy to hear you injoyed it.
Be sure to keep us informed on your progress if you decide to start training in the FMA
 

Mark Lynn

Master Black Belt
Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Messages
1,345
Reaction score
184
Location
Roanoke TX USA
LegLockGuy

Glad you gave the FMA and Modern arnis in particular a try. I posted on your other thread before I saw this one.

Ken is a great instructor and you are fortunate to have a instructor of his caliber near you.

Mark
 

arnisador

Sr. Grandmaster
MTS Alumni
Joined
Aug 28, 2001
Messages
44,573
Reaction score
456
Location
Terre Haute, IN
you are fortunate to have a instructor of his caliber near you.

I'm glad that Modern Arnis is sufficiently widespread that many people have it available near them! The Professor's seminar-style teaching succeeded in spreading the art far in a relatively short period of time.
 

Latest Discussions

Top