Originally posted by Rich Parsons
Your previous post there also had the same flavor or tone to it. If you do not train in the PI then you cannot learn the real thing.
It may be cheaper to train in the PI, and the quality of the instructors may be great. Yet, who will give me the proper introduction to them? You do not think I could just get on a plane and fly over to the PI and then walk down any street and pick some one and then ask them to train me??? First, they would not know me and even if they did have something to offer me, they would not just give it to me, for some small training fee. And also how do I know that they have the true goods? Until I get a chance to work and train with them?
This is just my opinion. You do not have to go to the PI to get best FMA training. You certainly can get great training both in the PI and in the USA. Just as you do not need to go to Japan to get the best Japanese Training. Also, note, I could not even go and watch some of the local's in thier dojo when I was in Japan last September. It was not near a Military base and the instructors were not used to Americans just wishing to watch and then pay their respects at the end of the class. I had not been properly introduced, nor had I someone to vouch for me. and not looking to challenge.
:asian:
rich
i agree that the martial art is not better just because its from the philippines. but understand this, that there is a major difference of how they teach martial arts in the west (even how many filipinos teach it to), and how the art is taught in the philippines. when you take a stance that you dont want to learn in the philippines, or at least from somebody who teaches in that philippine style of teaching, you lost out on what the filipino art is all about.
in saying this i mean that some basic things, like how easy people get there feelings hurt or get offended. or how impatient the martial arts student is here. or arrogant. or how easily impressed he is by something new. these are all things you hear me say over and over, and people disagree with me so strong about it, but guess what, in this art you love so much, its philosophy disagrees with you. the instant instructor, sparring free seminar martial arts you guys love so much, is not true philippine martial arts. dont mean to offend anyone, but its true. you cant go to a teacher once in a while, with a group of people and expect to get advance level as fast as you will here in the US. in the philippines your fighting skill matters, here they say your fighting skills mean nothing because it was not a fight to the death, yet in those seminars they drill and drill, and practice prearranged stuff, with no sparring (because its not "real enough).
mr dan inosanto has no interest in seeing what the philippines has to offer, and those who follow in his footsteps have very little idea of what the filipino arts really stands for. so a newcomer to the US who can show you what your missing gets no respect unless he falls into place with whats already here.
and this is what rich said that makes me post,
"You do not think I could just get on a plane and fly over to the PI and then walk down any street and pick some one and then ask them to train me??? First, they would not know me and even if they did have something to offer me, they would not just give it to me, for some small training fee. And also how do I know that they have the true goods? Until I get a chance to work and train with them?"
first, yes i do. you dont know your teachers anymore than you would if you walk into a new school here in the US. if you only go to teachers who are popular (the ones who sell tapes and write articles and do seminars) you limit yourself so bad because you are a follower. going to the martial arts is not like buying a car. reputations can be built with money, media and sometimes trickery. for true martial arts knowledge, the guy who nobody knows might have the best martial arts. but the followers only get the mcdonalds martial arts thats made for everybody, and everybody learned it.
also, 2. dont expect someone, especially a martial art teacher to just "give" you something valuable. my granpa use to say real fighting arts isnt for everyone. if you make it for anyone to have, you are taking away what makes the art a fighting art, instead of a martial arts. some people are willing to work hard for something and earn it, but most people will only get it if you just hand it to them.
"how to know if he has the true goods". you dont. how does a 7 year old kid knows if his parents are good parents, can he change them? how about a 10 year old who says his math teacher is not a good one, do you take him seriously. when you are in a FMA school, you have three things to let you know your place. first his intermediate students. if you cant whip them, then you must be in the right place, and they got the "true goods". second, the teacher if he is young enough, will probably spar with you, and that will tell you if he got the "true goods". last, you have yourself. did you become a better fighter? how do you know? if he has the "true goods" you will spar with other people, and you will see if you got better or not. but "true goods" to most american FMA people is, how many tapes do you have out, how impressive is the demos when he swings around his sticks, and how many people go to you for certificates.
the philippine martial arts in america has become a just add water martial art like shopping center tae kwon do. and this is why you will here most filipinos say, you need to go to the philippines.
