‘ve practiced martial arts in some form or another for well over a decade, including eight and a half years on active duty with the Marine Corps. I’ve studied several martial disciplines — everything from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and Krav Maga to Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
What I’ve learned as a part of this small, talented group has amounted to some of the best martial training I’ve ever received.
Training in Krav Maga and MCMAP was a lot like “trade school.” You’re given a set of easily learned, very general self defense techniques and are sent off after as little as three months with all of the fundamental skills the instructor feels you require to defend yourself in a wide variety of street scenarios.
Training in Eskrima under the system Guro Francis Serrano and the other guros in Visayan Legacy have developed is much more like studying theory. Belt testing tests your understanding of the rationale behind the techniques as much as your mastery of them. This gives you a crucial bit of flexibility in street situations. They won’t just teach you how to fight like a martial artist — they’ll teach you how to *think* like one, too. From the beginning, you learn foundational techniques — the “abecedario” — and have opportunities to interpret the movement in a way that works with your individual body mechanics, physical capabilities, and approach to combat. That fundamental difference has made me a much better “martial artist” if ever I was one.
That’s it then. If you want colorful belts, head on over to your local McDojo. If you want to win fights, come train with us.
