An interesting side note.
I have a brother-in law who is a Colonel in the Marine core. In the early
90's he and his wife were in town for my father-in law's funeral. We got to
talking one night when he asked how my training was going. "Hey Bill, how's
that TKD training going for you?" First I had to correct him that it was FMA
and then I started to explain the difference to him. He became very
intrigued when I explained the basic tenets of FMA:
The reason the Filipino Martial Arts start out with weaponry and
progresses into open hand skills is:
1.)The nature of warfare is the utilization of weaponry - not empty hands.
2.)Attribute Development - the use of weaponry and bladed weapons in
particular, develops and enhances combative attributes and application at a
more intensive level and faster rate then empty hands training. Bottom line,
the weapons force you to move correctly - to flow.
3.)The Filipino methods of empty hand combat are derived directly from the
application of weaponry verses having completely different styles of empty
hands skills and weaponry technique. Methods and skills transfer from
bladed, impact, and other edged weapons to empty hands combat and directly
back to weapons (including firearms).
Then he started asking a lot of questions.
When we were able to get together again in 2000, when he had a lay-over in
Portland, he asked how the FMA training was going and proceeded to talk to
me at length about different systems, methods and tactics. He obviously had
done his home work. Now, he tends to be very hush hush on exactly what he is
involved in but I know it involves special units. Is he involved in getting
FMA training for special units? I don't know. But, it's interesting to note
that the marines who were recently sent to the Philippines are spending time training
with GT Leo Gaje of the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali system.
(But of course, that's not classified as a stricktly open hand system)
William
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