danda-man

Hello,

I’ve been interested in FMA for a while now and am considering taking classes in NYC - Manhattan preferably, or in Queens. With a bit of reading on the forums and Web sites, I’ve been able to identify the following FMA groups in the area. I’d like to request forumites if they could possibly give me any feedback on these groups, either here on the forum or even by private email. I’m interested in stick and blade training, as well as empty-hands if offered (I’m sorely lacking in grappling skills).

Now, I realize that this kind of question might have been asked here before, but what I’m particularly looking for is any feedback on what forumites have to say about training methods, emphasis, any groups particularly recommended, any missing on this list that I should also consider looking into, things of that nature ...

DOCE PARES: Musical Theater Works (Gary Gabisan) in Manhattan; and Mayo’s in Queens.

MODERN ARNIS: Guro Doug Pierre’s downtown.

PEKITI TIRSIA – NY School of PMA: upper Westside (Guro Agapito Gonzalez); Musical Theater Works (Simon Burgess); and downtown.

SAYOC KALI: I understand there are instructors in upper Westside (James Berkeley – Tactical Studies), upper Eastside somewhere (Rafael Kayanan), downtown and Queens (Jeff Chung).

AMERICAN KALI SYSTEM: Frank Ortega in Flushing, Queens (Pekiti Tirsia?)

KUNTAW KALI KRUZADA: teaching out of Chau’s Wu Mui school (Guro Acosta), It seems they are also East Coast representatives of LIGHTNING SCIENTIFIC ARNIS.

ANDERSON’S MA (JKD, FMA-Inosanto blend): How is their FMA? How about their JKD and other stuff?

PROGRESSIVE MA: Dog Brothers & JKD in Queens (Nick Sacoulas).

SAN MIGUEL ESKRIMA: in Manhattan and Queens. I understand that this group is led by Tom Bisio, who I also read is a Pekiti Tirsia man, is that correct?

VEE ARNIS JITSU: downtown (Shihan David James).

VEE DO KWAN: Queens (Prof. Danny Paulo).

I gather there isn’t any BAKBAKAN practice group in NYC, is there? I also remember reading somewhere that you can’t just walk off the streets and expect to begin classes with them – there is a certain process involved – am I correct? Impressed with what I’ve read and seen of them (saw a demo some years back). Perhaps I’ll have to make that trip to Lodi, NJ, after all.

Am I missing anybody here?

Looking forward to whatever you folks have to say. Thank you!

- Sonam

p.s. I've also posted the above on Bladeforums, so if you're on that forum too, I hope you don't mind me posting the same questions on both forums - just want to do my homework thoroughly

Harley

Hello,
check out Raf kayanan,
i promise you won't be disappointed if you see him move in person, and i'm a big fan of Sayoc kali. So are many others, Guro Dan Inosanto is one of them.
sincerely
harley