Essence of FMA

This is Guro Eugenia Valente of Kali De Mano, one of the expert black belts and a guest instructor here at the Peaceful Warrior Camp 2018.  We were very lucky to have a class from her this week.  She is a happy, friendly person when we see her around the camp.  Not overly talkative, but always with a bright smile and always eager to train.

She moved to the front of the room, surrounded by Swedish Viking Giants, Germans, Australians and other camp members some of whom are twice her size, we wondered what she would show us.  It turned out to be the Essence of FMA.

She moves directly, efficiently.  As soon as her opponent gets in range she blasts in.  Her counters are compact and powerful; he is disarmed and off-balance.  He's down.  She is in control 100% of the time.  The room goes dead silent.

We are all lifelong students of martial arts.  Guro Eugenia wordlessly reminds us that what we do is very martial indeed.  MARTIAL Arts.

Especially in Kali Majapahit, which is a beautiful, deceptively flowing style, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that FMA is meant to be savage and aggressive - it is meant to be compact and direct.  It is meant to deliver devastating responses to anything our opponent would consider.  Watching Guro Eugenia demonstrate we immediately recognize that she is RELENTLESS.  We are reminded that this, too, is part of what we need to be if we want to call ourselves Filipino Martial Artists.

She has invested a lot in her training and it shows.  She moves confidently and without hesitation.  She trusts her technique and she should.

The hour went by quickly.  Attack after attack led to the same result - Guro Eugenia standing over her attacker in complete control.  In this case, her "attacker" was another black belt instructor, and we all felt a bit of pity for him.  Thankfully he was not injured, but if the threat had been real there was no doubt what the outcome would have been.  It hurts to take those techniques and it requires a lot of trust between both teachers - Guro Eugenia has excellent control so she was able to go full speed and full power, stopping just short of actually damaging her partner.

I learned so much in that hour, reminding me to be more like Guro Eugenia - confident, compact, direct and powerful.  Above all - Relentless.  Not just in my Kali but in every important element of my life.

Thank you Guro!