Silat Instructors in MD/DC/VA

[uthman1]

Can anyone recomend or share experiences with any silat instructors in the md/dc/va area? I'm searching for a good silat school, but I'm unable to tell a good school/instructor from a bad one, dueto my limited knowledge of fma's. I checked out Steve Braun's class and it looked pretty good. HAs anyone trained with him? Any criteria for good fma's/instructors ? Thank in advance to anyone who provides any info.

[ap Oweyn]

I've trained very briefly with Steve Braun. More extensively with Pat Finley, who's also in that area. I was going to suggest Steve, so if you've already trained with him...

What about his class didn't you like? Did you want to do more devoted silat? (He mixes it with kali, JKD, muay thai, etc.)

If you're closer to Gaithersburg, you might also check out Mike Krivka at Martial Arts Koncepts.

Um... I'm given to understand that there are also silat classes at the Indonesian Embassy in DC. Not sure about that though.

Lastly, silat is actually indonesian. Not FMA. They're somewhat related. But there's actually a forum at MAP devoted to silat. You may find more help there.


Stuart

[Ular Sawa]

Guru Russ Wilson is in Arlington. His contact information can be found in the schools section on www.cimande.com

[ap Oweyn]

Arlington eh? That's just a few minutes from here.

[Buddy]

And if you have any interest in Chinese internal martial arts, George Wood teaches Gao style baguazhang down there.

[Ular Sawa]

Arlington eh? That's just a few minutes from here.


Is anything only a few minutes from anything else in DC & Northern VA? Maybe I've just been stuck in rush hour traffic while out there.

[uthman1]

Steve Braun's class looked pretty good actually. He's a nice guy and seems to know his stuff...Guro wilson is down the street from my job, so I'll check him out also. Where is Pat Finley located?

[ap Oweyn]

Is anything only a few minutes from anything else in DC & Northern VA? Maybe I've just been stuck in rush hour traffic while out there.

Touche. This whole area is kinda maddening that way.

[ap Oweyn]

Steve Braun's class looked pretty good actually. He's a nice guy and seems to know his stuff...Guro wilson is down the street from my job, so I'll check him out also. Where is Pat Finley located?

Steve is a good guy yeah. I only trained with him briefly because I was already training with Guro Pat and didn't have a lot of opportunities to make it out to Silver Spring.

Guro Pat is in Columbia, though I'm not sure he's actively teaching at the moment. It's been a while since I've been able to make it back that way. That said, he doesn't do a whole lot with silat anyway. His stuff is more rooted in kali, kickboxing, and bando. (That being the case, I don't have muc experience with silat myself.) Guro Steve does more with the silat. I'd encourage you to stick with him for a bit if you enjoyed the class. He's good people.


Stuart

[Herk]

Steve Braun's class looked pretty good actually. He's a nice guy and seems to know his stuff...Guro wilson is down the street from my job, so I'll check him out also. Where is Pat Finley located?
If you don't mind, when you check out Guro Wilson, can you give us an update? I tried like heck last year to contact him but was unsuccessful. I heard he travels a lot fue to business.

[Herk]

Oh, check out Ronn Hebb too. RHEBB21269@aol.com (I think this still works)
Last I checked he was supposed to be starting classes in the Arlington area, but I haven't followed up in a year.

Or Erik Harris at http://members.cox.net/eharris2/cimac/#Info. Really good guy!

[gungfujoe]

Can anyone recomend or share experiences with any silat instructors in the md/dc/va area? I'm searching for a good silat school, but I'm unable to tell a good school/instructor from a bad one, dueto my limited knowledge of fma's. I checked out Steve Braun's class and it looked pretty good. HAs anyone trained with him? Any criteria for good fma's/instructors ? Thank in advance to anyone who provides any info.
I teach an art that has aspects of Silat as well as Gung Fu and Kun Tao, based on the teaching of Willem Reeders, in Alexandria. If you're looking for "pure Silat" (though many pesilat argue that there is no such thing), I can't help, but from what I've seen from the pesilat I've encountered, our art has heavy Silat influence. I shared a few things at a weekend seminar hosted by a Silat instructor in PA yesterday, and the host was joking with me about stealing his Cimande techniques and showing them. :)

My classes are informal and small, and most of my students are currently beginners (with a couple that are approaching intermediate). You can find more info at http://www.kungfu-silat.com

While I'm posting, I might as well plug a seminar that I'm hosting next month. Joe Salomone (my teacher) will be teaching a four-hour seminar on Saturday, Sept 17th, here in Alexandria. Anyone interested will find more info here: http://www.kungfu-silat.com/seminar.html

A friend of mine, Wona Sumantri, teaching Silat at the Indonesian Embassy (He also teaches a class in Sterling). His is a modern Silat system, and he's quite an impressive martial artist. His club's site is located here: http://www.al-azharsilat.org/

Rob McKay has a Mande Muda Silat class in Arnold, MD. I've trained with him a few times, and he's both a very good martial artist and a really nice guy. His website is here: http://www.pecahan.com/

[gungfujoe]

Oh, check out Ronn Hebb too. RHEBB21269@aol.com (I think this still works)
Last I checked he was supposed to be starting classes in the Arlington area, but I haven't followed up in a year.

Or Erik Harris at http://members.cox.net/eharris2/cimac/#Info. Really good guy!
Raul,

What's Ron's background? I did a web search, and found a few references to his Silat classes (apparently geared towards people who work where he teaches, since they're around lunchtime on weekdays), but nothing specific. I'll try to get in touch with him.

[Herk]

Hey Erik, how's it going?

As far as Ron's background, I'm not to sure. I found a reference to him before I found your school, so I emailed him and it seemed that he was teaching out of a military training center for military and DoD type people in Arlington. He said that he was opening a school, or would be teaching full time but that was the last I heard. I've never met him personally, but I know he still is active in teaching because I got a email message about a seminar he was hosting a few months ago.

I wish my Sat's were free so I could make it to your class!

Raul

[lifeflows]

Can anyone recomend or share experiences with any silat instructors in the md/dc/va area? I'm searching for a good silat school, but I'm unable to tell a good school/instructor from a bad one, dueto my limited knowledge of fma's. I checked out Steve Braun's class and it looked pretty good. HAs anyone trained with him? Any criteria for good fma's/instructors ? Thank in advance to anyone who provides any info.

We run a local silat study group in WEestminster Marland. Detail are available from me, Brad www.lifeflows@yahoo.com or Morgan Thomas of Sharkee's at morgan.thomas@verizon.net, drop either a note for information. I recommend Dr. Sobel's school in Harfor county Marlyalnd. He is fantastic!
Another best of the best, is Grand master Shah Ha Maasi, who can teach you silat and Bando and etc. etc., does only private lessons, is a little expensive, but worth every penny! He is in Baltimore. Email him for availablity and rates at www.mfundishi@comcast.net.. If you want individual lessons he is where I go, besides Doc. For a fun group, very reasonable and where you invest sweat equity, call us! We train every other Thursday night in Westminster.
Thanks.
Brad

[lifeflows]

Can anyone recomend or share experiences with any silat instructors in the md/dc/va area? I'm searching for a good silat school, but I'm unable to tell a good school/instructor from a bad one, dueto my limited knowledge of fma's. I checked out Steve Braun's class and it looked pretty good. HAs anyone trained with him? Any criteria for good fma's/instructors ? Thank in advance to anyone who provides any info.

We run a local silat study group in WEestminster Marland. Detailsof are available from me, Brad www.lifeflows@yahoo.com or Morgan Thomas of Sharkee's at morgan.thomas@verizon.net, drop either a note for information. I recommend Dr. Sobel's school in Harford county Maryland. He is fantastic!
Another best of the best, is Grand Master Sha Ha Maasi, who can teach you silat and Bando and etc. etc., does only private lessons, is a little expensive, but worth every penny! He is in Baltimore. Email him for availablity and rates at www.mfundishi@comcast.net.. If you want individual lessons, he is where I go, besides Doc. For a fun group, very reasonable priced and where you invest sweat equity, call us! We train every other Thursday night in Westminster.
Thanks.
Brad