sparring partners 2

[DeeTee]

Hi,

I'm looking for sparring partners for stickfighting in the London or surrounding areas. Any format whatsoever, corto, full contact, stand up only, padded or live sticks, minimal armour....

Anyone interested please write via PM.

Thanks,

[DeeTee]

OK, after 57 viewers and no response, I'm willing to travel (within reason) as long as it's on a like for like basis.

[YODA]

Come on people there must be someone in the South East who is willing to bash sticks with DeeTee.

I know DeeTee and can vouch for his open mindedness and general "good eggness" :D

[DeeTee]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the support.

North, East, South or West, it doesn't matter to me. An hour and a half to 2 hours in either direction is ok. Maybe I should change tactics and offer to pay!!!

[DeeTee]

Ok, this is looking like a lost cause now, but it does beg one or two questions. Firstly, I'm wondering what those involved in the FMA here are hoping to get from their studies? I see these arts as purely combative and one gets to a point where the only way forward is to learn through sparring. My overiding impression of the FMA in the UK is that it has produced, for the most part, a population of drill enthusiasts who can do a thousand and one disarms out of box, screw you up every which way in Hubad, but can't apply any of it in real time. After more than 2 decades of training and studying I've become overwhelmingly disillusioned and disheartened with the direction the art has taken here and the fact that honor and integrity has been sold out for commercialism egos and empire builders. This may not be a fact for you but it has certainly been my experience and remains true for me. Some truths aren't always universal. I'd hoped that once all the BS had died away with the WEKAF ****e, the authentic aspects of the art would gain more recognition. Sadly despite the efforts of one or two individuals this hasn't been the case. Even those individuals have given up the ghost now. What we have in the UK now are people who feel that Eskrima is one of two extremes. It's either two combatants covered from head to toe battering each other with toothpicks or it's the Dog Brothers approach. Both I feel are way off the mark.
Anyone for sparring? Don't bother. Stick with box pattern, hubad, tapi tapi, sinawalli, pak gang etc. Should you become a teacher one day it will be these drills that make your students stay around a little longer and put an extra 20 quid in your pocket.

[SoKKlab]

Sorry DeeTee,
It must be frustrating not being able to find sparring partners in this big metropolis.

I would volunteer, but I know diddly squat about Stick Work and not a massive amount about Filipino arts in general, so you'd only end up teaching me, which is not what you are looking for.

[krys]

I understand what you mean....
The best way to learn escrima and to keep your motivation is to go to the Philipines and learn there (under a GM).....
My training partner and i stoped taking classes a long time ago in France as it was useless prefering to train in the Ph. islands whenever possible....
Now I have to cross the channel once a month to spare with him as I couldn't find a good t.p. in the place I live, thanks god I am going to settle to the Philippines in eight months.....

[juramentado]

Originally posted by krys
I understand what you mean....
The best way to learn escrima and to keep your motivation is to go to the Philipines and learn there (under a GM).....
My training partner and i stoped taking classes a long time ago in France as it was useless prefering to train in the Ph. islands whenever possible....
Now I have to cross the channel once a month to spare with him as I couldn't find a good t.p. in the place I live, thanks god I am going to settle to the Philippines in eight months.....

Your settling here? where in the country? :)

[DeeTee]

Hi Krys,

Thanks for you reply.

Been there on a number of occassions and continue to do so. However, you still ned people to train with / teach when you return. Sometimes your own students aren't enough. You have to know how your art stands up against other styles that have a different appraoch to you. You have to go against people you don't know to get an honest assessment of where you're at. And this is the hard part because when you go down that road most people feel you have alternative motives, or feel that they have something to lose, when infact the reverse is true. Everyone gains. For myself, I have 4 students, don't advertise, don't charge, rarely accept new students, have nothing to prove to anyone except myself and have nothing to lose.

Where are you located by the way? UK?

[krys]

Hello Juramentado,

Yes I will settle to Manila, the Philippines Islands are real jewels for martial arts as there is a wide choice (arnis, silat, kung fu, kuntao, dumog and many many unknown local arts) and competent instructors.....
My training partner will also go there for a long time as he will prepare his PhD at UP....

I would prefer to live in Mindanao but will have to work in Manila, Manila is nice too....

DeeTee, In France my t.p. and I actually gave up the idea of practicing fmas (and martial arts in general) as we were really disgusted by what we were taught by poor-fake instructors.... it was during one of my trips to SEA in the Philippines that motivation came back and I could convince my former t.p. and best friend to train again.......

What you say is true..... but the Cinco Terros Arnis style I practice has an internal side, looks really like a traditional chinese martial art with forms, stances and many exercises to practice alone..... there are to my knowledge no drills so that keeps me busy when I cannot fight....

I tried to teach traditional arnis to a few students for free but they didn't like it because they weren't shown drills....
(Cinco Terros has no drills, exercises done with a partner are more on defending/countering random attacks at different speeds, practicing evasion while unarmed, and sparring)
and it looked weird to them and too hard to keep good stances while training and practicing hard footwork as they were used to McDojo stuff (drills and disarming).....

I live in the north of Scotland ......

[Scotty Dog]

Hi Dee Tee,

You know there's an open offer north of the boarder for you.

I know it's not much use but hope it get's your spirits back up :)

[DeeTee]

Hi Krys,

"I tried to teach traditional arnis to a few students for free but they didn't like it because they weren't shown drills...."

That about sums it up doesn't it?

I wish you all the best for your training and future in Manila.

Doug

[krys]

Thanks Doug, same for you.... hope you will find a training partner.

[juramentado]

Originally posted by krys
Hello Juramentado,

Yes I will settle to Manila, the Philippines Islands are real jewels for martial arts as there is a wide choice (arnis, silat, kung fu, kuntao, dumog and many many unknown local arts) and competent instructors.....
My training partner will also go there for a long time as he will prepare his PhD at UP....

I would prefer to live in Mindanao but will have to work in Manila, Manila is nice too....




that's great. Email me when you get here. I'd like to meet your and set up a Manila MAP EB :)

[krys]

walang problema, I'll email you when i'll be there ) ...

Cheers.

[bladefighter]

"""""Sadly despite the efforts of one or two individuals this hasn't been the case. Even those individuals have given up the ghost now. What we have in the UK now are people who feel that Eskrima is one of two extremes. It's either two combatants covered from head to toe battering each other with toothpicks or it's the Dog Brothers approach. Both I feel are way off the mark.
Anyone for sparring? Don't bother. Stick with box pattern, hubad, tapi tapi, sinawalli, pak gang etc. Should you become a teacher one day it will be these drills that make your students stay around a little longer and put an extra 20 quid in your pocket.""""

WHOOO hold your horses man.... firstly i agree with what you are saying... but instead of getting angry with people on this forum not responding to your POST.... take a look around you aim sure you have eskrima clubs willing to spar with you..

how about the warriors clun and their master K. Godhania who proclaims to be the next grandmaster of the balitok and warriors eskrima systems im sure he or his top students will spar you

[DeeTee]

Angry? Yes your right, I am.

Krishna? Warriors? What's that, a wind up?

"Bladefighter" is an impressive name. What's your real one and background? Just curious as your profile doesn't have any info in it?

[Charbodan]

Hey DeeTee,

I guess it just shows how much you like it, that you are upset. Suffering from the same issues here in Brisbane Australia.

To few practice FMA and those that do are either keeping it to themselves or no longer practicing. I get frustrated by this because it is such an effective combative art. I see some of the schools over in the States, Canada and the Filipines that have large numbers attending. Very envious.

I am going to the Filipines later this year.

I don't know what it is, I guess a lot of people are afraid or something. Once I tried it Arnis I was hooked.


You may wish to try advertising at some martial art stores for people who are interested. Not sure if they do that were you are, but in some good stores you can leave leaflets etc

There's no money involved you may just find someone.

Good luck, hopefully someone will turn up in your area.

[Gryphon Hall]

I tried to teach traditional arnis to a few students for free but they didn't like it because they weren't shown drills....
Unfortunately, there are a lot of students like that in the Philippines also, but not that much.

DeeTee, too bad you live to far away; I would have loved to just spar.

Pax.

[DeeTee]

Hi Pax,

I was in Manila last April training and will likely be there again next year. If you're still around maybe we can hook up then. I stay in Bagong Barrio. Novaliches isn't that far away - is that right?

[Gryphon Hall]

That would be splendid! If you do come, I may bring my brother and a friend (they are Estel Authorion and Shuyun3, respectively on this forum). They also believe in sparring. I hope you aren't disapponted with me, though, because I am the only one among us not formally trained; rather, I learned sparring with my brother, so am a bit self-taught. They have trained in Lightning Arnis and other Japanese or Chinese sword styles. I could hold my own against them, but I also know that it is a very different thing getting used to an individual's personal style and being able to do it in real life. So I may not present much of a challenge to you, but I am still more than willing to "have a go at it". It is, after all, a really effective way to learn to be effective.

By the way, I'm not Pax. I end with "Pax" because it's latin for "Peace", based on "Qui desiderat pacem, prepaeret bellum" (He who desires peace, prepare for war). I should have done that in italics. My name is Joy.

Pax.

Joy. :love:

[shuyun3]

That would be splendid! If you do come, I may bring my brother and a friend (they are Estel Authorion and Shuyun3, respectively on this forum). They also believe in sparring. I hope you aren't disapponted with me, though, because I am the only one among us not formally trained; rather, I learned sparring with my brother, so am a bit self-taught. They have trained in Lightning Arnis and other Japanese or Chinese sword styles. I could hold my own against them, but I also know that it is a very different thing getting used to an individual's personal style and being able to do it in real life. So I may not present much of a challenge to you, but I am still more than willing to "have a go at it". It is, after all, a really effective way to learn to be effective.

By the way, I'm not Pax. I end with "Pax" because it's latin for "Peace", based on "Qui desiderat pacem, prepaeret bellum" (He who desires peace, prepare for war). I should have done that in italics. My name is Joy.

Pax.

Joy. :love:
And Joy is a dude and definitely straight. Well i'm not really so lofty in my escrima skills i haven't had time to train much. But i do practice and compare notes whenever i can with Gryphon and his bro. I might just be able to invite a dude whose wanted to spar with me for quite sometime. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to join.

We've been using live sticks and get pretty welted from it and get busted fingernails in the end.

I wouldn't mind getting like that again (hehehe).

Please, do come.

[DeeTee]

Hi Shuyun3,

More lessons can be learnt from even a few sessions sparring live sticks and no armour than can be taught in a multitude of formal classes. Namely just how much red horse or ginebra one needs to consume to dull the pain!!

Thanks for the invite, I am looking forward to meeting up with you guys and exchanging thumb nails!

[Jax]

If your ever coming near or past birmingham i would love to go a few round with you. I normally use padded stick with no armour, theres quite allot of people around here to spar with my garden is perfect for it aswell :)

Welcome to stop by anytime just lemmie know :D

[DeeTee]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply an offer.

I'll be up in Birmingham soon for Seni. Maybe we can arrange a time to get together then and put a few rounds in. Maybe we can mix it up a bit and spar a few rounds padded stick and a few rounds live, no armour or hand guards. Let me know what you think.

It certainly seems like the Midlands has become the new Mecca for training and you appear well situated. London has become pretty quiet in recent years. In the meantime, if you're ever down south, look me up.

[NeilX66]

DT

Check out John Harveys' site, he's running low armour / no armour full contact bouts throughout the year, www.kapatiran-arnis.co.uk, and check the calendar page for the next one, I spoke to him last night and he said your welcome to come along. His contact details are on the site, if you don't already have them.

I agree with you on the direction the arts seem to be taking, a lot of people seem to be under the impression that being able to do a drill really fast is the be all and end all of the FMA's, and not seeing them for what they are, a teaching tool.

Neil

[DeeTee]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the info.

DT

[Jax]

was just reading that web site neil posted and came across this -

April 24/25th. SENI martial arts exhibition to be held at the NEC, Birmingham

is this what you are coming upto birmingham to do?

what is this event consist of i might try to go if i can.

[NeilX66]

http://www.senishow.com/

Not really an event, more of a showcase for current styles avaialable in the UK, plus stalls etc to buy equipment, meet people etc

Neil

[Jax]

oh i am sooo there :D

my eskrima trainer (krishna) got a team there he aint mentioned nothing to me yet...biyatch

[Jax]

hey deetee whats your msn, closer the time we can arrange a bit of sparring or summit?

[diablo despacio]

North, East, South or West, it doesn't matter to me. An hour and a half to 2 hours in either direction is ok. Maybe I should change tactics and offer to pay!!![/QUOTE]

I'M UP FOR SOME SPARRING :D

[DeeTee]

Hi diablo,

Thanks for the call. Yeah, still in South London right opposite the Brixton Hilton.

It was good to catch up with you again after so long. Once the Christmas break is out of the way we'll sort something out. In the meantime have a good Christmas.

Doug

[diablo despacio]

Yeah doug twas nice would definately be up for catching up in the new year would like to pick yer brains about some topics ?

neil :D

[DeeTee]

".....would like to pick yer brains about some topics ?"

No problem - shouldn't take too long but please feel free!

I spoke to Stef in Brighton this evening. He said he'll call you soon.

[diablo despacio]

Nice :)

[Pat OMalley]

Hey Dee Tee,

Just noticed this thread, If your ever up in Yorkshire, call me, we can always share a few beers and a few bruises.

And if I'm ever down south, I'll give you the nod.

regards

Pat

[Taiji Butterfly]

Hi DeeTee
I've never done any escrima in my life, but I'm up for learning anything so if you ever want to come to Rochester on a wednesday morning I really want to learn about sparring and stick fighting (even if I do keep getting battered by all the people I train with so far lol)
Cheers
N

[DeeTee]

Hey Dee Tee,

Just noticed this thread, If your ever up in Yorkshire, call me, we can always share a few beers and a few bruises.

And if I'm ever down south, I'll give you the nod.

regards

Pat

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the offer. I look forward to meeting up you at some point wherever and whenever that may be. Even if it's only to clarify and expand on some of the stories exchanged recently in our PM's.

Keep well.

Doug

[DeeTee]

Hi DeeTee
I've never done any escrima in my life, but I'm up for learning anything so if you ever want to come to Rochester on a wednesday morning I really want to learn about sparring and stick fighting (even if I do keep getting battered by all the people I train with so far lol)
Cheers
N

Hi N,

thanks very much for your reply.

Unfortunately, i work Monday - Thursday and teach on Fridays. I hope you are able to locate a good instructor soon and that the bruises go down in time for him to replace them! Welcome to FMA!

All the best.

Doug

[Pat OMalley]

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the offer. I look forward to meeting up you at some point wherever and whenever that may be. Even if it's only to clarify and expand on some of the stories exchanged recently in our PM's.

Keep well.

Doug
Sounds good to me:D

regards

Pat

[XTrainer]

DeeTee,

I was interested by your thoughts and comments in this thread. Are you able to recommend an eskrima instructor in the midlands?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Xtrainer

[DeeTee]

DeeTee,

I was interested by your thoughts and comments in this thread. Are you able to recommend an eskrima instructor in the midlands?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Xtrainer

Hi Xtrainer,

Sorry but I cant think of anyone. I'm sure some else on MAP will be able to help you find an instructor. The only advice I would give is to first be sure what it is you're looking for with respect to your training in the FMA go from there. Different instructors emphasise different areas of training.

Good luck.

Doug

[P01fro]

Hello DeeTee,

I am originally from Berlin but from May to the end of July this year I am working on my Bachelor Thesis at the Queen Mary University of London.

I've been doing some escrima for the last 5 years and I would like to keep up my training and sparring while I am here in London. Because of this I am looking for (a) sparring partner(s) with whom I could meet from time to time to improve my skills.

So if you are still interested in sparring in London give me a call via Private Message.

Hope to hear from you soon,


Lars Schreiber (aka P01fro)

[Damien Alexander]

Angry? Yes your right, I am.

Krishna? Warriors? What's that, a wind up?

"Bladefighter" is an impressive name. What's your real one and background? Just curious as your profile doesn't have any info in it?

whats yours? you don't have any background info either.

What type of live stick do you prefer to fight with?
any systems? any preference of fighting style..i.e,single stick? double stick?
everything and anything goes?

I'm in the SE,but I want some info first.
I am trying to get some action going in crystal palace park myself.
I have about 6-10 students who are brand spankin new at the whole stick thing and I would like to know who or what kind of person(or people) I'm dealing with.
and to be honest,since this is the net and you can't tell much about true personality....you sound like you just want to beat people with a stick and thats it.(and thats not entirely a bad thing;-))
If you're looking to exchange ideas and techniques as well as a good match....

[Damien Alexander]

DeeTee,
I just re-read your original post.
I totally missed the"PM" part!

Sorry dude!

[Damien Alexander]

Hey DeeTee,

I got your text.My phone is acting up...I had to turn it off to stop it from vibrating!
So its not letting me reply at the moment.
I tried to PM you,but you box is full.
Email me if you want and we can sort something out.
I am jammed this week,cept for thursday when I have my class.
BTW....its right up the road from the pub if you want to stop by.

But it sounds good to me!