Peter Lewis

Thanks for the contact details - I overlooked your reply last time I visited this site which was quite awhile ago.

I have sent him an email now so hopefully I will get a reply soon.

Hello,

I was looking around for FMA training in Canberra and found your reply to Midnight Dog. The reply is quite old though and I was wondering if you knew if there is anyone teaching FMA in Canberra now?

Thanks in advance for any help

Hi Midnight

The boxing training will be an excellent foundation to your introduction into the FMA. For your own development and solo practice, you could try adding in head butts, knee and elbows as this is more akin to the Filipino Boxing form of Pangamut.

If you do manage to get a pair of rattan sticks, then you could practice some basic techniques. Start with a downward 'X' pattern...so the right hand would strike from the right shoulder to the left hip, then rise to the left shoulder and strike towards the right hip. Obviously a little difficult to convey this properly via this forum. :-)

Good luck and keep asking any questions that come to mind

Best regards

Peter

Peter,

Just wanted to let you know, Rey got back to me. My email junked his message, luckily I checked the folder in time or I would never have seen it. He's still based in Canberra. He asked me to write back when I move there, which I certainly will. I'm not sure if he takes classes there or not, but individual training would be pretty amazing as well, if I could afford it.

I wanted to ask, since you obviously have a lot of experience with FMA - is there anything you recommend for a beginner to do or practice without a trainer? To get a head-start, I suppose? I am taking standard Western boxing in the hope that would help.

Midnight

No problem, Peter, there's certainly no rush. I won't even be living in Canberra until next year. I'll contact you and let you know if I don't hear from him in a week or so. Thank you for your help, I'll definitely stay in touch.

Midnight

I have no doubt of the combat effectiveness of the system, it seems highly respected in the FMA community. I gather that you're a member of the Bakbakan organisation? I sent off an email to Mr Galang a few days ago and mentioned your name. I haven't heard back from him; I don't know whether that means he's changed email, checks it infrequently, or perhaps just doesn't like strangers introducing themselves :P I made it as casual and respectful as I could, but I read in quite a few places that Bakbakan is quite an exclusive organisation, and that you usually need to know someone in it. Especially if you're a rank beginner, as I am :P Is there much truth to that? It would explain Mr Galang's silence.

Thank you very much, Peter. I'll contact him and make some enquiries. I'm not familiar with the Bakbakan organisation but from having a look around online it looks like just what I'm after.

Midnight