Here you'll find some answers to questions that you might have about what we do. If there are any questions that you have please direct them to Jason at jason@innercirclecombatives.com
Q. What does FMA stand for again?
A. Well in a nutshell FMA is an acronym for Filipino Martial Arts.
Q. Isn't Inner Circle Combatives a 'pro-violence' kind of name?
A. No. The name of our club simply reflects that you have joined a select club; an 'Inner Circle' of friends and like-minded people, the 'Combatives' part is what we do. We are not a fluff club that will teach you a thousand techniques where one principle will do.
Q. Jason, what's the deal with the skull and the violent sword and beatin' stick? Are you a gang or group of wanna be pirates that attack little old ladies?
A. Well the choice of skull and sword and stick tries to embody a sense of seriousness of what we do. Although as a natural result there is honor, respect and all the other stuff associated with learning a martial art, we teach a no-nonsense approach to self preservation. The skull has a certain respect attached to it, and to make it more 'user friendly' we settled on a stylized skull. The blade and stick are in respect to the Filipino arts that we teach and love. Sorry, no gangs or pirates here.
Q. What can I expect to learn from you Jason?
A. Well for starters, you can expect to not learn a way of combative thinking that will result in making you a walking death machine that can and will unleash on your loved ones if they so much as touch you. You will however, learn an effective system of combat that can be 'turned on' when needed. And you can still enjoy the times when your kids do a sneak attack on you without breaking their necks. The Filipino Martial Arts have been used in combat for a very long time and practitioners still have families and friends.
Q. Jason, what's the difference between Arnis, Escrima and Kali?
A. In actual fact there isn't much of a difference between these designations. The use of these titles along with many others identify the Filipino Martial Arts in general. There are also other arts like Sikaran, Panantukan, Suntukan, Hagabis, Dumog (doo moe) and others that are included under the FMA banner. Arnis and Escrima are older terms that identify stick and sword/knife fighting. Kali on the other hand is a relatively new term that has been misidentified as an ancient one. There are schools that have a "Kali" component to their system that still believe that its the "mother" art and therefore the true 'combative' art of the Philippines. Unfortunately, the word Kali does not exist in the islands except in the Visayas or where it was introduced by westerners. Kalis on the other hand means sword and could possibly be where the misinformation started. But whether an art focuses on blade or stick, the body mechanics are the same and are effective. So as the old saying goes... " A Rose by any other name is still a Rose."
Q. Is FMA more like an onion or a parfait?
A. Interesting question. I would say parfait... cause everyone likes a parfait. In fact the more time you dedicate to the FMA the more you understand the completeness of it. You must understand that the FMA have been in active military use for centuries. The world today seeing the FMA for the first time, identifies it as a stick-based art that focuses on 'hammering' an opponent with a rattan stick. The stick however, is a training tool that was utilized as such because of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and the subsequent outlawing of the practice of the martial traditions of the blade. As you practice and study the art, you realize that the same movements that you have been using for stick, translates to blade and empty hand fighting. Mmmm... Parfaits.
Q. Say... Isn't Lex Talionis Latin for something?
A. Correct. Lex Talionis is Latin for the Law of Retaliation. In legal context, it is defined as retributive justice. Some might say 'an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" is a example of this thinking. Or in other words, having the punishment be equal to or greater than the crime perpetrated. In part of the definition it mentions taking revenge, we however do not nor will we ever endorse nor condone revenge. In the moment is one thing, but revenge after the fact takes premeditation.
Now, in the context of Inner Circle Combatives, we use Lex Talionis as a reminder that we have liberties that we enjoy in this fair country of ours. As part of that freedom we have the right to defend ourselves and our loved ones from harm. *now here comes my opinion* If someone dares to violate those freedoms (ie attacks you or your loved ones (friends included)), I believe that we have every right to protect those that feel threatened by someone or by a group, using what force is necessary. Now 'what force necessary' is a grey area. Let it be said that if all it takes is a slap across the face to stop someone, let it end at that.
