FFS - Red Dragon Seminar

The Crew of Red Dragon - Dedicated and Keen

Double Team Stick Restraints - Painful and Funny (to me anyway!!!)

I was honoured to have been invited back to teach at Red Dragon Kung Fu in Queensland last weekend.

Headed by Sifu Brett Fenton, he runs one of the most impressive and professional gyms I have ever experienced. He has qualifications in various Chinese arts, and is an accredited FFS Instructor>

It was also great to see familiar friends and faces, who have been "regulars" in many of my seminars there.

This seminar was a little different in that I covered more of the traditional Kalis Ilustrisimo concepts. My original foundation in the Filipino Martial Arts.

We started with the basic vertical angles of attack, with variations in angles to "deceive" the opponent into reading which angle the attacks will travel.

Then we moved onto "disarming". This was the more enjoyable part of the seminar. In a few minutes of tuition, sticks were being disarmed and airborne EVERYWHERE. In fact, it became a challenge to "launch" the sticks to opposing partners all around the floor. Evasion and dodging was a requisite. Attendees became very adept. I then related these Ilustrisimo moves to their Si Lim Tao forms, and more specifically to the Fuk Sao hand position.

We then wrapped up by going through various stick restraints and locking.....more fun, as the pain threshold was tested.

All in all - A FANTASTIC DAY.

A big bonus for me was the opportunity to attend John Will's seminar before mine.

A genius in his teaching methods. I ALWAYS walk away with valuable methods in the grappling arts.

This tour, John covered moves in the "half guard" and variations to the "head lock".....MOST EXCELLENT!!!

I'm looking forward to meeting up again with my friends up north.

FLORO / NORTON Seminar in Shepparton 2009

(From left to right: Ben Hamilton, Ray Floro, Richard Norton)

1st Febuary I had the extreme pleasure to teach a back to back seminar with the legendary Richard Norton.

Being the consumate gentleman he allowed me to teach first.

Well..........I made darn sure I did because it was hitting close to 50 degrees in the non-airconditioned gym, so I was sure that I'd be half dead by the time midday hit.

I went through my standard empty hand vs knife program with the use of the magazine as an aid to defending yourself against edged weapons.

The attendees of 40-50 martial artists received it well. In fact, I was very impressed that even with the stifling heat, no one slacked off.

There was a great mix of different systems in the audience, the majority being "Zendo's" (great bunch of people) to Muay Thai practitioners (always good to have them) to those that had grappling experience.......

I always make it a point to show them how they can find FFS in THEIR system.

I love taking selected moves in their forms and katas, and show them how it translates exactly to FFS moves.

It again proves, that NO STYLE is superior; but interpreting moves and their applications is what is important in understanding concepts.

Richard then covered the popular and successful SPEAR system. He's a great teacher and an infinitely better martial artist than I'll ever be. Not only that but a TOP BLOKE.

It was also great to catch up with my good friends Robert Halaijian and Kacey Chong. I'm looking forward to catching up with them on the 21st and 22nd, where we will do a joint seminar together for the Martial Arts Bushfire Appeal for the victims of the Victorian fires.

Last but not least HUGE thanks to Mick Clark and Ben Hamilton for making this possible

New Blog Spot for FFS

For the past year, I've been struggling with my old blog spot.....NOTHING WORKED.



So (thanks to my wife). I've opted for a more simple working blog.

Following my motto. SIMPLICITY

This may not be the greatest looking blog, but at least I'll be posting more often because...........................................

THE BLOODY THING WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!