Hello, I'm New Here. Starting something new can alway a bit nerve-racking. We understand and are here for you. Guro Rick Faye (Found of MKG International) said something that we have taken very seriously. “Beginners are the heart of the art. Without beginners, the arts will die with us.” Here at MKG Madison we take … Read more
As an instructor, I get this question a lot, “What else can I do to get better?” The intention of this question is great! It shows a willingness to learn what it takes to develop. The question is asked with the thought there may be something “special” or “secret” that can be done to accelerate … Read more
The World’s Greatest White Belt . . . In just a few days many people will be traveling to the frozen north of Minneapolis, MN. to learn from the World’s Greatest White Belt, Daniel Arca Inosanto. Mr. Inosanto is known to many simply as Guro Dan. Guro Dan has been training martial arts for the … Read more
Failure . . . Don’t Be Afraid of Failure. It is necessary for success. This Week, I saw a short video from Will Smith (yes, the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire). It really made me think about how I approach failure. I will share the video and then share my thoughts . . . I … Read more
The Learning Cycle – Something Every Beginner Should Know!The Pilgrimage To Sit At The Foot of a Giant Every year, twice a year (in February and September)I make a pilgrimage of sorts. I gather up the tools of my trade, the tools of my passion, and make a 4 hour journey north. I have made this journey for the last 10 years. This … Read more
On occasion, I get the question; “Will Kali (Filipino Martial Arts) work in the real world?” That begs another question, “What is the real world?” I know that sounds like a question that Morpheus would ask Neo, but it really is an important question What is the Real World? When people ask that question, I understand … Read more
Why are training partners important? One of the things that makes MKG International stand apart from other martial arts schools is that we work with a partner from day one! Working with another person right away can help to develop some important aspects of martial arts training; things like timing, spacial awareness, distance regulation, and … Read more
For the past few weeks, I have been thinking about this idea of “Being Present”. One of the things I love about training martial arts is that it forces me to be in the present. Being in the present is something that I have a hard time doing. I am always dwelling on the past, things that could have done better or things that I am proud of. Those aren’t bad things in and of themselves, but if in we live our lives in the past we will miss what is in front of us. I also seem to spend a lot of time worrying about what could happen and how things could turn out in the future. Again, these are not bad thoughts to have. We need to plan and prepare, but if we spend too much time and thought on what could happen, we can miss out on what IS happening.
So today during daytime Phase class I was reminded of another reason why I love martial arts.
It forces you to be present, be in the moment. You get instant feedback of when you aren’t. When you are truly training in the moment there isn’t time for living in the past or looking forward to the future. It forces you to be alive and pay attention to what is going right at that very moment. If you aren’t present you will mess up the drill, get hit, hurt yourself or hurt you partner.
In life it is so easy to get distracted with the past (something we cant change) and the future (something we can’t predict). If we do either of those things, we miss what is right in front of us right now.
Our community strives to guide and support the individual in their journey. Using martial arts as a tool for Personal Discovery, Personal Development, and Personal Expression.