Although we have used the Godai analogy to describe the 4 AFA that makes up STMA, it is also true that each Art can manifest the 4 elements.Each element is a manifestation of your inner feeling:Earth - confidenceWater - fearFire - AngerWind - compassionThe physical postures, called kamae, and movements are manifestations of these feelings in combat.It is a MISTAKE to believe you can select to be one element and fight that way as you need to adapt and respond as the need arises. The only eleme... Read Full Story

This is an amusing anecdote.As you know, in kali, we use 12 angles of attack and defence.Angle 13 refers to any backward upwards strike that doesn't involve turning - a heel kick, groin slap, upward elbow to chin - all done to an attacker from behind.When grabbed from behind I always do a 13 groin slap before turning to deal with the attacker - it puts him on the defensive so I am turning to make my attack. It's a combat concept.When you work the door inevitably your radio earpiece ge... Read Full Story

We now have a more comprehensive price list for STMA kit:Essential listGloves for sparringBag gloves for impact and light sparring £15Boxing gloves for FC £20Gumshield £1.50Stix £15A pair of stix for krabi, sinawalli and serrada.Judo gi £30Recomended list:Groin guard £10for guysHeadguardSC foam head £15FC full face £30Shinguards £10For kbClothingKung fu pants or gi pants £10Boxing boots £25WeaponsBokken £10Shinai £2... Read Full Story

This is an amusing anecdote.As you know, in kali, we use 12 angles of attack and defence.Angle 13 refers to any backward upwards strike that doesn't involve turning - a heel kick, groin slap, upward elbow to chin - all done to an attacker from behind.When grabbed from behind I always do a 13 groin slap before turning to deal with the attacker - it puts him on the defensive so I am turning to make my attack. It's a combat concept.When you work the door inevitably your radio earpiece ge... Read Full Story

Here is a real world analogy - a doorman on duty at a nightclub.The technique we use here is the right hand KO punch, but in four different examples, each a manifestation of an element of the Godai.Each scenario presented here is a real situation I have faced in my career. There is NO THEORY here - each example is 100% REAL!EarthStanding on the door you are Earth, the mountain, the oak tree, immovable. You tell a customer he can't come in. You are strong and confident. Nobody is getting p... Read Full Story

Although we have used the Godai analogy to describe the 4 AFA that makes up STMA, it is also true that each Art can manifest the 4 elements.Each element is a manifestation of your inner feeling:Earth - confidenceWater - fearFire - AngerWind - compassionThe physical postures, called kamae, and movements are manifestations of these feelings in combat.It is a MISTAKE to believe you can select to be one element and fight that way as you need to adapt and respond as the need arises. The only eleme... Read Full Story

Here is a real world analogy - a doorman on duty at a nightclub.The technique we use here is the right hand KO punch, but in four different examples, each a manifestation of an element of the Godai.Each scenario presented here is a real situation I have faced in my career. There is NO THEORY here - each example is 100% REAL!EarthStanding on the door you are Earth, the mountain, the oak tree, immovable. You tell a customer he can't come in. You are strong and confident. Nobody is getting past ... Read Full Story

Although I have used the Godai analogy to describe the 4 AFA that makes up STMA, it is also true that each Art can manifest the 4 elements.Each element is a manifestation of your inner feeling:Earth - confidenceWater - fearFire - AngerWind - compassionThe physical postures, called kamae, and movements are manifestations of these feelings in combat.It is a MISTAKE to believe you can select to be one element and fight that way as you need to adapt and respond as the need arises. The only elemen... Read Full Story

The Godai is read from the ground up:VoidWindFireWaterEarththese are the elementsHowever another version of the elements:MetalWoodFireWaterEarththis version can be seen in the Gotonpo of Ninjutsu - the elements of escape.The 5 elements appears in the Western mysticism as well - the 5 elements are a big part of pagan and wiccan symbolism.Ths is similar to how the number 3 pops up - the torite kihon sanpo, how we have 3 ranges in serrada, and 3 drills, each with 3 moves. And in wiccan, the 3 as... Read Full Story

This comparison with the Godai is only a metaphor and not to be taken too literally. It is a model of consciousness, a way to understand the program.Like the gears of a car, you need to change between the elements as the need arises.It is a mistake to think "I'll be fire and beat everyone that way". Every karate "master" who was taken to the mat and choked out by a Gracie found out the folly of this approach. You need to have all 4 elements.But the final goal is to be a White Tiger not a repr... Read Full Story