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Q.
How did you develop FCS and why?
A. FCS Pretty much started
in my back yard when a group of Filipino Martial Arts practitioners and myself wanted to get together and train in different
systems without having to deal with all the politics. Over several years, the group grew larger and larger. FCS had as a foundational
principle the concept of the group as an extended family as opposed to a political affiliation. It is a prerequisite of FCS
to leave your politics at the door. The group is based on friendships, on everyone accepting one another in friendship. It
was not my original intent to start a system. Prof. Remy Presas and other Masters encouraged me to develop FCS as a system.
They recognized that I wanted to propagate and promote all Filipino arts as opposed
to creating one of my own. Note that Filipino Combat Systems is plural. It is not just one system. It incorporates a broad range
of systems. I always try to give reference and respect to those who contributed to FCS.
Q. How is FCS different
from other systems?
A. Unlike other systems, which
focus on their own particular viewpoints and core concepts, FCS focuses on giving respect back to the other systems that are
a part of it. An FCS instructor can teach one of the core systems in its purity and at the same time merge aspects of the
various systems. The purity of the core systems is not lost but the system becomes more than the sum of its parts. FCS is
the link which allows the practicioner to bridge the gap between systems and techniques by utilizing the common denominators
that they all share.
Q. Is FCS compatible with other systems?
A. It is very compatible
with other systems. The Filipino arts were created as the systems of invaders were assimilated. I have tried to reverse engineer
some of these techniques back to their sources. I have found Chinese sytems like Wing Chung, Indonesian systems such as Silat
and even some Japanese fighting concepts influenced the Filipino Arts and FCS.
Q: I saw on the web site that Ray Cole has the dvd's for all the levels in your fcs kali system
on what you would need to know and do to be under you and your system. How does that work ? And have you had good results
from other people who have done it this way. Please let me know I'am very interested.
A. Many people who wanted to do long distance
training have asked us to develope this curricculum video series. Not everyone can come to florida to train, or host a seminar.
These videos have been a valuable tool in helping us spread the art. I've had several people come to The Gatherings having
had only the videos for their instruction. I have been pleased with the results. Of course there is no substitute for an actual
FCS instructor, and you still have to have the basic skills needed in any martial art. The videos however, do an excellent
job documenting and teaching the required materials.
For long distance training, the student must practice the material
on the videos along with the basic skills. He can then test for each level with any FCS instructor.
For level 5 through instructor level, the student must test
at one of the Gatherings(Clearwater, Tampa, Puerto Rico, Europe, etc..). This insures that the FCS seniors accepts the
student into the family, and that no one can falsely claim to be an FCS instructor.
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