|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Welcome to my martial arts page. I have
been training in martial arts for over 4 years. I have obtained the
rank of Likah (or better known as Brown Belt). I go to Kicks and
Sticks Martial Arts Studio where I am known by the nickname Captain
Kidney. Kicks and Sticks Martial Arts Studio is owned by Guro Ernest
Laberge and is located at 70 Cottage Street in Easthampton,
Massachusetts. We train in all sorts of forms of Martial Arts but it
specifically focuses on the Filipino Martial Arts and Modern Arnis.
We are currently ranked #2 among bronze schools according to the
ZDK Warrior newsletter.
Kicks and Sticks Filipino
Martial Arts Studio
|
Find out more:
Phone: (413) 527-7027
(Call for seminar hosting or
send
an
email!) Wednesday: 5:30pm-7pm (Adults Class) Thursday: 6pm-8pm (Adults
Class) |
|
Testing is a difficult time for everyone. The testing determines whether or not you are capable of advancing in rank. If you pass, then you receive your new rank at the next class after the belts and certificates arrive, if you don't, then you train for 6 months and try again. Testing occurs only twice a year, once in January and once in July. Testing is difficult and you can fail (although I've yet to see that happen to anyone). It is meant to put pressure on those taking the test because it shows how much knowledge you have under pressure as in real life situations.
If this bar represents how much knowledge you have in class:
.
then this one might represent what you have
under pressure: .
Big difference, huh? That's the point of testing to put pressure on you. It's not easy but it is worth it.
For each Martial Arts system, there is a different system of ranking, but there are almost always two ranks that remain the same, white belt and black belt. This is no different at Kicks and Sticks. Upon joining first the first time with no experience whatsoever, you have the rank of white belt. After testing year after year, with a lot of hard work and dedication you can reach the rank of black belt. Your rank is a guide that shows the instructor how much you know and it is also a goal for you, something that you must strive to attain. At Kicks and Sticks there is no pressure to gain rank quickly or special favoring for those at higher ranks, but there is a degree of respect for those who have managed to attain the rank of brown belt or higher. This respect is in the form of a new title. Those titles would be 'Likah' for those who have a brown belt or brown with a stripe and 'Lakan' or 'Dayang' for those who have a black belt. The ranking system is as follows:
White belt
Yellow belt (Antas Isa)
Yellow with a stripe (Antas Dalawa)
Orange (Antas Tatlo)
Orange with a stripe (Antas Apat)
Red (Antas Lima)
Red with a stripe (Antas Anim)
Green (Antas Pito)
Green with a stripe (Antas Walo)
Brown (Likah)
Brown with a stripe (Likah Isa)
Black (Male:Lakan/Female: Dayang)
A typical class varies during the year.
Usually we have a moderate to difficult warm up which includes: stick
work, some minor stretching, push-ups, crunches, and usually
something a little more difficult to end the warm up such as hopping
(hopping around the room in a squatting position), crab walking,
Roman Chair sit-ups (sitting on a partner's knees while doing
sit-up), or a combo of things like windspints or the circuit train
(running to four stations in the room and doing an exercise at each
station).
After the warm up, which is usually about half an hour, the real
class starts. Each class is slightly different, if testing is coming
up then requests are taken from the students and some time is
reserved for Anyo's (forms). Usually Wednesdays are reserved for
stick work and Thursdays are reserved for ground work.
Kicks and Sticks is a full contact studio giving you the opportunity to fight in simulated real-life situations. That means, while sparing, unless you are new, punches and swings will not be pulled and you will be hit. Although, at the time you will be wearing protective gear, it will still hurt to some degree.
Kicks and Sticks also offers a children's class. There are already several students in that class. The kid's class is for children under 10 years of age. The children do not spar, use sticks, or train in knife simulations like the adult's do. The children's class is completely empty hand, an hour long (7pm-8pm on Mondays and 11am-12am on Saturdays), and promotes control, flow, discipline, and respect.
