Happy New Year

Best wishes to all my students for 2011. I hope we can now continue our growth for 2011 and move forward in a progressive and exciting fashion. I want to thank all of you for your support throughout the past year and especially the Directors of the Association Alan, Dan, Tony and Mick who have been a rock for me. I look forward to seeing you all again on 10th Jan and to get back to some serious training again after the winter break. Best wishes and good luck for 2011... Liam

Student of the Month Competition.

New for 2011 we are introducing a "Student of the Month" Competition. Each month a student will win this award. This award will be based on a number of things for example, it may be,dedication to training, or a vast improvement in skills, or the ability to help others develop in class, or by introducing new students to the Art etc.... Each month the winner will be posted on the blog. At end of Jan 2011 we will announce our first winner. Good Luck everyone !

What does it mean to wear a Black Belt by Tony Devey

These are my personal thoughts and I am sure are echoed by many. A Black Belt is not what’s around your waist but

!!!! WHO YOU ARE!!!!

Wearing a Black Belt means only that, it’s something you wear. However if your prepared to accept the responsibilities which comes with wearing one only then do you have the right to call yourself a Black Belt.

Some of the responsibilities are
You treat your teachers with the up most respect
You treat your fellow students with the up most respect
You treat the art you are learning with the up most respect
You treat your own students with the up most respect
You lead by example
You leave any form of ego in the past where it belongs
You create a tolerance and patience for those whom strive to get where you are
You continue to train to keep a standard which allows you to earn continued respect from your pears and students alike,
Remember a Black Belt is someone that should be looked up to by everyone and completely respected. You should also remember you have a great deal of power and authority this is something again you have to completely respect. If you’re this person then you have the right to call yourself a Black Belt.

I started Silat many years ago after some time I set myself a goal to step up and train as hard as I could to earn my belt. Its only when I finally got it makes me realise what it actually means to wear one. It’s the start of a new and exciting line of training most certainly not a time to sit back and relax. There’s a joy and pleasure of passing on your knowledge to others. I have been very fortunate in learning from my teacher not only the skills required to qualify but the etiquette needed to stand firm lead by example and earn not only his respect but that of fellow instructors and students.

Remember your Black Belt is only the start for who and what you are. It’s completely up to you, the effort you put in to reach that initial goal the pride and satisfaction has to be sustained and built upon.

Thank you for taking time to read this and I hope it helps your journey in some way.

A Christmas Message from Guru Liam (click photo below to start)

Bad Weather

ALL REMAINING CLASSES BEFORE XMAS ARE POSTPONE DUE TO THE SEVERE BAD WEATHER CLASSES RESUME AGAIN IN NEW YEAR

FMA - event raises €635.00

A great big thank you to all the students who came along yesterday to help raise €535 and a furthur €100 in late donations for the Alice in Wonderland Foundation. A big thanks to Noel Mc Hugh of Nickelstick Eskrima and John Hoey of Warriors Eskrima who also help by co - instructing at the event. And finally a Big Thanks to Firhouse Community and Sports Center for giving the use of their facilities for free.

Maha Guru Richard Crabbe de Bordes Seminar Report

When I first move down to Dublin, one of the first things I made a promise to do was to bring Guru Richard to Dublin. It took alot longer than I had hope, but after 12 years I finally made it happen. For me Guru Richard is one of a few Gurus who I have been blessed by being able to learn from and give me my love of Silat. Not only is Guru Richard a Warrior but also a teacher and man of great insight and depth both physically and spiritually. He is the essence of Silat!

The first experience my students had with Guru was when he made a guest appearance at the children's grading, where 75 kids performed and tested in silat and self defence techniques, covering harimau aspects. Shortly after the test Guru Baharu Paul and his daughter performed a father and daughter silat demo, which show how the connections that silat can bring when families train together. Guru than made a speech to the kids explaining the benefits of silat training in school and family life and that they were the future of silat in Ireland. Shortly after this Guru Richard did a autograph signing and photograph session. The evening was finish off by a small gathering of Guru's in the club, meeting for dinner in my house and been able to listen to Guru Richard in a informal meeting.

Saturday brought unfortunately bad weather, but despite that still just over 50 students attended the seminar from all over Ireland and even one person from America, and it was great to see old friends again. Guru Richard started the day off by teaching Auto response drills to most common street attacks, learning how to move off the center line, breaking and grappling techniques, harimau Elbow and Knee techniques. Guru Richard went into the deep understanding of how to use and overcome fear, and how harimau is the femine science of combat. Sunday was weapon day and despite all the bruises and sore limbs from the day before

students threw themselves into training, learning harimau knife defences and disarms against striking and retraction slashes, understanding the mentality of a knife attacker and how to deal with a knife if caught in the close range of grappling. At the end of the seminar Guru Richard presented certificates to all who train and completed the two days and was amazed at the strong silat presence in Ireland and said that for him "coming to Ireland was like coming home to silat" and that the students in our clubs could always depend on him for future support and help and he look forward to seeing them again in the near future when he returns to Ireland.

For me this was one of the best silat training weekends, I ever had and I want to thank Guru Richard for helping me not only in silat training, but also personally. The past 6 months have been the most difficult I ever had teaching silat. But people like Guru Richard and Guru Felix along with Dan, Alan, Tony and also my family, between you all you have been a rock for me and I would like to thank you all personally for helping me find the passion again. I'm proud of the way the kids performed and were amazing on Friday night and to see the joy and amazement in the students faces at the seminar, makes it all worthwhile. I hope to continue in my work, to bring to Ireland the best Instructors in the South East Asian Arts so you can experience then directly, and continue in my quest to develop Silat in Ireland.

what some of the students wrote about the seminar....

"Great days training, in bits myself fantastic seminar sweat rolling off everyone"... Alan

" Wow awesome days training I'm black and blue now but well worth it" ... Mick

" Thanks for brining Guru Richard over - what a great weekend !"... Dominic

" What a great weekend.. had such a great time.. many thanks to Guru Richard for sharing his wisdom with us"... Cormac

"I'm sore, bruised and in pain. But i've never felt so good. Thanks Guru Liam, for letting us meet and train with yet another world class instructor".. Mathis

"Excellent weekend seminar by Guru Richard De Bordes, I had an amazing 2 days and I may be sore! but it was worth every bruise. Cheers"... Dan

"Thank you Liam and Guru Richard, my daughter had an amazing night and never stop talking about getting her Yellow belt and meeting Guru Richard" ...Parent

3 Weeks to go !!!!

Great new Harimau video clip featuring Guru Besar Richard Cranne De Bordes and Guru Scott Mc Quaid. Want to experience this in the flesh than book a place for Guru Richard first ever Dublin Seminar the ultimate in Combat and Silat Training.

Guru Richard Groundfighting / Grappling Seminar 3 Weeks to go!!!

Ok guys just three weeks to go to Silat event of the year with Guru Richard De Bordes. Experience silat at it most combat!!! emial guruliam@hotmail.com to secure your place

FMA - Alice in Wonderland Foundation- Helping Children in Crumlin Hospital this Christmas

We are hosting a Fililipino Martial Arts Day in aid of the "Alice in Wonderland Foundation" on Sunday 12th Dec 2010 2pm - 5pm in Firhouse Sports and Community Center Dublin. The event will be split into two parts where students will get to experience training under different teachers, followed by a stick spar off. There are no prizes for the sparring instead everyone will get the opportunity to spar against other students in a friendly open way, to gain knowledge and build friendship. The event is co run by myself Liam Mc Donald of Valencia Lameco Eskrima and Noel Mc Hugh of Nicklestick Eskrima.

Every single cent lifted at the door will go 100% to the charity and will be use to decorate the Children Cancer Ward in Crumlin Hospital for Christmas and New Year and to help bring some happiness in a small way to the children. We are asking students who like to attend to donate minimum of €20. If you like to attend (or donate )please email me at guruliam@hotmail.com

The Alice’s Wonderland Foundation has been established in the memory of Alice Dillon. The objective of the foundation is to carry out projects that will benefit in particular the quality of life of seriously ill children and their families. The focus of these projects will largely be to provide tangible deliverables that endeavour to improve the quality of life of ill children and with a focus on increasing their experience of joy and happiness in difficult times

For more info http://www.aliceswonderlandfoundation.com/

Lameco Eskrima

6 Week Lameco Eskrima Class starts Sat 6th Nov 2010 Fitness Dock Gym, Camden St. Dublin at 10am. Training covers Stick, Knife, and Ground Fighting. All welcome. Contact guruliam@hotmail.com tel 087 9956569 Places limited to 14

Training Logs

New Training Logs will be given to all students next week in class. The logs will be your own personal record of your training. A copy will be kept by your class teacher and each month a review of your training will be given. This way you can easily see how your training is progressing and to make sure you are on target for your grading. Only hours completed in class with a teacher will be accounted for and all Logs must be fully completed before you can grade If you any questions about the logs please email guruliam@hotmail.com

Hoodie Sweatshirts

First in our new range of Training gear will be in stock next week. Our new black hoodie sweatshirts will be available, price €35. The design follows the exact same layout as the t- shirts, and we offering a combo of sweatshirt plus t shirts for €50 saving of 10%.

New Urban Combat Training Bottoms following shortly.

Gradings : Dublin

Congratulations to the Students who passed the last Gradings of 2010 on Sunday 17th Oct in Dublin. Bela Diri 1 Paul Nally, Stephen Foy, Michael Melley, Adam Cummingham. Bela 2 Aiveen Ford, Peter Brennan. Intermediate Level Ular (Snake) Stephen Fortune (Brown Belt) Michael Lloyd (Brown Belt) Mathis Hasle (Red Belt).

Well done to all of you and along with the grading each student had to take part in a Full Contact Weapon Sparring session which all completed to a high standard.

Gradings- Ballymena

Congratulations to the Ballymena Guys who recently passed their Silat Bela Diri Grading on 13th Sept. Keep up the good work guys, you're doing the Art and your Teachers proud.

Bela Diri 1 (White Sash) Jonathon Kelly, Dougie Coulter, Michael Davidson

Bela Diri 2 (Yellow Sash) Robbie Gibson, Michael Arbuthnot

Maha Guru Richard de Bordes

St. Annes GAA Sport Center
Bohernabrenna, Tallaght Dublin 24
Sat 27th Nov 1pm - 5pm
Sun 28th Nov 11am - 3.30pm
Cost €100 for 2 Days (€80 if paid in full by 15th Nov)
To book email guruliam@hotmail.com
or pay online below with Paypal

Free Kids Halloween Party

We hosting a Free Kids Halloween Martial Arts Party for all our Junior and Cadets members.

The parties will be for the Firhouse Class Wednesday 20th Oct '10 6pm - 7pm Firhouse Sports and Community Center (Main Hall) and for the Lucan Class Saturday 23rd Oct 2pm - 3.30pm Lucan Sports Center (Main Hall).

We giving away prizes for the best Halloween / Martial Arts Costume and we will have some ghoulish games mixed in with Martial Arts Training. The Parties are "FREE" and if your child can bring along family members or friends to enjoy the party.

We look forward to seeing you there. Any questions please feel free to contact me Liam 087 9956569

Kids Mid Term Classes - Monday 25th (Closed) Tuesday 26th / Wednesday 27th open as normal 6.30pm - 7.30pm. New Cadet (11 years and up) classes starting in November 2010

Thanks

I just want to write a few words of thanks to James Terence, and his students in Thurles who give me a great warm welcome and look after me so well at the Workshop. The brotherhood these guys show towards me and each other is what Martial Arts is all about. Terence has being teaching Martial Arts for 25 years and has great ability, dedication and skill, and yet with all this knowledge can still be a student in his quest for deeper understanding of Martial Arts.

I look forward to seeing the Thurles guys next month at Guru Richard seminar and a second workshop in Thurles has been organised for end of Jan 2011. Future Workshops planned for Dublin, Athlone, Letterkenny, Ballymena and Lurgan

Introductory Silat - Kali Self Defence

When a new student joins our Introductory Trial they go onto our Rotational Program, this is a 8 week continuous program. Beginners can join the cycle at anytime and over the 8 weeks will cover all the material on the course. For example if you join on Week 3, than the following week program will be Week 4 than Week 5 etc... When we get to Week 8, the following Week will be Week 1 and so on. Each class will also have basic Pad Drills / Co ordination Drills to work on developing your natural strength and increasing your Street Awareness Skills. At the end of the 8 Classes, when you get the fundamentals you can move into the second stage of training.
This course is open to all, and no previous training or skill is required.
Introductory Cycle

Week 1 - Defences Against Wrist Grabs
Week 2 - Defence Against Chest Grabs
Week 3 - Defences From the Ground
Week 4 - Defences from Strangles / Chokes
Week 5 - Knife Defences
Week 6 - Multiple Attacker Defences
Week 7 - Defences Against most Common Locks
Week 8 - Defences Against Punches / Kicks

Cost of Introductoty Program is only €80 and all you need to bring is yourself, we will supply all the equipment you need, during this time.

Special Autumn 2010 Offer !!! Join with a friend and you get the second course for "Half Price!" so the two of you can join for €120 (€60 each). Wait there more!!! Book Online today by Paypal and you will get a Free Dvd covering the basic of Silat Kali Self Defence, when you join, Value at €17 Only available to the first 16 to Book Online !

Joining Options

Yourself €80.00 Join with a Friend €120.00

Kali Roots

Hi, I just wanted to share this clip from the "Kali Root" Dvd. On this Dvd my Teacher Guru Felix is teaching various aspects of Empty Hands, Stick, Sword and Gun Disarms. Guru Felix is a superb teacher and his style of Lameco is a very direct combat system. If you like what you see I would recommend getting this Dvd and get along to one of our classes to experience the Art.