The Sticks and Blades Podcast

Guro Doug welcomes Agalon Njoli Brown, Mandala Rich Howe, and Mandala Jason Jones. We discuss their upcoming event in New York City "Allies 2023". We discuss how they started this concept of senior pekiti tirsia instructors supporting one another and why they choose not to involve any "Tuhons" in their event. A solid episode with some real heavy hitters.

After some time off I am back and coming back STRONG with Guro Terryl Richardson. We talk about his famous uncle who competed in the 1968 Olympics, his time with the legendary Dr. Moses Powell, and about how he began training in Dagoc Arnis System (DAS). 

I'm Back! This episode is a fun one with Rob Pagan and the always entertaining Paulo Rubio. We discuss the various training methodologies in the pekiti tirsia kali system and which methodology is the best. 

Maha Guru SGMD was a private student of the legendary escrimador Angel Cabales. Maha Guru talks about how he met Angel and talks about their close family type relationship they shared for many years and the future of Serrada Escrima. 

I welcome New York Times best selling author Steven Barnes to the show. Aside from being an accomplished writer Steven is an equally accomplished martial artist. Steven talks about his time at the Inosanto Academy in the early days of it's existence, him being a student of who Bruce Lee called "The fastest hands in the business" Sijo Steve Muhammad, as well as his friendship with the late great Pendekar Maha Guru Cliff Stewart. 

This is a special episode I'm calling "The Truth About FMA". Julius Francisco is a Filipino martial arts practitioner, historian and is the co-host of the popular filipino martial arts show "FMA Discussion". This episode we go DEEP into the origins of the FMA, and Filipino culture. This is a cant miss episode

Tuhon Jared Wihongi of the Pekiti Tirsia Tactical Association (PTTA) joins me for a great discussion about Pekiti Tirsia Kali, how Pekiti fits into defensive tactics for police officers and military, and we discuss his upcoming joint seminar in Las Vegas in October 8-10 2021 with Tuhon Bill McGrath.

The JKD Bandit himself Sifu Dwight Woods joins me for an excellent conversation about Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kun Do, Guro Dan Inosanto, and how JKD and the Filipino martial arts come together. Sifu Dwight is the host of "The Jeet Kun Do Dialogues" and the "I Love Jeet Kun Do" podcast on Youtube.

Eric Knaus is a founding member of the Dog Brothers. Eric along with Arlan Sanford, and Marc Denny are pioneers in full contact stick and weapons sparring. Eric had plenty to say and this is part 1 of an exciting conversation with the "Top Dog" himself.

Tuhon Harley Elmore of Sayoc Kali and head instructor of Warriors Way Academy in Texas joins me this month and discusses his journey in the FMA as well as Jeet Kun Do. Tuhon Harley goes deep into his upbringing in the arts, the people who were most influential, and why the folks in Sayoc Kali carry all those knives. 

This month I welcome one of the founders of the legendary Dog Brothers Arlan "Salty Dog" Sanford. 

This episode I welcome the author of "Visualizing Flow: A Pekiti Tirsia Kali Training Companion" Tuhon Arlene Pinpin Stevens. Tuhon Arlene is a pioneer in the asynchronous martial arts training space and in addition to that she is the first female Tuhon of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Tuhon Arlene talks about her journey in the art as well as some of the challenges she has faced since being promoted to Tuhon by Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr. This is a great discussion as she gives insight into how she teaches, trains, and learns the finer points of pekiti. 

I welcome world famous knife maker Allen Elishewitz to the show. Allen discusses what makes a superior blade, the disconnect with the gun world, martial artist, and the knife world. We also discuss his 40 plus year journey in the martial arts. 

For Black History Month 2021 I welcome Guro Doug Pierre to the show. We discuss his time in the Philippines with various legends in the Filipino martial arts and more specifically the time he spent training with Antonio "Tatang" Illustrisimo. There's a ton of knowledge on this episode and alot of truth is told. 

We kick off 2021 with Guro Dean Franco. Guro Dean is the host of the popular Youtube show FMA Discussion and is an accomplished Filipino martial arts stylist with a background in AMOK, Abenier Kalis, Kali Illustrisimo  and Burton Richardson's Battlefield Kali. 

Datu Tim Hartman is a student of the late Professor Remy Presas and Grandmaster Ernesto Presas. Tim talks to Doug about his time with professor Remy, Tim's groundbreaking web forum FMA Talk, and the state of affairs in the Filipino martial arts. 

This episode is special as Grandmaster Darrell, Tuhon Brandon, and myself celebrate the life of the legendary Maha Guru Cliff Stewart of LA Kilat Pukulan Pencak Silat. Darrell discusses his background in the martial arts and both men tell amazing stories on how they began their training with Maha Guru Cliff in Pencak Silat. 

Punong Guro Tom Bolen is a legend in the FMA and a true pioneer and is currently the founder of The American Modern Arnis Associates. Guro Bolden is a member of several martial arts hall of fames,and began his training in Escrima in 1964 while stationed in Hawaii under Master Pancipanci. Guro Bolden is also  known by many to be one of Remy Presas top students in Modern Arnis. 

Tuhon Leslie is one of the foremost authorities and experts in the Pekiti Tirsia Kali System and happens to be Doug's teacher and friend. Listen as they take a trip down memory lane and discuss the system and his time learning directly under the legendary Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr. 

Dr. Alberto Almeida is a Board Certified Physician in Family Medicine and also a Filipino martial arts and Jeet Kun Do instructor under the legendary Guro Dan Inosanto. Dr. Almeida joins Doug and discusses the treatments he is using on his patients with Covid-19 and different things we can do to strengthen our immune systems to stand up to Covid-19. 

Senior Grandmaster Dan Medina is the founder of Majapai Derobio Escrima. Doug talks to him about his time training and learning the Filipino Martial arts  in the Philippines and Hawaii with several legends of the art. 

Doug Welcomes Paulo Rubio from Funker Tactical for this bonus epiosode that is explosive. Doug and Paulo go in deep in this bonus episode of the Sticks and Blades Podcast. Doug and Paulo have a very honest conversation about Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje, and some of the common misconceptions people have of the art of Pekiti Tirsia. Paulo also talks about how he met Doug Marcaida, and the importance of documenting the Filipino martial arts with video and modern day technology and media.

Guro Alessandro Ahanti of Serrada Escrima is the Chief Instructor of the Full Circle Jujitsu Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. In this episode Doug and Alessandro discuss their first time meeting one another in 1999, both of their time learning from Grandmaster Chaka Zulu and what eventually led Alessandro to the Filipino martial arts by way of Serrada Escrima. They also discuss the iconic film "The Last Dragon" and Alessandro's connection to the film. 

Da'Mon Stith president of the Historical African Martial Arts Association and chief instructor of The Guild of the Silent Sword joins Doug to talk about the blade based African combat arts found in Haiti(Haitian Machete Fencing) and Columbia (Esgrima y Machete). Da'Mon also gives some behind the scenes talk about his time on the shows "Forged in Fire" on the History Channel and "Man at Arms Art of War" on El Rey Network. 

Guro Jay of Visayan Corto Kadena Eskrima  joins Doug for a fun episode discussing various topics from Jay's time spent learning from the late Sunny Umpad, clean eating, playing hip hop music while training. Doug and Jay nerd out for a bit to discuss one of Doug's favorite movies the iconic film "The Last Dragon".  

 Tuhon Brandon Jordan of Mandala Mandirigma Derobio  joins Doug to discuss his 39 year journey in the martial arts, how he found the Filipino martial arts, pushback for being the youngest and first black Tuhon in Derobio, and the current state of  affairs in the Filipino martial arts.