PTI Blog

The 64 Attacks is a set that combined the first three years of basic training and timing drills Tuhon Gaje was teaching in the 1970s into one group of techniques and principles.

Here are my thoughts about advertising on social media, specifically Facebook.
I thought it might be helpful for those also advertising online to see my thinking on this subject, which is based on trial and error over many years. I would be interested in hearing how my experience compares to other instructors who advertise on social media and even more interested in hearing the advice of administrators of these on-line groups.

Grand Tuhon Gaje told us that he spent one full year as a child learning the Solo Baston Abcedario, learning one set of 12 attacks at a time, building up until he had all 144 techniques in the 12 sets. Let's say he started in January with the first set: 12 strikes learned and practiced over a month's time is not too much for most children to learn. In February, he would warm up with the first set and then begin learning the second set, which was a mirror image of the first set. (This is the general pattern for most of the Abcedarios, as the even numbered sets are the "lead" sets, with the next even numbered set its mirror image).

The Learning Through Comparisons principle: There are great benefits to be had for both students and instructors when they experience different ways of solving the same problem. I first saw this during my teacher’s joint seminars in the early 1980s with Eddie Jafri and Guro Dan Inosanto.

KNIFE TESTING (part 1) : GET THE POINT? Help me design a process to test a blade’s thrusting ability for use in self-defense blades.Note: My overal...

A discussion of the pros and cons of various materials for training in Filipino Martial Arts, by Tuhon Bill McGrath

LEARNING THROUGH COMPARISONS PT 4:
Comparing speed and power between the Bowie, the Kukri and the Tomahawk. 8 videos with text. Tools used in this essay:  Cold Steel Leatherneck Bowie, Laredo Rubber Trainer, Gurkha Plus Kukri, Rubber Kukri Trainer, Trail Hawk and an Axe Head Cane cut down to the length of a Trail Hawk.

THE 1996 PTI CAMP The cover pages from the 1996 PTI camp brochure. The outdated contact info has been covered. . Inside pages with the camp ...

How long weapons, such as staff and spear, can help you develop speed and power with your shorter weapons, such as sword, stick, knife and hand.

I have been asked many times to give the measurements of the Pekiti-Tirsia long sword shown in the PTI logo. The information on the measurements was told to me many years ago by Tuhon Gaje. In this essay I will give the measurements for two swords, the long sword shown in the PTI logo and the short sword that Tuhon Gaje is often shown holding in the photos of him from the early 1980's. I am also including the measurements for training sticks and spears, as well as knives intended for use with Sak-Sak and Pakal grips.

WHY LEARNING THROUGH COMPARISONS?  This course is based on comparing the use of three categories of tools as weapons, the bowie knife, the kukri and the axe/tomahawk. My goal is to show you how to recognize both the pros and cons of each design and how to use them effectively, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses.