About Classes at maelstrom Martial Arts
Are you...
- interested in Southeast Asian weapon
arts?
- worried about street violence?
- wanting to get fit and have fun?
- looking for a unique training experience?
maelstrom Martial Arts has what you are looking for. We offer a relaxed, personal atmosphere for men and women, for learning unique martial arts from highly experienced instructors. You can get fit, advance your skills, and enjoy doing it.
No egos. No attitude. No judgement.
Just friendly people, vigorous training, and great arts.
What the classes offer
Filipino kali (also known as "eskrima" or "arnis") is a practical, street-wise approach to physical encounters. It tends to focus on weapons, and is unmatched with respect to knife defense. Combined with Sunday training, maelstrom's regular classes provide you with the capability and the confidence to meet the unexpected. Practical, non-lethal weapons like the pocket stick or key chain are well suited for daily carry and effective application.
At the same time, there is a balanced emphasis on the martial arts - you will discover the subtlety of traditional weapons play and the graceful execution of more complex techniques. The training emphasis is on bladed weapons such as the knife, machete, and sword. As well you can develop skills in staff, spear, shield and whip. Although these are not part of your day-to-day life, weapons training develops key skills in a martial context when transferred to empty hand - in the street or on the field!
With the weapon skills you develop comes the motivation to attain the physical attributes needed to execute the arts. You will acquire the drive to advance your muscle strength, cardio-vascular conditioning, and coordination, to make your body flexible, toned, and healthy. Brute strength is not as much of an advantage with weapons - precision, agility and endurance are much more important.
Along with weapons training, you will develop your empty hand and defensive skills. Understanding the knife gives you an advantage when confronted by a bladed attacker. Kali also has very effective empty hand technique - if you have seen the Bourne movies, you have seen kali applied in realistic fight scenarios with elbows, knees and hands as well as improvised weapons.
Who your instructors are
Maelstrom has offered classes in the Vancouver area since 1994. Chief instructor Loki Jorgenson has been training in Southeast Asian weapon arts continuously for over 20 years. Guro Loki is certified by the authoritative masters of each of the offered arts. He has tested his skills in full contact, no rules stick fighting bouts and travelled to southeast Asia to train and fight.
Only certified instructors lead classes at maelstrom. Each instructor has teacher ranking and fight experience. Along with the regular instructors, there are occasional invited guest instructors who offer unique training opportunities.
What the training is like
Most classes are 1.5 hours long (except Sundays which are 2 hours). Typically the first 30 minutes is a vigorous warm-up of combined cardio and anaerobic exercises designed to strengthen the body specifically for weapons.
While the pace of the warmup is brisk and the workout can be strenuous, you are encouraged to set your own limits - reducing the number of repititions, slowing the rate of movement, or even taking a break. We invite you to push yourself and set your own goals.
After the first 30 minutes, the training transitions to some basic techniques - these may be exercises from a previous class or material that will be needed for later in the workout. Often these are done with a partner. Sometimes the instructor will have you train with people who are at the same level, and sometimes with people who are much more advanced. Much of Filipino training methods benefits from interactive training with a partner.
The final 30 minutes may be composed of applications, light sparring, or more advanced techniques. See the regular class schedule for days and times.
You may prefer Basics training on Saturday mornings. These classes are less strenuous and primarily aim to help you develop the basics. Sundays offer an equipment-based approach based on Dog Brothers Real-Contact training (masks, gloves, and other protection) - this is more advanced and demands considerable focus. Usually more advanced students train on Sundays to test out what they have learned during the week. However, once a month there is an Intro to Stick Fighting class for beginners.
How we keep you safe
Our instructors are all fully qualified in the arts that they teach. Students are never asked to teach except under direct supervision. Proven teaching techniques are used that minimize risk of contact and maximize realistic training. You are expected to stay within your limits and avoid situation where you lose control.
Protective equipment like safety goggles, mouth guards, padded sticks, gloves and masks are used in any circumstances that pose extra risk. Direct stick contact is generally avoided, relying instead on stick-on-stick contact to absorb energy. A first-aid kit is always available to deal with minor incidents. Hygiene issues are carefully monitored and immediately addressed.
While the instructors will make every effort to keep you safe, it is up to you to monitor your own comfort levels and speak out if you have concerns about your safety. You are encouraged to step out of any training session at any time that you feel unsafe or point out issues to the instructor. You will never be asked to do anything that is known to be unsafe or beyond your abilities.
What is needed for each class
You should be dressed in loose fitting, comfortable training clothes. The basement studio is usually cool, although it gets a bit warmer in the summer. Footwear must be indoor-only shoes - runners or wrestling boots are typical - otherwise bare feet or socks, since the floor is matted.
You will eventually require a pair of 30" rattan sticks, and a short stick (or training knife). However, there is always some extras at the club for new people or visitors. The club sells sticks (when they are available) - just ask an instructor.
Otherwise, you may want to have a water bottle, possibly a towel, head scarf, or handkerchief, eye protection, or a snack. Many students trend to wearing black (the club T-shirt is black) - but really anything goes. You are not required to buy the club shirt but most people like it.
There is also stick bags, books, videos, sarongs, and other training gear available.
Where the classes are held
Classes are at 341 E. Broadway, Vancouver, home of of Capoeira Ache Brasil (near Main St.) - Sunday classes are upstairs and all other classes downstairs. Go in the front door and look for the stairs going down.
Sometimes during the summer, the club goes over to the nearby park, just to the north east of the school.
How formal the classes are
Not very formal - no smoking, drinking or swearing are permitted in class. But beyond that, it's pretty relaxed. Respect - for oneself, each other and the instructor - is certainly the rule. But there are only a few special phrases, gestures or salutations that are specific to the school.
There is a traditional salutation that is used at the beginning and end of each class. It is specific to the system being taught - in Pekiti-Tirsia kali it is made up of 4 distinct movements representing respect, gratitude, honor, and commitment. Everyone picks this up as they go - you can always ask an instructor or another student if you are keen to figure it out quickly.
What classes to choose
Most students train in Filipino kali (aka eskrima and arnis). Tuesday nights (Fundamentals) are the most popular with Thursdays (Applications) not far behind. Two nights per week is a typical level of commitment - either Tuesday and Thursday, or Saturday. However, some people train as many as possible including the Sunday fight class.
Aside from the kali, there are various other arts to learn - Thai krabi krabong, Indonesian pencak silat, and other more exotic arts (such as fire sword, whip, and the like). Any of those other classes are available to any student - but most people keep their focus on the kali until they are proficient.
If you are unsure of what you should be training in, talk to an instructor. We will help you figure out what fits your schedule and your goals most effectively.
What is most important
Enjoy yourself while training! If you like the students and the instructors, if you have fun training, if you feel confident that you are learning and if you feel comfortable in class, you'll want to train regularly. And that's the key to success. No art can compensate for lack of motivation. And no art will protect you if you haven't trained!
Still have questions?
Check out our group on Facebook ("maelstrom Martial Arts") or Call or email for more information or to schedule your first free trial class.