Are you...
Interested in learning weapon arts?
Concerned about street violence?
Wanting to get fit and have fun?
Looking for a unique, personal 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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