I remember Buddy Rich, a Black Belt in Karate, talking about Bruce Lee on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and taking mental note. During my drum lessons with the legendary Drum Guru Freddie Gruber, I noticed he kept a photo of Bruce Lee holding Nunchucks also called, Tobok Toyok a Filipino Weapon introduced to Bruce Lee by Guro Dan Inosanto, on his music stand. Many years later after seeing countless Bruce Lee posts from people on Facebook, I set out to find out what was behind the philosophy. No one I knew trained martial art, they just quoted Bruce Lee. There must be something too this? I hadn't been feeling too good and my energy was very low after years of putting out energy and not receiving any in return. So, I began to search for something to revitalize my mind, body and spirit. All my Youtube searching seemed to lead to the Filipino Martial Art of Kali, and more importantly martial arts legend, Guro Dan Inosanto! The double stick training I witnessed online was pretty awesome. But, as far as I was concerned with no real experience being a beginner, someone like Guro Dan and his academy was way out of my league.
I had been exposed to Kali through my Uncle Marty in the early 80's when he came over to the house with a pair of Kali Sticks and did a demo on me! Then in college I had a roommate that was training in Kali and we did some backyard training. I learned a little double stick, heaven six, a rear leg Muay Thai kick, a basic knife disarm, and jab, cross, hook. But, I soon lost interest. Over the years I took a few free trial martial arts classes. But, it wasn't until 2012 while walking down the street in Marina Del Rey, California that I heard the sound of the drums calling to me, literally! I followed the sound to a packed conference at The Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts! Wow! I immediately realized Guro Dan was a drummer! The drums were my ticket in and they accepted beginners. Sign me up! I've been with Guro Dan Inosanto and the Academy since September 4, 2012. Also, I have been training for three years now with Guro Reza Moazezi and Guro Corrado Rotondella, at Way of No Way. Everything has changed in my life for the better since training. My most regular training partner has been legendary drummer Maestro Alex Acuna whom I brought to the Academy in 2013. Two years later Guro Daniel Lonero and I, released Rhythmic Training for the Martial Arts, a DVD to teach martial artists how to play hand drums featuring Alex, Guro Dan and a bunch of very talented friends from the Inosanto Academy. And, in May of 2016 I received my Instructorship at the Silat Camp from Guro Dan Insanto and Simo Paula Inosanto in the Filipino Martial Arts, Maphilindo Silat and the Madjapahit Martial Arts! Special thank you to Don Hilliard and Cookie Vassiliou for nominating me for instructorship in the Inosanto International Martial Arts Instructors Association.
First order of business as Guro Mike was a performance as a member of Paul McCarthy's Cognitive Kali Team at UCLA TEDx May 2016! A new journey has begun. Michael Dubin Martial Artist!
Guro Dan says, "dance, the martial art, and music are all part of the same triangle." Salamat
I had been exposed to Kali through my Uncle Marty in the early 80's when he came over to the house with a pair of Kali Sticks and did a demo on me! Then in college I had a roommate that was training in Kali and we did some backyard training. I learned a little double stick, heaven six, a rear leg Muay Thai kick, a basic knife disarm, and jab, cross, hook. But, I soon lost interest. Over the years I took a few free trial martial arts classes. But, it wasn't until 2012 while walking down the street in Marina Del Rey, California that I heard the sound of the drums calling to me, literally! I followed the sound to a packed conference at The Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts! Wow! I immediately realized Guro Dan was a drummer! The drums were my ticket in and they accepted beginners. Sign me up! I've been with Guro Dan Inosanto and the Academy since September 4, 2012. Also, I have been training for three years now with Guro Reza Moazezi and Guro Corrado Rotondella, at Way of No Way. Everything has changed in my life for the better since training. My most regular training partner has been legendary drummer Maestro Alex Acuna whom I brought to the Academy in 2013. Two years later Guro Daniel Lonero and I, released Rhythmic Training for the Martial Arts, a DVD to teach martial artists how to play hand drums featuring Alex, Guro Dan and a bunch of very talented friends from the Inosanto Academy. And, in May of 2016 I received my Instructorship at the Silat Camp from Guro Dan Insanto and Simo Paula Inosanto in the Filipino Martial Arts, Maphilindo Silat and the Madjapahit Martial Arts! Special thank you to Don Hilliard and Cookie Vassiliou for nominating me for instructorship in the Inosanto International Martial Arts Instructors Association.
First order of business as Guro Mike was a performance as a member of Paul McCarthy's Cognitive Kali Team at UCLA TEDx May 2016! A new journey has begun. Michael Dubin Martial Artist!
Guro Dan says, "dance, the martial art, and music are all part of the same triangle." Salamat
POEM BY GURO DAN INOSANTO
We are all climbing different paths through the mountain of life, and we have all experienced much hardship and strife. There are many paths through the mountain of life, and some climbs can be felt like the point of a knife. Some paths are short and others are long, who can say which path is right or wrong? The beauty of truth is that each path has its own song, and if you listen closely you will find where you belong. So climb your own path true and strong, but respect all other truths for your way for them could be wrong. - Dan Inosanto
