Guro Laurence Sandum Kali Seminar – March 2017

Robin French with Guro Laurence Sandum and David Farmer - March 2017

Following hot on the heels of the last one in January, I returned to Guro Laurence Sandum’s academy in Witham, for another Kali seminar.

With Guro Laurence regularly learning from some of the most highly respected Filipino Martial Arts instructors, both here in the UK and also on his monthly visits to the USA, it’s always guaranteed that you’re getting the best material from as close to the source as possible.

As per the previous session, Guro Laurence stuck with the third area of Inosanto Kali; espada y daga (stick and knife). This time spending the time in the seminar to work through a particular numerado pattern; the Villabrille 12-count.

This uses a particularly intricate pattern of feeding the drill, as well as receiving. As such, Guro Laurence broke it down into small chunks; learning first the feeding and then the receiving, before adding further steps in the drill.

What I took from the day, apart from having seen brand new material, is the importance of well executed and balanced footwork; something that underpins all aspects of ‘stand up’ martial art techniques.

Thanks, as ever, to Guro Laurence for hosting; and more importantly, for supporting my development in kali for the past 15 years!

A Final special thank you to all of my training partners on the day, including my long term training partner, Guro David Farmer.