Floro Fighting Systems

However, in the early days, I was into a lot of “solo” training as there was no one around to practice with.

So here are a few points that I follow:

1) Go through the moves VERY SLOWLY. I call it “Tai Chi” speed. The focus here is to learn PROPER TECHNIQUE. Make sure that the feet placement is correct. The body poised properly. More importantly, concentrate on the ORDER in which the technique is executed. For example, does the weapon move first BEFORE the hand? Does the hand move first BEFORE the arm and does the arm move first BEFORE the body. This is the proper procedure for non-telegraphic strike.

Alternatively, if executing a “fake”, then the entire procedure is reversed.

The ORDER OF PROCEDURE in which you execute the technique is one of those subtle differences that will make the whole move successful or not.

2) Exaggerate the “TIGHTNESS” of the defensive move.This is particularly relevant when practicing defensive moves.

One of the biggest mistake that my students make when defending themselves is that they “preempt” the block by reaching out. BIG MISTAKE.

It opens up your defence and nullifies your ability to take advantage of “drawing” your opponent.

3) Establish your MAXIMUM REACH. Whether you are working against the heavy bag, hung tennis ball, wooden dummy or even just facing the wall. It is EASY to be able to reach and hit the target.

One factor that needs to be learned is what your own personal MAXIMUM DISTANCE is. Those of you who have sparred me know that if you step into MY range for even a centimeter….you get hit.

You will need to establish what your range is.

The way I practice this it to stand in front of my target. I then execute a strike. I then adjust my distance till I’m just MISSING my target. In this way, my maximum ranges are programmed into my mind.

4) BE STILL. Stop rocking back and forwards. Stop bouncing up and down. These little “habits” are what will give your intentions away. It is the subtle involuntary movements and weight shifts that “broadcasts” to your opponent what your intentions are.

Imagine you are playing Poker, and put on your best “Poker Face”. Don’t give away anything. The more you move, the more you will give away subconsciously to our opponent. I can regularly “read” my opponents intention when sparring. BE STILL.

By NOT moving, it will magnify the “illusion” of your fake, when you do move to deceive you opponent. Hence, greater success. AFTER you have learned to control BEING STILL, only then, should you go back into training mobility in sparring. This way, every move you make will be purposeful, and part of the strategy of setting up your opponent.

These are the key ingredients I focus on when training alone.

Of course feel free to ask me questions and give me feedback on your own training methods.

Ray Floro

For those of you who don’t know the “history” behind Master G and I. I first met him when I joined the Guardian Angels in Sydney during the late ’80’s. At that time, there were A LOT of volunteers, but he made an impact with me when I dislocated my shoulder during a training accident (no it wasn’t him that did it). But it was Master G who set my shoulder, and got me to hospital. .

To cut a long story short. Master G eventually became the Chapter Leader of the Sydney Guardian Angels, and I became the Training Leader (in this capacity, I was responsible for developing the training curriculum and teaching all members with weekly training sessions). We both took led patrols as well throughout the Sydney area.

These were the beginnings of a good long friendship.

In 1994, I suffered another training accident (non Guardian Angel related……more of a right hook really). This resulted in 2 X Brain Hemorrhages, which in effect, ended my Martial Arts career. For several years I had nothing to do with Martial Arts….till out of the blue, I got a phone call from Geoff Booth.

He wanted to meet me for lunch…and our conversation (which was sort of one way) went like this:

“What are you doing?”

“You have knowledge and experience that no one else has. You are doing nothing with it. WHAT A WASTE.”

“You need to pass on that knowledge, and you need to share it with others.”

That’s what he basically said to me in a nutshell….

He already had a “solution”. He offered to host me for a seminar with is students. I reluctantly agreed and we set a date.

I was still very unsure about starting into the Martial Arts Industry…so ON THE DAY of the seminar, I rang Master G and explained that I can’t make it.

After he said that he has more than 100 students waiting for me…and some VERY STERN words which I cannot repeat here. I said “I’ll be right over!”

The rest was history.

So if it wasn’t for Geoff Booth. I would have NEVER come back into teaching and FFS would not have existed.

I owe a lot to Geoff, and to this day high hold him to the highest respect and regard.

But I digress…Since my comeback, I do regularly seminars with his Dojang each year.

This weekend his students requested to see my “Double Stick”. A topic I hadn’t touched on for a while. So it was a nice change for me. I taught them the FFSised method of my use of double stick…quick efficient, direct attacks.

Different from the traditional Redondo and Sinawali movements.

I covered the empty hand applications of the moves…emphasizing “stab” boxing and the “slap” (see previous blog entry for this technique).

I also shared with them “Stick Grappling” techniques I learned from the “Sayoc Kali” group, when I was with them in the USA, coupled with some great moves learnt from the “Dog Brothers”.

We finished off with a bit of “Control and Restraint” moves using the single stick. All in all a very successful seminar!

Master G’s school has one of the best facilities in Australia, and more importantly, the character of his students and Black Belts are unsurpassed. I really enjoy visiting and I look forward to the next invite.

Ray Floro

It’s been a while since we pulled out the camera and lights, and I must say, it felt like we just did it last week.

I have been promised my own luxury caravan with a big star on the door………..I’m still waiting for it. LOL

We were finally driven to use some “new fangled” technology with the use of a wireless lapel mike – a godsend since we didn’t have to keep stopping our shoot every time a plane flew overhead or the breeze blew or a car zoomed past or a truck started reversing or a bird tweeted or the camera man started breathing.

The biggest challenge faced is how the heck do you put the ENTIRE FFS system on film…..so many places to start. So much more to do!

A big thank you to those who have consistently emailed us words of encouragement and many interesting requests and ideas. Also, thank you to those who helped fill out the surveys we have posted. This has provided us with the guideline for our membership site curriculum.

Stay tuned on this blog or the launch date of the site…………….

One down side to the filming is the constant culinary diet of Krispe Kreme’s. This little indulgence usually results in forcing me to try and finish the filming quickly, before the weight starts showing.

Oh…….a big thank you to the all the assistants, namely James Seckold and Scott Hartog, who you will see a lot more of and unselfishly take time off work to help out. I should also not forget to mention my “on set” assistant Debbie who also doubles as the sympathetic ear for my “Tizzy fits”

Ray Floro