Curriculum – Inosanto Academy

The Filipino Martial Arts – Kali-Eskrima-Kuntao-Silat

The highly sophisticated and comprehensive martial art from the Philippines is weapon based, but ultimately an empty hand system.

The Filipino martial arts taught at the Inosanto Academy are drawn from 26 primary sources, the instructors who Magulang Na Guro Dan Inosanto has spent his life training under. With influences such as the late Grandmaster John La Coste, Magulang Na Guro Dan Inosanto has developed a program that introduces students to 12 main areas, including, but not limited to single stick, double stick, stick & dagger, double dagger, panatukan (Filipino boxing), Sikaran (Filipino kicking methods), Kuntao & Silat.

In the US as long ago as the 1500’s, the Filipino Martial Arts have something to benefit everyone. Developed for “mass attack” as well as single opponent confrontations, the training heightens student’s awareness of their surroundings and teaches them to use their environment as tools of combat. Everyday objects, such as umbrellas, books, bandannas, etc., become effective means of self-defense in the hands of a properly trained individual. Use of left and right hand techniques develop coordination. Drills and techniques taught in a fluid, non-restrictive manner allow students to enhance their natural attributes and improve their sense of timing, speed, awareness, balance, agility, and confidence.

The Art & Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do

With Wing Chun at the core of his system, Bruce Lee incorporated a modification of various techniques from Northern Praying Mantis, Southern Praying Mantis, Choy Li Fut, Eagle Claw, Western Boxing, Wrestling, Fencing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and some of the more refined kicks of the Northern & Southern Chinese styles. Innovative and radically ahead of his time in his training and teaching methodology, Bruce Lee developed a martial system and fighting strategy that has lost none of its effectiveness over time.

Emphasizing the “ranges of combat”. Students are taught to confidently and with ease “flow” from long distance,”kicking- range”, to middle distance, “hand- range”, to close quarter, “trapping & grappling range”.

The movements are crisp, and efficient, utilizing the most direct lines and angles. JKD affords the practitioner a means by which to effectively pursue the most direct line of attack. And once an attack has been launched there are no breaks or interruptions. As one technique nears completion, it starts to blend into the next and so forth: one continuos flowing motion until the conflict is resolved.

The Jun Fan Gung Fu classes at the Inosanto Academy are devoted entirely to teaching and preserving the arts & philosophies of the late Bruce Lee. Students are able to enhance their natural attributes, such as coordination, timing, speed, endurance, strength and agility, using the innovative teaching and training methods developed by Bruce Lee, and preserved and taught to today by his protégé, student and training partner, Dan Inosanto.

Phase Classes

In the Phase classes students are taught the ranges of combat, and how to easily flow from each range. Kicking range, into hand range, hand range into close quarter trapping and grappling range, close quarter trapping range, into grappling or ground fighting range. The use of weapons, both defensively and offensively are taught in an easy to remember and efficient method of application.

Classes are kept small to provide the students with the individual attention needed to progress.

Shoot Wrestling – “Shooto”

A popular martial art and combative sport in Japan, founded by Sousai Satoru Sayama and brought to the US by former Shoot Wrestling champion, and highest ranking instructor under Sousai Sayama, “Shootist” Yorinaga Nakamura. Shoot Wrestling, also called “Shooto”, “Shoot Fighting” or “Shooting”, is a unique blend of Russian Sambo, Judo, Jujitsu, Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling and Thai Boxing. A truly combative sport martial art, Shoot Wrestling utilizes long range kicking, punching, kneeing, evasion and footwork. Practitioners are allowed to throw, tackle, take-down or sweep the opponent and continue in the ground fighting and engage in submission and locking. Training in Shoot Wrestling will develop attributes such as balance, speed, agility, coordination, endurance and sensitivity.

Muay Thai – Thai Boxing

Developed in Thailand the devastating art of Muay Thai – Thai Boxing is gaining popularity and recognition in the US thanks to the dedication and perseverance of Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute, President and founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA. Thai Boxing utilizes the practitioner’s natural weapons, knees, elbows, kicks and punches. Care is taken to teach students proper form and body mechanics to eliminate injuries while training and gain maximum effectiveness. The class places an emphasis on the physical conditioning and cardiovascular benefits of Thai Boxing.

Little Dragons

More Information on Little Dragons
(Children’s Classes)

RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The rare combination of champion competitors and skilled teachers, the Machado brothers have developed a program of instruction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that enables the student to execute, with ease and confidence the techniques and combinations of close-quarter submission and control.

A discipline in which only natural weapons are used, the experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner can never be “caught off guard.” Through training the student not only develops the physical and technical skill to successfully execute both defensive and offensive moves, but also the ability to “read” your opponents “combative mind”. The ability to plan your moves and anticipate all counters and re-counter moves perfecting the strategies of throws, take downs, sweeps, body control and positioning, before they occur, provide you with both a physical and mental challenge that promote your growth as an individual and as a martial artist.

JJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu

IAMA New JJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Class Instructor
Gary Padilla
Inosanto Academy Of Martial Arts Jean Jacques Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Class Instructor

Gary was born in 1958 at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He’s the eldest of five children. He was raised in Southern California. Had a normal childhood. Worked for 25 years with MTA. Is now retired, which freed him up to fully invest his free time into his favorite past time. Martial Arts, BBJ. His interest in Martial Arts didn’t start until a few stints with boxing, wrestling and karate. But those Arts didn’t seem to stick. Then in 1987 after seeing shoot fighting tapes, from Japan, his interest began to peak. He started to train off and on, with wrestling and boxing. Then in 1997, he walked into the doors of Jean-Jaques Machado’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and so began his path with BJJ. He’d like to think he was a natural, but he admits that he’d be lying. He fell in love with the Art, even with the great frustrations of learning a new discipline. But it’s always brought great joy and reward training with Jean-Jaque. And he will always be grateful.

Competition and Progression:

Gary began competing as a blue belt, and performed well in Gi and No Gi tournaments. As he reached Purple, he really began to find his “game”. At this point in his BJJ career he opened “Empire Training Center” with his cousins, Joe and Paul Herrera. He got the “okay” from Jean-Jaque to teach basic BJJ. At this point he began a clear and comprehensive study of BJJ. Books, Tapes, Private training and then some. He stayed in the tutelage of Jean-Jaque learning how to teach BJJ. Staying sometimes well after class. Once he received his Brown Belt, Jean-Jaque made his school, Empire Training Center, and official affiliate.

Black Belt, May 2008. He was grateful and humbled to receive his Black Belt from Jean-Jacques.
As a Black Belt instructor, many of his students have won several, and placed in many more tournaments.

Accomplishments:

Black Belt, BJJ.
Full Instructor under Jean-Jacques Machado
Chief Instructor at Empire Training Center – www.EmpireMMA.com
Chief Instructor at Dan Inosanto Academy
Assistant Instructor with Jean-Jacques at many seminars
Guest Instructor at many schools in the western US.

Personal Note from Gary:

In closing, I would like to share this with you. Jean-Jacques told me when I started teaching; it was going to be great and good. He spoke of all the good things that would happen at my school. He was very supportive. I though I was just teaching BJJ. But, as he told me in our talks, “Class starts after the training is over”. I have seen people that have come into my school and get off drugs, alcohol, go back to school and get healthy. I’m just now seeing how Jiu-Jitsu is such a gift, to empower people’s lives. I’m grateful for all the people I’ve met and the friends that I have made. God Bless, and See you on the mat!!!!

From friends:

“To Gary, An awesome Black Belt and Great friend, All the best” – Jay Zaballos, BJJ Black Belt.
“Gary, True friend and fantastic Black Belt” – Jean-Jacques Machado